The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-18
TIL E REPUB LIC.
WASHINGTON:
MIR. FILLMORE on the Compromise.

''The Southern States all sent delegates to the
Wing National Convention in favor of Mr..
FILLMORE, acho, ,cI,ile pice President. as the
Hon. DANIEL ID. BARNARD says, ,couid haze
'giren his casting uote against the Conpro-
mise biH."
In The Erening Journal Of the 9Th instant
1t is stated that while in Europe we were
informed that Mr.. FILLMORE, when Vice
President, avowed his intention to the Hon.
ID. ID. BARNARD, should the Senate, as was
anticipated, be tied on the Compromise
bill, to give his casting vote against it..
Surprising this 10 be an undisputed fact.
and knowing that until within a very
- short period before that event MIR. FILL
MosE's views IN regard to slavery harmo,
Dlzed with our own, we referred to the sub
Ject few days since. We learn, how
ever, that Mr. FILLMORE has denied having
50 expressed himself to Mr. BARNARD, and
that, while such an inference was drawn from
conversation with Mr. BARNARD, that gen
tleman was expressing his own opinions OF
approximations of what MIR. f. might do. ra-
Their than repeating any thing that the Vice
President said. Such, contrary to our un.
ders'anding Of the matter, being the facts. in
justice both to Mr.. FILLMORE and MIR. BAR
NARD we very cheerfully make this correc-
tioR.'
BY this it would seem that the first allega
ton was made on information received by Mr..
WEED while in Europe; and although it is
not alleged that that information came from
hn H. -, f.,
rope during Mr.. WEEp's recent visit there,
yet it is evidently intended to convey that idea,
and to place The statement of Mr. BARNARD to
Mr.. WEED in opposition to the denial OF Mr.
FILLMORE that he ever ''avowed such an in
,enti1n to Mr.. BARNARD" In addition to this.
Mr. WEED seems to forily the allegation frs,
made, by stating that he knew that "un,il
within very short period before that event
Mr.. FILLMoaE's views in regard to slavery
hannonzed with his own" 1t is true Mr..
WEED has not stated what his own views
We're, but it is well understood that they were
not in favor OF the Compromise. In regard TO
this latter assertion. we believe il is very well
known that the relations between Mr.. FILLMORE
and Mr.. WEED during the tendency of the
Compromise measures were not such as to JUS
tiiy any intercourse, verbal or written, on that
subject; and we cannot therefore, understand
how MIR. WEED assumes TO speak Of what
Mr.. FILLMoRE's opinion was on that subject
at that time. But in regard to the matter as
between Mr.. BARNARD and Mr. FILLMORE,
we have heard Of it before and taken sonnet
pains to ascertain the facts, and understand
they are substantially as follows:
Previous to the Baltimore Convention a
rumor reached Mr.. FILLMoRE's ears that re-
port had been privately circulated among Sen.
ators, in substance, that while he (Mr. FILL
monE) was presiding officer Of the Senate, and
the Compromise measures were under con-
slderatlon by that body, he had made up
hslmnd to vote against them, and had SO an
nounced his determination to his friends; and
by way of justifying himself before the pub
lie for the vote which he intended to give,
that he had prepared a written argument
or speech assigning his reasons for the vote
which he intended to give, and that this had
been shown to several OF his friends with whom
he had consulted on the subject. Mr. FILL
MORE also learned that this report came from
Senator FISH, and was said TO have been
founded upon information received by him from
MIR. BARNARD. He accordingly addressed
letter to Mr.. FISH on the 18th of May, inform
ing him of the report thus circulated, and
lnqui.ng what knowledge or informal ton he
had on the subject. Senator FISH replied to
the inquiry, that in a conversation with Mr..
BARNARD soon after his return from Washing.
ion during the tendency Of the controversy.
he derived the impression from him that
Mr.. FILLMORE had determined, in case the
responsibility of the casting vote should be
thfoWn upon him, to vote against the bill;
and ne thought, too, that it was suggested that
Mr.. FILLMORE would probably accompany
his vote with the reading Of paper. as
5 gnng his reasons for that vote: but Mr.. |
BARNARD did not tell him that he had seen
any paper, although Mr.. FISH inferred that he
had. Senator FISH thereupon applied TO Mr.. |
BARNARD for the purpose of ascertaining whe-
her he was correct in his recollection on the
subject; and MIR. BARNARD, by a letter to him |
dated June I, 1852, among other things said |!
- One thing, however, is quite clear: if Mr.. |
FILLMORE had told me in terms that he
should vote against the Omnibus and that
he had prepared statement of the reasons of
his vote, could not fail to recolect it to- day.
an, sUe he could not haze done So and Of
course could not hare 80 declared" This |
shows conclustvely that the first attempt to
sustain such report on the authority of Mr. |
BARNARD failed and if Mr.. WEED has any
hing from Mr. BARNARD contradicling this
'Ialn statement to Senator FISH, il nigh, be as
we'll toglVe II to the public, instead Of attempt
ng to convey that impression by insinuation.
W t. do not believe that Mr.. BARN,RD has ever
made contradictory assertions on this subject.
We are happy 10 know that Senator FISH.
IN learning that he had been mistaken in his
recollection, was very willing TO correct the un
Intentional error; and should this statement Of
Mr.. BARNARD satisfy MIR. WEED that he is mis-
aken, we trust he also will be ready 10 cor
rect his error. 1t is not to be presumed from