Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-04-17
Millard Fillmore.
From the Richmond Republican

The democratic press, and portion of tht
whig press, are exceedingly anxious to make
it appear that Mr.. Fillmore is not to be The
whig candidate for the presidency. "The wish,'
in both these cases, 'is father to the thought
We can easily understand why whig sectional
ism desire to get rid of 4 national President
and why sagaclous democracy is anxious to sci
aside candidate whose name is identified witt
| the preservation of the Union, and whose pa.
trotism and talents have been demonstrated by
actual trial in 4 most triumphant and success.
| ful administration Of the forei ign and domestic
affairs of the Government.--We are by no
means prepared to say that the wishes of the
democracy and Of the sectional wings may not
be fulfilled. ltis quite possible, for aught we
know to the contrary, that Mr.. Fillmore may
decline to permit the use Of his name in con-
nection with the next Presidency. But we say,
without fear of contradiction, that it is the uni
yersai wish Of the South, that he should be the
next Whig candidate for the Presidency, and
| that his withdrawal from the lists would be re-
garded with profound regret by all wings who
have at heart the welfare, the dignity and per-
petuty of the Republic.
We venture to say that no man, since the
days of the first President, has filled the Execu-
tive chair more to the satisfaction of the
conservative masses of both parties in the Uni
ted States, than MilIard Fillmore. Political
opposition has been at a loss to find acts in his
administration which could afford handle Of
attack upon him. The pure and unsullied pri-
vate character Of Mr.. Fillmore; his evident sin
cerity, frankness and directness; the blended
dignity and courtesy of his demeanor, have
long ago attracted general esteem and respect
to the man, and disarmed political hostility, in
his case, Of all personal feeling. The sterling
qualities ofhis heart, allied with strong common
sense and remarkable self-possession and self
control, have enabled him not only to pass un-
scathed through the fiery ordeal of most try
ing administration, but to bring out unhurt and
untouched, all the great interests of the country
which have been committed to his care. The
organs Of fanaticism and ofparty, may endeav-
or to decry Mr. Fillmore as man of ordinary
merit, but history will pronounce a different
verdict. He is no orator; he is no soldier; but
his acts have given his country strength and
permanency which all the eloquence Of Con-
gress was unable to accomplish, and crowned
her with blessings of Union and peace such as
the sword never achieved. We know of no
better mode of testing the competency and the
patriotism of a statesman than by placing him
in the position which Mr.. Fillmore has occu-
pied since the death ofGen. Taylor. Both par
ties are vieing with each other to stand upon
the Compromise which he gave to the country,
and both, with the exception of the ultraists of
the two extremes, concede that no man of anv
party, or of any section, could have discharged
the trying duties of the Executive with greater
patriotism, judgment, impartialiy, moderation
and firmness, than Mr.. Fillmore The same
wise, yet vigorous hand, has been felt in all our
foreign relations, preserving our faith with the
weakest nation of the old world, compelling
the most powerful to redress an insult to our
flag, and holding back our country from mad
and runous plunge into the destructive vortex
of foreign war. We may judge of the future
by the past, and thus judging, what American,
not besotted with fanaticism or party hate, can
doubt that the most certain mode of preserving
the quiet, safety, and honor Of the country, is
by continuing the administration in hands
which have proved beyond all cavil, their compe-
tency and trustworthiness!
ltis not on Mr.. Fiilmore's account personally
that his Withdrawal is to be regretted, much
as we wish all the distinction and happiness to
man OF his noble qualities, which office or
station can give. We doubt, however, wheth-
er to mind properly constituted, there can be
any great satisfaction in position which in-
wolves such incessant care and painful respon-
sibility as the American Presidency at this
time, nor much pleasure in the purgatorial path
of calumny and abuse which must be trod by
every candidate before he can reach the sum-
init of power. We do not doubt for a mo-
ment that, should Mr.. Fillmore be the whig
candidate, he will be so blackened and bedaub-
ed by party abuse, that he would scarcely know
his own face at the end of the campaign.-
Whilst, however, there is little reason to re-
gret that Mr.. Fillmore should be spared the
tide OF abuse and defamation which is sure to
assail the whig candidate, it is a most ominous
sign of the times if the people will not sustain
such an administration as the present. When
a President loses the confidence of his country
because he is true to her constitution; because
he knows no section in the administration of
the government; because he rigidly preserves
the national faith; because he resolutely sus-
Eains the policy of non-intervention in foreign
wars, which is essential to our prosperity, |
peace and power; because he will not stoop to !
play the demagogue for popular favor. When |
for such causes a President is to be sacrificed, |
then it is an evil day for his country rather than
Tor himself. 1t is solemn omen that section
llism has triumphed over patriotism, national |
dishonesty over national integrity, madness
over reason, md falsehood over truth. How
ong Republic itself can last, in which the
most virtuous citizens are ostracsed, and the |
most scrupulously ambitious can alone sue.
iced, is a question which we do not design to |
answer. We will hope, however, till there is
10 longer ground for hope, that the United
States have not reached that fearful step in the
descent to perdition.
Something Worth Knoping 1t is fact,