The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-30

| From TIE L0uisviue J,uynal.
MIR. FiIimore's Popularity tn New York
Mr. Webstcr--'rhe Presidency.
| That Mr.. FILLMORE has been eIninently SUCCESS
full in his administration of the Government IL q
fact very generally acknowledges. Even the
Democrats admit this. and their main and indeed
only. substantial objection to hinr is that he 10
most thorough Wing lie has given abundant
proofs of his ability, his wisdom, his patriotism,
and his desire to efficiently discharge all the duties
which devolve ON him as the Executive officer of
| the Government
| IL II not strange that men calling themselves
Wings should entertain malice toward such Chief
Magistrate? II is fact that such men do exist,
| and are for the most part to be found within the
| limits of Mr.. Fillmore's own State! Unable to
assa any of the measures or the policy of the Adj
ministration, these Wings endcavor to persuade the
country that MIR. Fillmore 10 very unpopular in the
State Of New York, and that if he should be nolni
mated by the Wings. any Democratic candidate
will beat him in that State by an immense MAORI
ty--a majority more than twice large any
candidate for the Presidency ever received there
Assertions of this kind are more frequently I'D
vanced than arguments, for the simple reason, as
suppose, that it ia far easier to make dcclara
ton to that effect than ii s to bring forward proof
to sustain ii.
| We do not believe that the State of New York.
which has hitherto honored MIR. Fillmore when he
has been candidate for State officers, stands ready
to give majority for either Mr.. Webster or Gene
raj Scott, while she will rcpudiatc Mr.. Fillmore by
| an immense majority. We see no reason why men
who have u particle Of common sense should act
thus, and therefore feel sure that the hostility
| TO Mr. Fillmore among the Wings Of New York
must be very limited indeed.
| The Albany STATE Register contains long and
very able article Astounding in facts, on the sub
| ject Of Mr.. Fillmore's popularity in that State,
which we have read with much interest. From
that article we learn that Mr.. Fillmore has OH two
occasions been candidate for the suffrages Of the
people of his State. The first occasion was in
1874, when, as the Wing candidate for Governor,
his vote within ,349 Of the vote given for Mr..
Clay the same year, whereas Governor Stewards
vote in 1910 was nearly five thousand less than
that given for General Harrison. 1t is well known
| that Presidential elections always bring out a
larger number of voters than elections for State
officers do; and the fact that Mr. Fillmore polled
vote nearly as large Mr.. Clay's proves that the
Wings supported him with great unanmty and
ardor Nobody pretends to think that Governor
Seward 10 not a popular man in New York, and
yet. by comparing the votes Of 1910 and ~ to-
gcther, il appears that MIR. Fillmore came nearer
polling the entire Wing vote Of the State than Mr.
Seward did.
In lS47 Mr.. Fillmore was candidate for the
Office Of comptroller, and elected by majority
exceeding that given for any other man on the
State ticket. though some of the Wing candidates
received considerable assistance from the anti
renters. Al that time Mr.. Fillmore was very ge-
morally and very properly regarded as the most
popular Wing in the State.
The question now arises-if Mr. Fillmore, as
facts show, WAS the most popular man in the State
Of New York up to the period of his election TO the
Vice Presidency, what has happened since that pc
Rod to destroy his popularity with the people of his
Slater There has been no Enlargement between
him and the New York Wings in relation to the
foreign policy of his Administration, all will ad
init that il has been very wise and successful. If
he has become unpopular, it is owing to the fact
that he has been true TO his oath of office and has
carried out efficiently the laws of the land II he
has lost popularity in New York. it is among thosc
who arc not satsfied with his support Of the Com
promise msasurcs-those who are not satisfied with
his ordering prosecutions to be commenced against
those incorporate men who violated the law in
Syracuse. If be is unpopular in New York, where
no was few years ago admitted to be the most
popular Wing in the State it is because of his love
of the Union and his infexible resolution to sus-
tain the laws. If such be the ground of his loss of
popularity in New York, is 1t not very forcible
reason why elsewhere men. who admire him for
his determined support of the Union and the Laws,
shall rally to bis support
As the Compromise measures arc enthusiastical-
ly sustained by an immense majority Of the people
Of the country, VIC think it follows Of inevitable
cessty that. for every vote that Mr. Fillmore will
lose by his devotion to those measures, he will
gain five. II would be unrc asonable to reckon 9TH
erwise, for men just likely to sustain pub
liz nh fnr ph~ft .l.:~
they are to turn against him for a difference Of
opinion to the policy of a series of measures. OF
one thing feel very certain. and that is that the
arguments that may be used in New York against
Mr. Fillmore will be used greatly to his advantage
in every slavcholding State, in all the middle
States, and in every western State with the single
| exception of Ohio. II he Ia opposed by those who
formerly sustained him in his native State because
OF his support of the Compromise, he will for the
Same reason be sustained by thousands in other
States who have hitherto not voted for a Wing
candidate for the Presidency.
Now, strongc as it may seem, IL is nevertheless
true, that those persons who fancy that Mr.. Fill
moro 10 the most unpopular Of men in New York,
ON account Of his support of the Compromise
measures. and his prosecution OF those who tram
pied the laws OF the land under foot, maintain
with great vehcmence that Mr.. Webster is very
poPunr III NEW AOtk-eO pOpular, lnuccu, mat
he, If nominated. can carry that great State ui-
umphantly against any and all opposition. Il is
true, as stated by the Albany Rsgi'to, that Mr..
| Webster, as a member OF Mr.. Fillmore's Cabinet,
and cordially approving all Of Mr. Fillmorc's
measured, must necessarily share whatever of
| popular odium the acls and measures OF the
| Administration may have excited If Mr.. Fill.
morc's support of the Compromise measures has
rendered him unpopular with considcrab Bile por-
ton of the Wings of New York, Mr.. Webster's
support of the same measures must also tell against
him with the same class Of persons. Assuming the
entire sanity Of those Wings who have turned
against Mr.. Fillmore because OF the course Of bis
Administration, il is gross absurdity to suppose
that Mr.. Webster, who is equally involved
member of that Administration, can be popular
with them. II 10 the support of the Compromise
which has offended them, and Mr.. Fillmore and
| Mr.. Webster must be viewed with similar feelings
| by them. They cannot criminate the one and ex-
4 culpate the other. They cannot prefer to the
other when both in their eyes equally cuipable