The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-17
From the Davenport (IO,oa) Gaxeffs.
Nlillanh H,lllnance


Willard Fillmore.
4 We can conceive OF no opinion Of 20 general ac-
cept1nce TO be erroneous that which awards
to the leading men of party its decision in re-
gard to the choice Of candidate for the Presiden
cy. That when the delegates OF party meet in
convention, few leading men designate the can
didate, and, by the power Of percussion" carry
their point II 10 great mistake; the people in
their primary meetings, aud editors by the tone Of
their papers, constitute the power by which that
object ID effected. Those prominent men wboat,
tend national conventions as delegates only reflect
the sentiments of the majority OF the people who
inhabt their districts, and if they have the hume
rical strength TO accomplish the object for which
they were commissioned. it is triumph of their
constituents. Decgates attend the national con
yeniions from the people, they go instructed by
the people. and. unless they disobey their inatruc
tons. reflect the wishes of the people. Conse.
quently to say man has been "sprung upon a
party a candidate for the Presidency is not
true unless, az in the notable instance furnished by
the Democratic party in 1874, entire stranger
be selected by the convention, without reference to
the wishes Of their constituents.
In declaring our preference for Willard Fillmore
as the Wing candidate for the Presidency we do 80
upon the supposition tina. tho "nobIest Roman of
them all" Henry Clay, is out Of the question. So
we can scarcely conceive sacrifice that would be
too great, If the boon to the election of
MIR. Clay TO that staton wbichof all men he most
would honor.
The satisfactory manner in which the present
Administration has been conducted, amid the diff
cultiea with which it has had to struggle from the
very outset, and the noble stand it has recently
taken in defence Of the policy pursued and enoined
upon their successors by the earlier Presidents and
to the observance of which the prosperity of
Union is indebted, recommend it not only to the
Wing, but to all parties, for continuation IL ap-
pears be fact remar kablc for its isolation, that
the sole charges preferred against the Admnistra-
ton emanate from the Union newspaper, and are
OF a character 30 vague and unsupported, that all
respectable journals have utterly refused to retail
them.
Since the election of General Taylor to the Pre-
aidcncy, country has enjoyed tranquility
that ii had not experienced Tor many years ; and
when is taken into consideration the many vexcd
questions that have arisen in the interim, the mind
must be struck with admiration of the superior
craftsmanship that has been displayed. Two OF
the most serious questions that could have agitated
our Government have been fully decided and in
manner to give satisfaction TO the great body of
the people, and win more praise from the Opposi
ton than that party have ever been known to yield
the Wings One Of these questions was Of cha
ractcr that threatened the perpetuy Of the Union;
it had for its object institution engrafcd upon
cur Constitution, one upon which men had be
come 80 sensitive that the mere utterauce of the
word slavery" gave an accelerated motion to
the blood. Yet, nervous was the subject, it has
been boldly seized by the Administration. and,
for time at least, quelled-and that, too, by the
only mean that was left for attaining such
object. Equally positive and prompt in the dis
charge OF its duty has been the Administration, IN
discountonancing from the very beginning the
piratcal attack of a number of adventurous young
men, led on by few designing ones for sinister
purposes, upon the possessions of a foreign power
with whom VIC were at peace. And worthy Of all
praise have been the ndcfatigable exertions, ultl
mately crowned with success, OF our Executive to
rescue those self expatrated young men from the
punishment which the magnitude OF their offence,
beedlessy incurred, had justly brought upon them.
But the GROWING honor OF the present Admnis-
tration has been, that amid all the excitement
which has recently accompanied the appearance of
Kossuth upon the American continent, and the
overpowering eloqucnce with which nc has plead
the wronged and oppressed condition Of his un-
happy country; alta time when minds considered
the strongest in the nation, have been temporarily
swayed, it has stood firm and unInovcd; and that
too, at time when deviation from that policy
swcryiDg towards the current OF popular excite
ment, would have plunged US irrcmediably into
The independent pursued by Mr.. Fill
more in every instance in which he has been
brought personally in view, has reflected addi-
uonal lustre upon his name, and proven that work
ing his way from the humble situation in life he
once occupied 10 the proudcst station to which man
can aspirc upon earth he has acquired experience
that fits him to be the President OF great people
The course WHICH hc has pursued in the admins
tration OF Affairs shows that, unlike some Of hIs
but to accomplish the greatest good to the largest
number. That, in language that came upon tie
telegraph wires, he is resolved, regardle-r Of
sequence. 10 carry out the constitutional rights o
all sections Of the Union, and that the honor and
good faith Of the country shall be maintained inyi
olate. regardless of the temporary popularity Of the
Administration.
.. We love him all the better that lac once occupied
a lo~ly station in life. Circumstances. II 10 n
coived opinion, make the man; but untowsrd o.
they were in this instance they could not conhue
the intellect Of Willard Fillmore 10 the humble aud
obecurc station in which he wac plnood. Bursting
all restraints water seeks its level he supe
rlor TO every adventurous Circumstance, and in tho
giant graspngs of his mind stopped not until placed
in the highest office OF the nation. Nor docs he rest
conicnted here; having gained the asccndoncy over
twenty millions Of frecincn, he now dcvotcs bis
Griug energies 10 win their affections. That he
has succeeded measurably, and will ne entirely as
did ever Prcsident-save be who was throued IN
the hearts OF his conference.-the approval with
which his actions have been endorsed by men OF all
parties furnish satisfactory evidence.