Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-09
THE Ex-pREsIDENTs-A CONTRAST.

Slilard Fillmore IL person of moderate abilities
and commonplace character. Distinction has been
thrust upon him by the accidents of fortune but hcl-
hcr in the obscrity of his original position, nor un-
der the pressure of great political responsibility did
he ever display any energy OF will quality Of i'll
teucct above tho ordinary Of mortalS who noise
lessy vegetato through their thrcc-seore years and
ten. Without the capricous favor of fckle fortune,
q plodding industry and decorous dencanor might
have ultimately raised him to tho position Of n Bank
president and a man of influence in II country vii
lace. Beyond that point of moderate success the
force Of his own abilities could never carry him.
Attached to the Wing ticket, like the tail to kite
to balance and make it so, he was elected to the
Eicc-Presidency in consequence OF detection IN the
Democratic party; and whilo quietly d"zing in his
velvet chair an imprudent meal nn'l n sudden cole
transferred him TO the White House. His soourn in
this establishment is memorable only for dismal lerccs
and thrifty housekeeping; and he left With compe-
tency for life and the character OF very proper,
good sort of person.
So far 80 good but Mr.. Fillmore Is not content
with the position towards which his native dulness
gravitutcs He aspires 10 "sccond term, and, part
ly with view to political effect, and partly to CRAFTY
that sort of personal vanity which delights in playing
the Eon he has undertaken tour through tho South
ern and Western States. The manner OF his rccep-
tion however gratifying to hs own feelings, has been
such to awaken equal surprise and disgust IN Inc
brcast of tho beholder. Mr. Fillmore is very re-
spectacle gentleman but he hardly deserves an apo
theosis. What are his exploits He has made no
mark. He was in Congress, but he left behind him
no speech or of public policy to attest his in
fluence in that sphere. Accident made him Presi-
dent and ho did nothing to justify the favor of for
tune for all the opportunities in his grasp. His Adj
mnstration is blank rather blot, in the history
Of the country. lie suffered our aas to be nsucd,
and he let peculators prey upon thesreasury nor dl
he compensate for this criminal delinquency by siii-
Gle instance of energy capacity in administration.
He suggested no salutary reforn he originated IL"
wise measure of policy. For what service to tue
State then does he claim popular ovation! ho de-
rives from the Office which he held tito to consl
deration and respect and wo would freely ronder thls
tribute to his high position. But tho personal auuia-
ton and homage which have characterized his recep'
ton in certain places, are ludcrousy misplaced and
unspcakably disgusting.
Like Milsrd Fillmore, John Tyler was the frcsi-
dent Of chance; but tho parallel runs no farther. he
had already displayed high qualities OF character ana
had achieved namo in history before his extraordl-
nary elevation and nobody dstrusted his capacity tor
the difficult duties and grave responsibilities OF the
Presidency Surrounded, embarrassed and opposed
by complications, annoyanccs and antagonisms, such
as were never accumulated in theputh of any Pres-
dent, he yet conducted his Administration to gor-
ous end, and filled one of tho brightest pages in
the history of the country with the record Of his