Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-03-29
DAILY VIRGINIAN.


which he was received in that city. The Jour
nal says il has a full report Of his speech, but i
induced to withhold it,n Obedience 10 what il nm
ders'ands to be the wish of Mr. Fillmore--who il
anxious to strip his tour through the South of ev
cry appearance of political objects. The sum
mary published will be read with great inter- st
and received with full confidence. as an honest
and frank avowal of tho motives which controlled
his conduct, while at the head Of the government
Fortunately for him, what he had 10 say was not
in the nature of Defense trayersing the drift Of
history. and the current If public aPinion--but
rresponds with the conclusions 81 al anpreju-
diced minds. and accords with he established
Judgment of the times. To fhe people, WIN love
WILLARD FIIdMoRr, because he discharged fifth
fully and nohy the high trusts which fell into
hi hands-ieesuse entertaining the prejudees
Of sect, n. he acted with the courage and patri
otism of "a national man, an Ameriean-bccanse
elevate To ne pinnacle If earthly grandeur, he
bore hi, henors meekly-tbese asowals of the
principles that guided his administration, aud the
feelings thai prompt, hs course. viii come With
all the convincing virtue derived from abe fact
that they fell from the lips of a man who, though
much trusted and strongly tempted, has never
betrayed nor deceived them.
Mr. Fillmore said. an rising, that he felt ex-
ceedingly embarrassed in heing called :, for the
first time in his life. 10 address an audience like
the one before him, and that he sinces civ hoped
there chirl' preseui "taklnh notes nut
that what he should utter might be forgotten with
tn occasion. He was at loss 10 understand
what motive could have prompted such great
and unexpected expression ct regard on the part
of the citizfns of Kentucky. lfiie were in the
actual possession Of the power which il was once
his fortune % WELD, or even again seeking that
position. lac might an object for such a mani
festatioa; but here am, said he, neither holding
nor seeking offioe, with nothing asa private or
public ma L. which, in my own estimation, should
call forth sunh testimonial as this. To nothing
said he. can attribute il but real Kentucky hos
pitahty, which ~esks an object whether worthy
or not, and lavishes upon that object It's own gen
crosby. Mr. Fillmore said that il was his mis-
fortune to be. without his solicitation aud GER
taialy against his wishes, called to the admins
traiion Of the government.
He had not even sought the nomination for the
Vice Presidency. an none could be more
prised than he when 90 learned that he was nom
mated. Ii was only ten hours before General
Tay lor's death that be had any thought that his
illustrions friend was in danger. The knowledge
came upon him like peal Of thunder from clear
sky lie felt wholly unprepared for the great
responsibilities about 10 deYoye upon him.
Though he had been for many years politician.
b. could say thai the only sleepless night he ev-
er passed on account Of political anxiety was that
on which Gen. Taylor died. His sleepessness
arose from his deep feeling of the weight of the
duties Unexpectedly devolyed upon him. He re-.
viewed during the hours of that night his own
opinions and bis own life lie was sensible that
h. bad drunk in with his mothers milk and cher
lshed from his youth up feeling, even preju
dioe against slavery. lie endeavored to look up-
on this whole country, from the fer.aest c,Toer
OF Maine to the otmes. limit, Of Texas. AZ bat
one country. the country that had given him
1irth' He saw ! the gathering clouds in The
North and in the South a storm which wa. hike
ly To oyerwhelm him, and he feared, his country
also, but he took the constitution and the laws as
his only guide.
He wen knew, that by so doing, he must lose
TIL friendship of many prominent men of the
country. especially in his own State, aud eneoun-
ter their reproaches, but, tu IN this wa~ moth
ing The man who can hook apou creis with.
ca ing willing to offer himself upon the altar of
hs aaItry is not fit for public .ra,l On the
ash OF Gen. 1aylor's death, tie mcnhcr- of
hi- cat met presented 10 me their resignation, 49,
| orehned 10 look nj them, first, because deem.
ed !, respectful to the honored dead that | should
not 1nnSlder hy what means should carry ON the
government until he decentlv inferred, and
e'cohilY' h"con this avalanche OF responsible
y had idlru upon me unpreparcd desired nj
iensta lev i"prr to rehect un what il wa my dn-
fy 10 do. Here was cab net selected nv ON
layt"f several of them my personal friends.
"h"in ! would do anything IN my power To- serve,
sl ~ II endangcrlng the p'aoe of my country
kne ~ however. that their policy was not such
as l could approve. saw that the executi, q
power OF the government, and the Legislative
were III opposition to each her aud that while
tins state OF things continued, peace could never
be restored.
The question therefore presented itself 10 me.
sllali retain this cahine select a new one 7
The latter course was adopted: but YOU can
scarcely conceive the difficulties of the po,ition
In which this decision placed me. When our
Presidents are elected, they have three or four
months, before taking their Offices to select men
slte a to act as heads departments hut this duty
CANE upon me III half day. requested the mem
otfs OF Toe Taylor cabinet to stay thirty days and
:" give me an opportunity TO look around and Sc
lect Their successors; but they respectfully de.
chned. Thus, while the storm was eoningnp in
the North AID in the Soulful was Suddenly called
10 administer the government without a cabinet,
ana without time to select one but thank God
was not long IN this situation. ! was 40 fortu-
nate as TO obtain u cabinet the members of which
and myself always agreed in opinion; and in all
acts' we acted together. In that cabinet YOUR
own honered Kentucky honorably represen-
1o. sun said MIR Fillmore, the great difficulty
remained. The question arose, what was "a h.
donei " ''
In Texas and New Mexico, civil war threat,
ened. Texas made preparations to take posses
SION OF a portion of New Mexico He felt his
duty TO maintain the laws of his country. One Of
the laws required that the people of the Terrific
ny OF New Mexic" should be protected. As a
means OF protection, he Immediately ordered a
portion OF the army and munitions Of war to the
frontier OF Texas to do duty there. The army was
put in notion and then, and not lin tbon Aid
Congress act nllnn the suhiect H.. ii ~