The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-04-02
Gbt Rt9lsttr.
MIDDLEBCRY, APRIL 2, 1856.
Judge Conkling on Fillmore.

uNSO OO44hlihSo Oll Il llLLuOISs
lIon. Alfred Coukling, of New York,
who was appointed Minister to Mexico
by Mr.. Fillmore, has written an able let
ter, giving in his adhesion to the Ropub
lic,u movement. The high character of
Judge Conkiing is everywhere conceded,
and his accession to the Republican par
ty, is hailed with great satisfaction by
Republicans in all quarters. He has be-
come alarmed by the aggressions of slave
ry-in common with SO many others at
the North, who, like him, have been " con-
sentative on that question-and thinks
these encroachmonts can only be efici-
emily met by uniting in one phalanx all
tho opponents of slavery.extension.
The views Of Judge Conkling so fully
coincide with those we have constantly
advanced during the last two years, and
his language ia regard to Mr.. Fillmore,
likewise, is so candid and SO in contrast
with the course of leading Republicans in
somo parts sf Now England, that we sub
Join hi. testimony on this head not only
as an approval OF our own course, in re-
spcci to Mr. Fillmore, bu! as acommenda.
bio example. We agree with the Wind.
scr J0urnal, that =" it is time that it was
understood that abuse of Mr.. Filmores
administration is not necessary Gle.
ment Of successful resistance to the slave
power" Judge c. says;
OF this gentleman. Mr. FILLMORE,
have to say few words, that are due a
! 10 to hun and to myself The friend
Is relations that have long subssted be-
tween US the high opinion entertain
Of his patriotism, integrity and talents !;
the confidence he saw fit to repose in me,
and the great personal kindness receiv.
cl at bis hands while he filled the Pres.
idcntial Office, all conspire to render it
painful to me, to withhold my support
from lim and had ho been brought for
ward under other auspices, as l cherish
ed vague hope he might be, it would
have afforded me a corresp onding degree
of satisfaction to yield him that support.
am aware of the persistCnta aud doubt
not, to some extent, successful industry
with which, for years, he has been oxhib.
tied by those who had formed different
estimate of his character, in an attitude
that, if | had believed it to be just,would
have rendered it Inconsistent in me hold
ing the principles do relative to Slave.
~, to favor his elevation to the Presi.
dency under any circumstances But in
imputing to him Willingness to extend
aud fortlty Slavery, am persuaded his
nsailauto have done him Injustice. | bo.
lieve, on tho contrary, that he still holds
slavery in the abstract, as lie is known
formerly to have done, in as great abhor
renee as they do. The evidence con.
stantly cited to justify this charge is the
fac. of his having shxed his signature
to the Fugitive Slave bill. The olrer
native was to interpose his veto But
10 one had right to expect him to do
ahis, for he had no right. him self, to dt
It, Either from doubt about its consti
tutionality, or out of difference to the
opinion of those who questioned it, he
did adopt the unusual precautiou of sub
quitting the bill to the examination o
thu Attorney General aud asking hi,
opini1n Of its coRstllu.ionality 70 have
vetoed it under the very cxtraordinar,
circumstances o. the case, would hay,
been, to say the le-s at, palpable viola
ton Of the spirit Of the Constitution
No enlightened niau who understands III,
subject eau doubt this, aad no sucIl mat
can have been sincere in casting censur,
upon Mr. FILLMORE for adopting the op
posts alternative.
With regard to the precautions lie say
at, III some Instances, to take for the pur
pose Of iusuring the enforcement Of til,
act, if they appeared, even to some i'm
partial minds, indicative Of undue zeal
it shoCld not be forgotten that the cas-
was one admitting of no halfway meas
ures, and that 1t presented, therefore, n
other alternatives, except either such
display Of the national power as cT-ctu
ally to fOrestaA opposition By renderin.
it hopeless, or total abstinence from al
Interference, In word, then, my OF
lection to Mr.. ElLLMoRE is that, thougl
by the act of others, aud il bis absence
from the, c0Hatr?, he stauds before th'
public Us the representative Of principle
and Of a policy which | abhor, but t,
which, should he be elected, he woul,
feel bound to adhere, Whether his per
sonal friends have acted wisely, or Ovei
justly. towards him, ia permitting thi
to be hone, aud whether, had no bee
present, be would have consented to il
l must DO permitted strongly to dour'
Be this as 1T may, the objection to me
iusuporable and, If required any othc
reason for Withholding my support fror
him, ! should find is in what appears T.
ma to 10 the utter hOpelsssness Of 30
effort to secure bis election"