Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-10-10
Mr.. Fillmore and the Slavery
Question.

our readers as to Mr.. Fillmore's claims to
their confidence and favor We have not a
word to say in derogalon Of his experience,
his personal character. or his qualifications
for the Office but we haps record 10 pre-.
sent which is by no means complimentary TO
his consistency and integrity as politician.
To ibe facts
In 1899 he commenced his political career
as an ant.masonic member Of the New York
Legislature. In 1882 he voted for Mr. Writ,
anti-masonic candidate for President, and in
the same year was first elected to Congress.
In 1897 be was ugain returned TO Congress
as National Republican or Wing, aud re-
manned in Congress until March, le43. Du-
ring oil this period he acted side by side with
JoHN QuiNoY ADAMS, JosHuA GiDDiNes,
WILLIAM SLADE, and men holding their
views on the Slavery question. Thus, on the
9th Of December, 1897, he voted agsnst a
resolution of Patton Of Virginia to lay all an
ti-sovery petitions on the table, without be-
ing debated, read, printed OF referred. On
the llth Of December, 1898 he voted a.
gaInst A,heron's Gag. On the 18th of the
same month he voted against admitting o
resolution, drawn by Mr. Wise Of Va. deny
rg the power Of Congress over slavery, and
affirming the right Of Shareholders TO take
their slaves through free States. On the
same day he voted for resolution Of Mr.
Sade against the Interstate slave trade and
the slave trade IN the District of Columbia
On the 3lst Of the same month he voted o..
gainst another eiavocratc resolution 10 cut
of anti-sIayery positions. On the 2oih Of
January l-lO, he voted against The famous
2lst rule, pr,cludlng the reception OF anti
slavery petitions. On the oh of December.
1910, AIR Adams moved a repeal ofthis rule,
and Mr.. Fillmore voted for H. In loIl and
lsl2 be continued to vote 10 the same way
and as late as January 3, lel3, he voted the
same way on a proposition Of Mr. Morgan
Of New York, to repeal an act of the terrific
Ilal legislature OF Florida against the iiumi-
grafton Of free blacks
In 1888 he wrote the following letter;
BUFFALo, Oct. II, 1898
SIR:-l our communication OF the
18Th inst as Chairman of commit.
tee Of the " AntI-Siavery Society Of
The County Of Ere" has Just come
to hand You solicit my answers to
the following lnlerrogatores:
FIRST. DO you believe that petit
tons To Congress on the subject Of
Slavery or on the Slave trade ought
to be received, read and respectfully
considered by the representatives Of
the people.
Second. Are you opposed TO the
annexation of Texas to the Union,
under any circumstances, so long as
Slaves are held therein
Third. Are you IN favor Of Con
eress exerting all the constitutional
power it possesses to abolish the IN
ternal Slave trade between the
States?
Fourth. Are you in favor Of i'm
mediate legislation Tor the abolition
Of Slavery IN the District of Colum-
bia
| am much engaged, and have not
time to enter into an Argument, or
to explain at length IN, reasons Tor
my opinion. | shall therefore con-
tent myself for the preson, by an
swerlng all your inteuogatorles in
the affirmative, and leave for some
future occasion more extended dis
cussion of the subject
am. respectfully,
Your obedlent servant,
MILLARD FILLMoRE.
w. MILLS, Esq, Chairman.
In lsi7, as a candidate for the Comptroll-
ershp, he was the head of the New York
state Wing ticket, which was run upon
platform, which procla,ms, "since the crisis
has arrived when the question must be met,
incorporating hostility 10 the extension Of
slavery into amy territory noto free, or ,rhich
may hereafter be acquired By any aciion Of The
goUerument Of our Union"
We have thus tracked Mr.. FILLMORE down
to le4s He is found steadily auayed on the
side of Freedom at every issue, and embrac.
ing the very principles which have now be-.
come the corner stones Of the Republican
party. Mark, especially, the resolution Of
the Wing party Of New York in is47, wher
II placed Mr.. Fillmore on us ticket, as a mar
pledged "to incorporating hostility 10 N,
extension Of Slavery" In the next year Mr.
, Fillmore became the Wing candidate fol
Vice President, and ayowedly for the Dur,
! pose Of conciliating the anii-slavery support
TO the Taylor ticket. He accepted .ha
nomination as an ant-siapery man, and hii
letter Of acceptance was 80 extremely anti,
slavery that It was abs lutely necessary &c
ameliorate its extreme sentiments before
l,s publication H. was supported as an an
r'slayery man Vermont voted for him as
oNNh ntA 10 0AAl ilf WIS fltNltN a cool
ness grew up speedily between the Vice
President and Senator Seward in respect To
appointments, and before President Taylor's
death, Fillmore joined HE siapocrais m oppo-
'it'Oa 10 the Taylor policy Of adniiing The
fevitorg acquired from .Nsrico as free states
aud so complete was his enlargement, that
no absolutely united with the slayocrats to
defeat anti-slayery men who had been nomi>
mated by President Taylor to the Senate for
appointments. For this part of MI Fill
moTe's history, we are indebted to Senator
Foo,e, Of Mississippi, now resident Of
California, who testified as follows, IN pub
lie speech;
A DEVELOPMENT.
Henry S. Foote, commonly
known as Hangman Foote." was
garrulous Senator from Mssissip-
ri, aud Wlthal an active edVocate