Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-29

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1865.
MIR. FiIlmore and Ihe slavery Question

4AOAo0AIt Nal 90 4ooo'
mr.. Fillmore and she slavery Question.
The Union and american processes to
believe that Mr.. FILNoRE's position on the
slavery issues, as presented at this particu-
Ter time, is involved in doubt-that no one
knows whether he twill favor or oppose the
admission Of Kansas as slave State" If
that journal really entertains doubt upon
these points, the fault is its own. The rec
ord OF Mr.. FILLNoREs administration fur
nishes ample evidence, which, fairly aad
candidly considered, would satisfy any one
not disposed to cavil 1t was the glory of
his administration to have contributed large
ly to the adjustmentof the dangerous ques-
tons which in 1850 threatened the peace of
the nation, and to have planted itself upon
the great principle of non-intervention,
which the Union and american claims as "the
test Of Democratic soundness everywhere"
it having been re-enacted in the Kansas
Nebraska act The Utah and New Mexi-
co territorial bills, approved by Mr.. FILL
MORE, inaugurated the principle, and in his
message to Congress in December, 1850,
he declared it final settlement" Of danger
Gus sectional slavery issues. Having in
1850 endorsed and given vitality to the
principle Of non-interVention, and pledged
himself to the doctrine of admitting new
States into the Union with such constitu-
tons as the people thereof may frame, with
or without slavery, every one knows where
to find him now, and what would be his ac-
ton were a bill admitting Kansas as a
slave State presented to him for hish la-
ture as President He is not thefnan that
would prove recreant to a record which
forms one of the brightest pages of Ameri-
can history. He would approve the bill
without hesitation.
1t is something to boast Of that the
Democratic party, in 1856, make princi-
pie which he, in 1850, by his approval, fas-
tened upon the legislation of the country,
the shibboleth of their creed-the standard
by which they measure the soundness of
their leaders-the one idea upon which
they seek to conduct the Presidential cam
paign. Who would have thought in 1850,
that Democrats in the South who, when
this principle was inaugurated, declared that
they could not rejoice, their "hearts would
sooner break than rejoice" that they, in
the language of the senior of the Union and
American, would never acquiesce," would,
at so early day as this, be using it as the
war cry to rally their partizan forces?
Time works wonders. This is not the only
evidence of the fact. But because the De
mocracy have become enamored with the
principle which constitutes the chief glory
of Mr.. FHLMoRE's Presidential record, and
desire to appropriate it to their exclusive
uses, is that to excuse them for attempting
now to make the people believe that his
position is involved in the mists of doubt?
If Democrats have changed their ground,
and planted themselves by the side of Mr..
FILLMORE, are they to be allowed to assume
and to impress others with the belief that
Mr.. FILLMORE is still opposite to them, hav-
ing deserted, whilst they have taken up, the
principle he maintained in 1850. This sys-
tenn of tactics, it appears to us, partakes
somewhat of impudence. 1t is an unscru-
pulous attempt to deprive Mr.. FILLMORE Of
honors proudly won and justly worn. But
it is way" the Democracy have They
appropriated to themselves the greater por-
ton of the principles of the Wing party,
denouncing them and the party whilst do
ing so. They seize upon whatever they
think will build up their strength, though
they may once have denounced it in the
most violent terms, and with sublime effron-
try claim never to change. An opponent
has ever to be on the alert to keep up with
them; and when fully up, ten chances to one
they do not mount into his saddle, thrust
him aside, and charge on under his colors.
In the ensuing Presidential campaign
we do not intend to suffer them to steal
our thunder We stand upon the FILL
MORE PLATFORM of lS50-the platform that
drove from our country's political heavens
the dark clouds of despair-that turned
the waiIing Of national woe into the song
of JOY and triumph-that dispeled the for
bidding frowns Of discord, anarchy and civil
war, and gave us in their stead sweet
smiles Of peace, content and happiness
And we mean, with the whole American
party, to continue to stand upon it to the
end If the Democracy wish to join US,
let them come
"whils the lamp bold out to burn,
The vilest sinner may return
but they must not expect to push Sans
boys of and take exclusive possession. The
GREAT PRINCIPLE OF NoN-INrERyESrToN," is
Mr. FnLMoRE's, and the American party
do not intend to suffer it to pass into other
hands for preservation.
Evidence of the Soundness OF the NORTH
ern Democracy.