The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-18

THE FREE SOIL APPOINTMENTS OF PRESIDENT
FILLM0RE-LETTER FROM HON. SAMUEL A.
SMITH.
The following letter from Hon. S. A. Smith 10 Hon. II.
A. Shaw should be widely circulated and carefully read
The statements made BY Mr. Smith in this letter have not
been hurredy or nconsideratey grouped together bat
are the result Of careful patient and impartial inyesga-
ton The letter was written, not with view Of securing
any unworthy personal political ends but in order that
the people Of the South might that when Mr. Fillmore
claimed as a sound national man. the opponent Of sec
tonalis and therefore ready at all times to discharge his
constitutional obligations faithfully and zeaously the claim
Is as unsubslantial as IL is utterly worthless:
WASHINGTON, June T. 1856.
DEAR SIR received Your letter some time since, and
the time investigating the subject TO which you
fer In Tennessee, well North Carolina, of the
principal charges against tue present democratic admins
tration is ihe appointment Of eeoilers Office and this
charge made by the present supporters of Mr. Fillmore
for President OF the United States This charge against
President Pierce though unounded yet coming from the
IL does has led TO examine carefully the POLITICAL
rather sectional views Of the appointees Of Mr. Fillmore
during his presidential term.
This has been work OF no little labor, and has re-
qured time, which accounts for the delay in an
swering your letter.
Upon this investigation find the following facts;
st Every appointed TO any important Office by Mr..
Fillmore while President whose residence was north Of
Mason and Dxons line including three members Of lis cab
met fee-soer and in favor of the "Wilmot pro-
yisop
ID One of the leading members Of his cabinet the Hon.
Thomas Corwn of Ohio Secretary of the Treasury was
prominent db0ltioniS.
3D. Every of the appontees before referred TO, who
had taken any public position the slavery question: was
known, al The lime Of his appointment, TO be in favor OF the
prohibition Of slavery in the Territories.
4th Most OF those from the section retained in
Office by Mr. Fillmore who had previously been appointed
by President Taylor, ree-soilers Wimot provi-
soists.
5ih President Pierce has appointed TO Office since
he inauguraed who in the of 1882 and at the
time of his appointment not believed by him TO stand
on the national democratic platform OF 1882 which
pressy denies 10 Congress the power to egsate the
subject of slavery in the States Territories
6th The difference therefore, in this respect between the
two Presidents is this that while Gen. Pierce have
appointed freesoers to Office without knowledge of
the fact that they such at the time Mr. Fmores APP
Pontees in the northern States all freesoers and
known to be such AT the time of their appointment.
! have made this examination and comparison with no
view TO ipure Mr. Fillmore because think the subject
of appointments - Office and the distribution of executive
patronage small matters when compared with the
great principles now at issue between the various parties
of this country shall do Mr. Fillmore full justice in
the coming canvass for nis conduct while President,
and shall not deny him the credit Of executing faith
fully the laws of the country have taken the time to
make this investigation show the ignorance the ncon-
ssency the nsincerty Of his supporters In the south
States whose principal objection TO the present admin
israon is the unfounded charge of the appointment Of
free-soilers TO office"
Excuse the briefness Of this letter.
You're, truly, s. A. SMITH
Hon ii. NJ SHAW.