Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-22
FILLMORE on AN EXCURSION OF PLEA
SIRE.


SURE.
Enough has been said Of Mr.. Fillmore's official
conduct, 10 convince the most skepticu individual
that the Know. Nothing nominee for the Presidency
is not worthy this support of the Southern people
But, the whole truth Of mans character and oplu-
ions, is not always disclosed in his pabc acts ana
professions. 1t may be that he was under some con-
straint Of popular sentiment, personal vanity or po'
llca necessity, to enact part not III harmony with
his real character and affect feelings foreign TO his
heart. II we want to know man accurately
and thoroughly, must watch him IN his moments
of relaxation. Thus is especially true OF the pohi.
clan, who may always be suspected OF playing part
for effect, and who cannot be perfectly understood
unless he is studied iu the freedom and abandon oi
private life How often does il happen that the per-
son who struts his hour upon the s,age in the solemn
character of a moral censor, Is seen next DAY on e
streets in the uneasy attitude Of an abandoned drunk
ard; and that he who gli,iers before the fooghis III
the false briliants of fictitious royalty is discovered
in the green room in the atered garments Of des':.
condition of the politician cannot be appreciated nn'
less we follow him into retirement and ascertain "na'
manner OF man he is in private life.
T,. ru,lic ecis and declarations OF Mr.. Fillmore,
o,bib;t him in the character of an uncompron'sug
,v.rssrv Of the institutions o! the South. That he
assu,acd ,hi. attitude and played this part from no
constrnin, of circumstances, but from Inc spo'ahe
.ous impulses Of his nature, Is demonstrated Dy 'he
consistency of his conduct in official and ia private
life To-day we advert 10 single chapter OF his per-
,onal history but that will suffice to show The nheN'
ibe obstinacy Of his autagonlsm TO slavery.
1,i. an crreeabe diversion to turn from researches
among the records OF Congress ind from scrutiny
Of Filllmore's imbece Administrations to the con-
temptation of his character as displayed IN uhoe'"'
o.,s and in the uurescrve of an hour OF relaxation
from the formal dignity of conspicuous place'man.-
W. pronos. to follow Mr. Fillmore on an excursion
If Measure. and to ascertain if, under the modifying
influence of a festive OCCASION he discovered any
sbp,elnent of hostility to the South.
II was in tho month OF May, and in the year
1871 that Mr.. Fillmore escaped from his duties IN
wss;rpton and accompanied by portion OF his Cab!-
Ma, cot ont ON an excursion of pleasure through the
S,o,s of Nav York The ostensible motive OF his
Journey was desire to participate IN the celebration
Of the completion OF the Eric Rail Koad; but Mr. An
drew lack son DonelsOn protested through the columns
Of the Union, that Fimore's real object was to re-
;,s,.o b;ro,pr in the confidence Of The Ahoton'sts
or ,bs .,urol districts" The Know Nothing nomI-
nee for the Vice Presidency argued that the Know
Nothing nominee for President lost something oi Ills
popuary in the North. By his reluctant acqulescence
in the COMPROMISE measures, aud That ihe Journey IL
Dunkirk was undertaken for the purpose OF oierng
| ano,pv and atonemeut to his incen>ed constituency
! rho KnowNo,hipg nominee for the Vice Presidency
| moreover urged that the know-Nothing nominee ior
President, abandoned his post at most critical juno
ure and sacrificed the interests OF the country to
scbame Of personal promotion. Doneson was indis'
,r, q, EilImore's frirolity when contemporary oc'
crrrsncas in Cuba threatened thei government with
serious compIications. II WAS charged in the C"''n
Of Nav o9h. 1851 that "the real effect moi me de'
s,o, or President Fmores recent visit TO the peo'
ple of New York, will be the continued organization
Of an anti slavery party, reconced 10 the Conpro
| ,n;sa onlv because it enabled Wing administration
n amiliarze the people to The idea that Sf0scTy Is
oo,t,,aJ era-an evil prescribed by the Wing con-
.cience, limited 10 its present AREA and proper to lie
assocd hereafter in all the ways which nre possible
shor, of disruption ot The Dn'on."
yet notwithstanding the anathemas and admoni
,ons Of his present associate on the Nothing
| ,;cLet Mr. Fillmore left Washington and went TO
Drnkirk. Mr.. Webster, in virtue OF his position as
| bead Of the Cabinet, was pu: forward to submit nm
| oropment in defence of the Administration. His
ski in the conduct of desperate cases. had been at
tested by the acquittal of many crimna! client; and
II was Justly thought that he The proper person to
a,tsmpt Fillmore's vindication before the Abolition
ists of New York. Webster made his speech in Buff
falo. Il was an adrot appeal to the preudices OF the
anti slavery party, and elaborate apology for Fill
more's support OF the Compromise. The advocate
had to respond 10 two charges: LIST, that Fillmore had
assented to bill which did not exclude slavery from
Utah and New Mexico by express provisiou and ID
that he had signed the fugitive slave law. Mr.. Web
ster's argument the first point is fre,h in the
mory of all Intelligent persons. lie contended thu;
the Wilnot Proviso was altogether unnecessary in
application to Utah and New Mexico for the obvious
and sufficient reason, that their soil and climate
not adapted to negro labor. Slavery, he exclaimed
was excluded from these territories by the inexorable
laws of naaire; and any attempt to reinforce their
operation ty the ensciments Of human legislation
would be atimpious impeachment of Providence
In this n,exion he declared the repugnance OF the
Administrator to the expansion of the institutions OF
the South. These were his words:
uNow, gentlemen, permit me to say that speak Of
| M consessiot II The South rish any concession
frosa ns, thasronf get h-not a hairs breadth Of I"