Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-07-16
WHOLE NO. 525.
The Father Of Millard Fillmore.
correspondence Of the New York Express.

AAS = osncI Oh mlU0IQ ElImOTes
tCorrespondence Of the New York Express
BuyyALo, July !, 1855.
! should tell you something about the father of
1i'Ard iilmore, venerable patriot Of more than
IL may be Of interest TO your many readers to
know OF the welfare OF that venersbls man whosa
noble son has filed so many high places. and who
10 now the nations idol.
i have been for long time acquainted witf, ola
Mr.. Fillmore and can assure you he IL one of t6o
salt Of the earth. paid him visit recently, Of
which will attempt to give you brief descrip.
tiou. quickly observed the advance which age
10 making upon him.--the marks which time leaves
In lis unwearying fight But he shook my hand
with all the fervor of former years, and his noble
countenance lighted up with smile which time
can never efiace from my memory--like that with
which he has often greeted me in my youthful
days. I could not fail to notice that cheerful sim,
plicity which has always characterized Mr.. Fill
more in his intercourse with his friends Il Is that
dignifed, manly bearing which exhibits the most
unmistskable evidences Of the gentleman, and be-
speaks good heart. II Is very like the amicable
courteous demeanor which those who have met
the ex.President have observed, and which Is so
amicable and winning. n a,a
The old man Is In good possession of all his fac
ulties except sight wondered at the energy he
displayed at his age of life. In my conversation
with him II was natural that should refer to the
position Of public affairs and the probability of his
sons reelection to the Presidency. a8h
You will easily imagine that any father would
be proud Of such son as Miard Fillmore.
81 am not so proud Of Millard because he was
President" (said the venerable man, I" but know
he tried to do his duty, and know he was hon.
est" e
/ ventured 10 express hope that for the sake
Of the country his son might again occupy that
position.
He replied-"I do not know what may happen.
As for myself, prefer TO have Millard near me
where ! can see him, / do not desire that he
shall be President. We think that he made
good President before and hc came out unscathed.
ouknow Mr. Clay and Mr.. w ebster are gone now
here he stopped, placed his hand over his eyes, TO
pay silent reverence to the memory OF those
good and great men who were the confidential ad,
visers of his son when President 81 do not
know, indeed do not know what may be for the
best. am willing, if it Is for the best It seems
to me what we need Is honest men to fll high pIa-
ces. Let the men who are elevated to those high
positions be honest, and the country will be safe
confess that am alarmed at the condition things
are now in--but know that II the great men are
honest all will be right"
There was something mournfnl thought, In
tie manner in which he spoke.
| replied that those who desired the best inter-
ests Of this country, now deemed il necessary for
81 know that Millard has never tried to get the
nomination, said he, and il he is elected 1t will
be because the people desired IT,"
continued
Your son conducted affairs with the most de,
cided ability and for the best interests of all sec.
tons, so that his political enemies praised him"
He replied
"Whatever his enemies may say, know that
he 10 honest. IL he made any mistakes they we're
mistakes OF his head--not Of his heart. Mard
was an honest boy, he never wavered from the
truth" a4 | e
This was said with countenance Indicative Of
peaceful satisfaction, and know that gov of
pride sve)led his heart as no said it.
The old gentleman sits in an easy armchair. He
makes no .ostentatj0us show He dwells in plain
white farm house. lie Is well off, and contented.
He thinks that Millard has had honor enough, but
he can never appreciate the ties which bind that
son to the hearts of the people. That man is
dearer to many people than their own blood re,a.
tions He reflects so much credit upon us who
are the people he represents that he 10 dear to u.s.
This venerable man whose head is white with
the snow OF eighty six winters, may well say "Fhl.
more Is honest
That son. reared amid the scenes of sober
| coantry Eie-taught lessons of industry by that
noble father-which he never hasforgotten--which
4 Ia his manhood have made him great THAT
has stood among the great ones Of the earth, and
s now the admired, the honored, the beloved ofths
nation.
The venerable man asked me to sit down to sim.
pie, plain repast which had been provided-such
repast as every farmer might offer. He offered to
me the same that he offered to Mllard when he
was President at the time he visited his father in
1851. He offered the Chief Magistrate no better
than he offered me.
| How could help admiring this simple, plain,
venerable man-his cheeks furrowed by time-his
heart beating patriotism-his whole demeanor the
type Of those institutions which he loves and che
rishes with an ardor worthy our country's siresf
Yours truly,