The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-04
THE PRESIDENCY.
se0re. L.vv In Rcsaly 20 General Guseavu
Adot,.Mus Syrosgs.


GEORGE lew In Rcply "a General Guseavus
Adots.hus syrosgs.
NEw YoaK, July so, 1856.
To yaxrs Geacos BENNETT, ESQ.,, EpIroR OF TIE
RFhALD.
In your io.snal Of the 22d instaE. there appeared
letter addressed 10 me, signed g. A. Scroggs, and
dated Rufato He says that bis letter ends all fur
Their discussion Of this subject" on his part As
do not choose that il shall end II on mine, sh AL
ADDRESS my reply to yourself
Mr.. Scroggs complains that my letter to him on
previous occasion was Published in the newspapers.
This do not think strange Of the facts stated in
that letter, in relation to Mr. Fillmore the candi-
date Of Mr. Scroggs, cannot be very datteing 10
those who ntead to support him. can easily par
don Mr. Scroggs for the feeling he evinces in his
letter. II was evidently piecemeal contribution
by the clique that have Mr.. Fillmore in charge, so
that, in fact, Mr. Scroggs had nothing more to do
with it than to sign his name, under promise that
he was to be their candidate for Governor Of this
state understand the workings Of the little Fill
more circle as there eaky spirits in every con
spiracy that is got up from motives Of selfshness
Gustavus Adophus seems afraid that shall publish
confidential letter he wrote me- He need be under
no alarm. His genuine letter is safe in my hands.
will lot expose its bad grammar and barren ideas,
even establish by its publication that the recent
letter which you published was not his production;
ard as Mr.. Fillmore had evidently reviewed It, aud
assisted in making it up, reply to it through your
journal as coming from Mr.. Fillmore.
In reference to the denial of Mr.. Fillmore that be
was subordinate to the $4,000 slave owners Of the
South, while acting President, let me nov state a
few facts 10 refresh his memory~ Mr.. Fillmore
owed bis elevation to the Presidency to the fact
that he was tackled on as Vice President and run in
on the popularity of General Taylor. No sooner
had be arrived at Washington, after his election as
Vice President, than be commenced his official ca
reer by fathlessness to all his friends who had as
sisted in his elevation, making contradictory
promises and pledges of support to different apPli-
cants for office, until he became involved to such
extent in contradictions that he had to leave Wash
ington, and run off to the country, to get nd Of
meeting face to face those that he had pledged him
self to support for the same Office. As soon rs he
returned to the capital he commenced intriguing
against General Taylor, the President, sc retly
charging that honest and patriotic man with being
the cause Of all these numerous dsappointmeRss, and
endeavoring 10 make political capital for himself
by defaming General Taylor. This was the cause
Of Mr.. Fillmore losing all influence or position
with the President, for he saw that he was
unworthy Of his confidence. While the compromise
measures were under discussion he pursued the same
vacillating course, pretending with the friends OF
these measures that he was with them, and with the
opponents Of these measures that he upon their
side. He did not possess the manliness TO assume
an open position of responsibility with either. I'm
mediately after the death OF General Taylor, when
the Presidential chair was assumed by Mr. Fillmore,
he called Mr.. Webster tos Cabinet, Secretary CT
State. Mr.. Webster hesitated for some time about
ceptng office under Mr. Fillmore, and did not do 50
until solicited by his friends and then only after Mr..
Fillmore had solemnly assured him that he would
not allow his name TO be put forward as candidate
for the Presidential nominations of 1852; but no
sooner had Mr.. Fillmore got his Cabinet arranged
and Mr.. Webster fastened in the position of Secre.
airy Of State than he began, usual intriguing for
hmself-paying the way by appointments to office,
and the grossest sycophaDcy tn the $4,000 slave
owners OF the South, in order to supecsede Mr..
Webster Or the candidate FOR 1852 This Is the se.
cret Of his falling into the Of the $4,000 slave
Of the South, and his entire subse rviency 10
that section; and by this abject submission to the
$50 900 slave Of the South he hoped and did
succeed in his hopes Of getting the support Of the
Southern delegation over Mr.. Webster in the Balti-
more Wing Convention. This was the scheme
by which he expected TO elevate himself over
the distinguished Webster and make himself the
Southern candidate. The record 81 the voting
in the Baltimore Convention shows bow
well he succeeded, and how Il was carried out
by the Southern delegates. II was this act oil
treachery the part Of Mr. Fillcore and the dele.
gates from the South voting tor him that broke the
heart of the great statesman Of the East for soon
after that Convention he went to MarshfeJ1, where
he remained until his death, and it is well own
with what bitterness he regretted that be had eve.
allowed himself to be in the Cabinet OF Willard Fill
more. At the Baltimore Convention OF 1857 the
Southern delegates supported Mr.. Fillmore. but q
great portion Of the Northern delegates were pre-
vented from supporting Mr. Webster for the reason
that he was member Of Mr.. Fillmores Cabinet
and his administration had become obnoxious be.
cause Of its ubserviency 10 the 900 slave owners
power, and Mr.. Webster, whether blsmeless or no.,
had 10 share his portion Of the odium.
Mr.. Fillmore began his subssrvency and made up
his Cabinet by bargain with the $4,000 slave
owners Of the South, placing the War and Navy DE.
partments in the hands Of Secretaries from their
section. The 900 slave owners of the South re-
quired It, az also that the Secretary Of the Iegior
whose business was with the Territories, should be
a Southern man. This was the bargain. Mr.. Fill
more should be the last person to pirate about
tional parties He did more than any other man,
while President TO divide the country into two great
sectional parties.
Mr.. Fillmore while acting President, never repre-.
sented the party that elected him nor the principles
that he was nominated or elected.upon, or that he
had professed prior his election. lie proved faith
less 10 the party that elected him-fsithless 10 his
own profesed political principles prior to his cleo.
ton. He betrayed ell for the selfish purpose Of
complaining enc mination and reelection. For
this selfish purpose he made his administration sec
uonal and subservent 70 the 100000 slave owners.
lie divided his party upon that issue and destroyed
il by seeking southern support. His appointments
were all directed TO that end. | will give you in
stances:-In the spring Of 1862, Hon. John Mex
ley, Judge Of the United States Supreme Court for
the States OF Alabama and Louisiana, died. Tue
President, after nominating William G. Mcon, Esq.
OF New Orleans, as his successor and receiving
that gentlemans refusal TO serve, nominated Edward