Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-08-09
From the Richmond Examiner

which was the result ola demand from the
South, and which obtai.lt'u tilore than bet
acqulescent sanction. All the rest were
! Objectionable and offensive TO the mass OF
! her people, and were concessions TO Nor
! thern aggression and fanaticism. Ii was
| al the impetious demand of the Forth
that California was admitted as a free soil
State, and thus one-tbird Of the federal do.
main which lay South of $50 80, and
which belonged Of right to the South
the whole Pacific coast, was surrendered
to free soil The Utah bill was not con-
cess ion 10 any deman,. from the South, but
was passed will, clause which abrogated
the Missouri Compromise, in the teeth o.
the South's repeated prol1ers of that line
as the continued basis Of peace. The
New Mexican Territorial bill was pass.
ed with clause in like conflict with a
solemn compact between The Union aud
Texas, and the forth and South, embod-
led ii the Texas resolutions oil annexation.
The act TO suppress The slave trade in the
District oil Columbia was passed. IN oppo-
sitiou TO the South solemn protestatlons
aud circumstances, exclusively al the bid
ery measure in the schedule Of 1880, save
the Fugitive Slave Law, was liz conflict
with the SoutE's sentiment Of equality
Justice aud right as Il member OF the Union,
and obtained I.er acauiesccst support only
in consideration OF The two inadequate
considerations which she fell, ct The time
tina! she Ideally purchased by their enact
ment; viz: the defeat OF the Wilmot
Provsso, and the passage oil the Fugitive
Slave Law.
The degree of cordially and alacri,y
with which MR. FILLMORE signed his
name TO this bill. and executed 1t after lis
enactment, is therefore the best, if not the
exclusive test OF MI. FiLLMoRE's sound
ness on the slave question, Sc lar rs those
meastres were concerned. Yet it SO hap
pens that This FusiGFe Slave bill was the
oily one Of the whole series of Compro-
mise Measures o. 1850, 10 which he hcsi-
tated attach his signature, and upon The
consttutioraity OF which he demanded
the advice OF his Attorney General -
Pledged to signed every bill Of Congress
not clsaiy unconstitutional. the very tact
that he hesiated 10 attach his signature 10
this bill proves his strong repusuanee 70
tie measure and magRiiies the signilican-
cy of this delay.
The inference of his hostility to SontA
era institutions from his hesitatioas 10
sign thc Fugitive Slave Law, has been
found so slrong that bis friends have
found it necessary to elicit an explanation
from the Attorney General Of his Cabinet,
who submitted the Il, eumen. ey which he
was induced 10 tx his sigpiti;ie 20 the bill;
and Mr.. CR,irENrEN has responded 10 ms
solicitation in the following letter. We do
net doubt Mr.. CRlrTENDEN believes what
he nov supposes in his letter but his al
legations are contradIcted, nevertheless.
not only by cotemporaneous Interpretations
OF MIR. FiLLMoRE's delay, but by the more
conclusive testimony OF MIR. FILLMORE
own lips. Here is MI. CRlTTENDEN's re-
cent letter on the subject:
Wssa'NGroN. July II, 1856.
My Dear Sir.-ln answer TO your leiler OF
The 4ih oil July, | reply that neither during his
administration, OF al an time, did lie ever say TO
me, or III my hearing, THAT the fugitive slave
law was unconstti,lpral,n or anythiugto that
effect Neither is il true "lhal il was py your
a
could be induced 10 sign the bll.n For the
purpose, as ssppose, OF actin ., ana showing
thai he acted, deliberately aud advlsedly on SO
important subject, he required me, as the law
officer oil the Government, TO give my opinion
in wiling III regard TO the cons.itu!lonahty OF
certain clauses oil the bill, and did SO. De-
lleye that he also consulted, as u,ual, all the
members. This was done, no doutt, out of re-
specl Tor his Cabinet, and secGre 10 his Conduct
lhe highest sanction which The advice OF his
CABINET counsellors could give a i The mem
befs OF The Cabinet, believe, advised in favor
oil The bllij end in so doing only concurred, as J
understood, in the Presidents own opinion on
The subject
There was no Urgency or solicitation TO M.
Fillmore 10 sign the bill, that know OF. GER
lainly used none nor did ever suppose thai
any was necessary. MI. Fillmore, | have no
douat sgned thai bill freely, and in obedience
only 10 lis own convictions aud sense Of duty,
The above will atloId YOU, hope, sir, a Hui
answer 10 you enquiries, and have the honor
10 remain,
Very respectfully, yours, &C.,
J. CRiTTENDEN.
That Mr. CRiTTENpaN SarmiSe8 are
wholly at fault IN this matter is easily
show. When FIRST a,saileG at the North
for sanetioGing this law. Judge CoNKIN,
Mr.. FILLMoRG's lohg and intimate friend
and neighbor. and his Minister to Mexico
excused the act TO his desire TO secure the
other measures Of the Compromise. Alu-
ding TO this charge oil Inconsistency, Judge
ICoNKL,N said
am aware Of the persistent, and I doubt rot
TO some extent successful, industry with which
Tor years he has been exhibited by those no
had formed different estimate of his character,
in an attitude that, had believed il to be Just,
would have rendered Inconsistent ia me, hold
ing the principles do relative to slavery, 10 IA
vor his elevation to the Presidency under any
esea,f,laneea But in imputing TO him will
insness TO extend and foltiiy slavery, am per.
suaJed his assaiants haze done him an injustice.
| believed, Oh the contrary, that he still holds
slavery, III the abstract, as he Is known former
ly to have done, in as great adherence as they
do The evidence constantly cited to justify
This charge is lhe fact OF his having affixed his
signature 10 the fugitive slave vii. The alter
naive was to nlerpose his veto. But no ore
had right to expect him TO do THIS, for he had
no right himself to do it. Enher from doubt
about It's conslationalty, or Difference 10 the
opinions O. those who questioned ii, he did oaopt
the usual precautlou OF submitting ihe.bil. to the
examination The Attorney General and asking
his opinion Of its constilutlonality 10 have
vetoed il under the very extraordinary circum.
sapees Of the case, would have been, TO say the
least, alpable violation of the ConstitntIoa, =
No enlightened man who understands the sub.
,eCt can doubt this and no sueh man con heyp