Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-15
VAN BCREN AND FlLLMORE-A COMPARI.
son OF RECORDS.

| In tracing the course Of Martin Van Buren, an
Alillnrd Fillmore the slavery question, we propos
TO begin at the end, and to end at the beginning /
pursuance of this plan We come first 10 consider hei
respective positions touching the repeal vi the Mis-
souri, restriction.
Mr. Van Bureu's opinion of the Kansas Nebrask
bil is presented in his recent letter 10 En Democrac
of New York. lie avows, in very distinct terms, hi
original repuguance to the repeal OF the Missouri re
stricton, frou apprehension that 1t would reviv
the auti-slavery agitation, to which he expresses
strong aversion. But, he proceeds to declare
81 am free 10 confess that have f'r some tim
past regarded this act will! more favor than dir
when il was first presented L. my confederation aS "a!
! instrument by which the Missouri Compromise wa
| 0verthrown. This may have hTiscn from The lac
That have felt myself compelled ;o.rrsa:d 1t Us III
only a,tainabc mode by whicE l..u ."u.J can hop
70 be relieved from the injurious and !enoraiiz!hg ct
tecs OF slavery agitation; or It may lave been pro
ducrd by tie great uEauinity viii! which lis prncl
pies have berI adopted, in all parts OF the country
| by political parry in which have been reared ant
upon the maintenance of which. III rs wonted purity
conScicrIiousiy believe the future welfare oil Tn
country will depend"
In cunclusogi, Mr. Van Buren distinctly indicate
his opposition to the restoration OF the Missouri re
stricton.
Now, here is what Mr.. Fillmore has to sny Of tn
repeal OF the Missouri restriction:
"Whcn LETT the Presidential chair the Whole cnun
try prosperous aud comtcned, and our relation
with ali f,rci,:u nations were Of the most amIcab
kind. The cloud that hung upon the horizon was dis
sipaied but where are we ilow Alas threatened
hume with civil war, hni from abroad with rupture
uf our peaceful relations. shall not seek 10 trace tn
cause oi ,ho change. These ar" the fncts: and it i
Tor yuu ponder upon the'n O the present admin
;straiun have nothing 70 say, aad can nppreca',
the difficulties OF administrator. iho government; ait
if the present Executive aud his supporters have
with good intention and honest hturt., nude mis-
| take | hope Gud may forgive them as do. Lou,
| aud prolonged applause. But II there be those VIII
have brought these cRiaInrs upon ihe country ~
ulGsh or dmb!ouy Objects II your duty tci!Ow.citl
zcns to hold them TO strict responsibility. The asi
| tatlun which disturbed the peace oi the country II
| 1850 WAS unavuidubie II wGs brought upon Us b.
the acquisition OF new territory for the .,ove'nle,
ut winch it necessary To provide Territorial! 40
uiuislruv!s But il l. for yuu IL say wh-ttitr III
prrsent nci;uliou which disturhs the co-ntry an
threatens us with civi! has ~" &eeh rcckleSS
! aud wantonly produced by the adoption OF measur
to aid in persona! advancv ,,e.!, rather taah III ah.
public good"
Again:
81 iac Thought that ,hid exciting aulject was Mt
: eEd and that there would be no further occasion
J Introduce II mo IIlt cglSiHilW VI S'H-iSoo'
;nral governments had been provided tor all the Lei
| ri;Jry xXCEpr THAT COVERED Bi T!if MISSOURI
! CuMPRuNi-F, ASU itU ~ srsrIcIoN :EGt ht" T"
10 be disjrrird. have no hesitation. in saying, "h"
mos' Oj yDH knoT dirrndn, that 'cGs drc'dedty "
! 6ys,d 10 me dlSiurir,.rG II Ehd' c"mpromSf. hoH
FAITH vel! rs :he peace of the country Seemed
| the ~ require ;hR. n compromise that had $1,000 10
more .han thirty years sEoH'd no, be ic"Mo",g az
;turIGd. These my sentiments then iuiiy III
,unllcs-ly expressed, verbally aud III wiring 10 a
ms friends North ald South who s"iiciten my opl'
ion. TIII- REPEAL sf|plS Ia AHt" t.FR IAHp"hH
Bon ont N mhIch issln. AL TIE Evils mar Hrm :"
E,c, iac couRi'g, scarcely t'Hrl"g /" h"p tsh'"d.
! Is it possible to condemn measure IN ""fuS
more pvuc,! aI.L cnphati" L.snpprohalInn' Ascroi'
the origin or the Kuus;.s- Nebraska bin, TO wsno
impulse of personal ambition rather than t" any III
tive oI patrcam relr"batinE 'h"repea "' the "'Sso
ri restriction III M act oi Political periidy, ana CT
nouncing il NJ tho criminal cause OF mIschieVo'
agitation, Mr.. Fillmore az far cXhnusls me ora'h"'
resources OF invecve, tha; he il constrained ~ ei
| u,oy tho language of metaphor, and to borto"
image from antiquity, to convey tho lu!i iorce o'
censure and Indignation. And mark, this ls Mr. Fl
more's present eeling aud opinion. Unlike Mr. '
Buren,, he acknowledges no change ol CONVICTION rt
Subsequent Developments Unlike Nr. Van Bure
c refuses to pledge himself again: the restoration
the Missouri restriction. IN The contrary, his IN
guage implies that he would support that measure.
For, i: 70 aSsurdy inconsistent todenounce partc
lar act the offspring of n criminal ambition and q
parent of public evil, and in the same breath to pr
test against the repeal Of that act The irresistible
ference from Fillmore's language is, that he wou
approve the re-euactment of the Missouri restrotio
Thus stand Mnrtin Van Buren, aud Mil!ayi fimo
Oh the great issue ot the Gay-the Eaiter question
the crisis.
Here this article would cad, if it were not prop
10 expose III esseutial error of fact and Of princp
| in the above extracts from Fnore's speeches.-M
FILLMORE characteriZcs the Kansas. Nebraska bill
an act of bud iuh speaks Of it MS disturbing settl
ment--.words which imply that the Missouri resrl
ton w1s intact aud uvolate up TO the day of its 10
nal repeal. Nuw, this is Il nisstatement of fact al
of principle. The Missouri Compromise was broke
and partially repealed BY the organic act OF us
Territory territory extended far North OF Il
line i36o 81 which act embodied tine principle Of Il
kunsas. Nebraska bill and which act was sanction
and signed by MiIlard Fillmore So, if the Alissou
Compromse has been violated, Fillmore wns :hc fir
| to profaIe its sanctity.