Washington telegraph., 1856-04-23
OLD RIVER LAKE, CHICoT CO.,
ARK's, March 20, 1856.


GENTLEMEN-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your favor of
the 10th inst, inviting me to participate
with you in a ratification meeting, to be
holden at Little Rock, on the 5th prox.,
for the purpose of publicly expressing our
appreciation of the American National
Convention, at Philadelphia, on the I'D
of February, in presenting the names of
Hon. Millard Fillmore for the Presidency,
and Major Andrew jackson Donelson for
the Vice Presidency, at the ensuing cleo
ton.
| wish it was in my power to comply
with your request, for, in my judgment,
for thirty years, there has not been nom
ination, in national point of view, that
commended itself so powerfully to the ia
vorable consideration of the American
people Mr.. Fillmore, on the score of po-
litical experience alone, stands unrivalled
among American statesmen, as the man,
above all others, pre-eminently qualified,
in these dark and portentious times, to ELL
the Office of Chief Magistrate of this ma
ton. He succeeded to the Presidency on
the death of Gen. Taylor, you may say,
unexpectedly, or without previous admo-
milton, the country being then, as now,
convulsed by sectional prejudices and To-
cal interests, the dark spirit of fanaticism
almost triumphant in the North disloy-
atty in Congress (when our representative
issued a manifesto, saying the 'sUnion
would not last beyond the then session of
Congress, and secession in the South
Al It, 6
inharmonious elements, MIR. Fillmore en-
tered upon the discharge of his Presiden-
tial duties; and, from sense of duty,
and fidelity to the constitution, in spirit
of moral grandeur, he faithfully admins
tered the government, restraining agrarI-
an and abolition emlssaries In the North,
frustrating aggression and fillibustering
enterprises in the South, his administra-
tive ability, frmness and impartiality,
inspired the confidence of all parties, and
challenged the admiration of the nation.
His official duties were discharged with
such consummate craftsmanship, that for
parallel, the mind was carried back
more than fifty years of our national ca
reer, to the Administration of Washing
ton, and by his lofty, moral, and truly ma
tional policy, the patriotism of the people
was rekindled, and for time the country
almost forgot that there was any South,
any North, any East, or any West, but
that the whole nation was one and indi-
visible. He gave us an administration
purely national, peaceful and prosperous,
honored at home, respected abroad. The
Union was never stronger, the nation new
er more conservative, and the country
never more prosperous and happy, than
when he retired from the Presidency
Look at him in the private walks of life.
In youth toiling all day to secure an hon
orable livelihood, and studying the Latin
and Greek languages in night school, in
ripper years adorning the legal profession
with moral excellence and pure life-dis-
charging with fidelity the Office of direct
or of public schools; raising family, one
of whom, daughter, while the father
was Vice President of the United States,
was a teacher in one of the public schools
of Buffalo. This was Mr.. Fillmore at
home
Look at him abroad, a civilian, a gen.
tleman, an American, In principle and in
practice, exempllfylng our plain repub-
lican national character. Even the hotel
keepers we're unconscious of his presence,
until after he had modestly taken his
leave Contrast the conduct of this pri-
vate American gentleman, President Fill
more, now and for some time past in Eu-
rope, with that peripatetical politician and
French refugee, President Pierce's late
Minister at the Court of Spain, strutting
about in his anti-Republican and anti
American plumage, challenging one gen.
tleman, because his wife used her nose in
a particular manner, as the lady of our
distinguished diplomatist passed by; meet
ing another gentleman in mortal combat,
because he criticised particular style of
dress; and practising 7'hantasmagorias
in general, at the expense of the nation,
and to the manifest modification of our