Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-13
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1855.
MIR. Fillmore and the Fugitive
Slave Law,

hS mOSI SlOoIIg IuelI uespeTdJlO0, is Lle
attempt to show that Mr.. Fillmore is en-
titled to no credit for the passage of the
Compromise measures, and his firm and
faithful execution of them after they be-
came laws. Gen. Harris labored on this
point as earnestly at Lebanon, as we pre-
sumo the mountain did, when it was deliV-
cred of its mouse. There was not word
on record, he contended, which could be
produced as evidence that Mr.. Fillmore re-
garded them favorably during their pen
dency, and he more than hesitated to yield
them his approval after their passage. To
support this position we were mortified to
hear the speaker argue, and earnestly and
Solemnly aSSeverate that it was the SWORN
duty of the President to have sent mes
sage to Congress, while the measures were
under consideration, to tell them whether
he approved them or not. We know Gen.
Harris will not thank US for putting this
absurd argument in print, but he must ex-
cuse US for doing so. 1t need only to be
stated, that every sensible man may appre-
ciate its utter Righteousness.
Stress is also laid upon the fact, that be-
fore approving the fugitive slave law, Mr..
Fillmore referred the question of its cOnSti-
nationality to Attor Gen. Crittenden, and
the absurd inference is drawn that, if Mr..
Crittenden had not been the Attorney
General, or some one who maintained its
constitutionality, that it would have been
vetoed. Mr.. Fillmore acted properly in
taking this step. The bill had been opposed
in Congress on the ground Of its uncOnsti-
nationality; and if we recollect Alright, there
were some supporters of the bill whose
opinions on that point were not very clear
and decided The law was intended as
measure of pacifcation-it was, perhaps,
the most important in the series. The
President so regarded it, and intending to
give it his official sanction, he desired that
it should 60 to all sections Of the country,
relieved of every doubt as to its conStitu-
tionality, aud stand or fall upon its merits
as measure of justice and right. With
this view he demanded the opinion of his
legal adviser provided for him by the Con-
stitution, and in bis message returning the
bills to Congress with his approval, he
states the fact that that officer pronounced
in favor of its constitutionality.
But we have some cotemporaneouS dem
ocratic evidence that President Fillmore
was sincere and honest in the approval
which he gave it, and determined to enforce
it at every hazard On the Sd November,
1850, the Washington correspondent of
the Richmond Enquirer, the leading demo-
cratic journal of the South, nolo Mr.. Fill
more's virulent enemy, but then his exc
travagant eulogist, wrote as follows to that
paper:
"a distinguished gentleman from the
WeSt-an ex-Senator-called on Mr. Fill
more, and after exchanging the usual cour-
tesies, was asked by the President how the
fugitive slave bill was received in the West
The reply was, that the law, although I'M
popular in his State, would doubtless be
enforced. The remark was playfully made
that, as the President was sworn to pre-
serve, protect and defend the constitution
and laws he, (the ex-senator presumed
Mr.. Fillmore would execute THIS LAW"
"To THE VERY LETTER, Sir" was the instant
reply of the President, 'To THE VERY LET
TER, SIR, WHATEVER MAY BE THE CoNsE-
QUENcEs" This reply was worthy the
palmiest days Of Old Hickory himself"
The Washington Union, edited by Hon.
Andrew j. Donelson, copying this few
days after, added the following:
1T gives us pleasure to state another
anecdote about the President, for which
we vouch, as we had it from two gentle
men of the West, with whom the President
had Just been in conversation yesterday
morning. They were applying to him for
the appointment of a gentleman as Attor-
new for the U. S. in one of the Western
States. After discussing the qualifications
of the candidate, Mr. Fillmore remarked
that there aoas another qualification 'ohica he
considered indispensable. He SAID he WAS
DETERMINED TO EXECUTE FAITHFULLY THE FU-
GIrIvE SLAVE LAW, AND WOULD APPOINT No
MAN TO OFFICE WHO MIGHT BE CALLED UPON
TO ASSIST IN THE ADMINISTRATION or THAT
LAW, WHO WOULD NOT ZEALOUsLY COOPERATE
IN ITS EXECUTION"
"On another occasion we understand,
from good authority, that the President
declared 'tkat fhe lai0 should be erecHfed at
ererV hazard-eren at the risk Of blood"
"Th;s is the spirit alone in which the
Union can be preserved"
The National Era, the abolition journal
at Washington, speaking of these incidents,
says:
at seems, then, the infamous Fugitive
law is a cherished measure Of ne present adj
ministration. A mans fitness for office is
to be judged by his opinions Of that law.
In its superabundant zeal to secure the ar
rest Of runaways, under law which fur