Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-06

which will be found in detail in our Last article The,
place MIR. Fillmore in An uncandid and uneuyiabls at
t'uae. AL the time his letter TO Brooks was written
no was politician seeking Gr place lie was asso.
T,aeu win General Taylor and candidate for Vice
President. In HE disposition TO shield him,eIf under
the decision of the Supreme Court he carefuIIy
avoids all aiIu'on to his former opinions, md a;
sumes that his own 'mnd is unprejudced," and il
has carried him I" the extent of settled convictions
upon phase of the slavery question which has
never been discussed in Congress" and which was
| thus presented TO him for the first time Does moi
his position smack of the demagogue and the srhen-
ing palterer for votesl If his memory was convent.
cnt in forgetting his solemn acts and votes while
arepresentatre under oath from the State of New
York, may not his conrjcons be quite as convenient
when he writes to promote his own interest as can.
dIiate for the Vice Presidency
| But, throwing aside all mere personal scrutiny up
on ms secret motives, and giving him. as We do with
pleasure, all the credit due TO him for the renewed
aeciaratons he makes to what extent do they gol-
ihey are confined to but one point and that there
ID now but one opinion in the whole country. The
most radical of the aboltipnists themselves have
| abandoned this part Of their creed (fiddnps Chase
Sunner. Seward, Birney, Gerret Smith and Garrison
nimse'i, the very arch.fiend of the abolition Pan.
demonium, have acknowledged that Congress DOS
sesses no power u1der the Constitution over slavery
as II eIss in the States aud that authority over the
same IL vested IN Diem exclusively 1t WAS the clear
est and most indu5itabe position which Mr.. Fillmore
could take. because it had only been affirmed by
tue Supreme Court, but acquesced in by the aboli.
tlonsfs themselves In announcing his sentiments in
that respect he could not from that declarations of.
tend the most bigoted slavery destructive of the
North; while, considering his antecrdents, larg.
portion OF the anxious and expectant people of the
South would be- content with almost any RESPONSE
from their chosen oracle, which could be construct
against them, and which carried with it suiIicen,
show OF fairness upon which TO make an argument.
We have thus traced Mr.. Fillmore, from his first
entrante into public life, until the month of Septem
Der, lo4o and have given tarly his opinions, votes,
| ana sentiments on the question Of slavery. The ne.
gative Qualities of his character while in Congress-
Kept hun from the expression of am opinions except
| as We havs detailed them. lie made no sp-eches
whaeVer upon any subject, If except the Tariff,
the burning of the Caroline and the death of col
| league aud fellow member, and kindred topics. On
the question Of slavery, therefore, We can trace him
only ny his letters and his votes; but they sut
c'enty distinctive to enable to locate him and to
hold him responsible to public opinion.
His position now before the country is very differ
ent from what it was in 1913. Them il was merely in
secondary position he was placed before the Union;
now, ne occupies primary one, rendering it inds.
pehsHble tor US to ascertain and know what his opn
Ions are As they, AMI they alone, constitute his entire
claims to the consideration OF the States and the peo
p!e II ne has renounced all any of the political er
rors OF his early life especially upon subject which
IS now o deeper import than any other, it easy for
him to say so; and can then Judge OF the cunsiI-
| Grafton TO which he is entitled As the case now
stands We consider his chances for success in the
pending election about fair as the pretensions OF
Joanna Southcote to apostolic succession. Still, the
result OF divided vote, especially in the South may
enure ~ the benefit Of the Niger WoKsHlPPERs of
the North quite al etfectuaIiy as if their candidate
were absolutely voted for and sustained. In Ergi.
MIA, the Black Republican nominee whoever he may
be- cannot muster enough adherents TO form an cleo.
toral ticket MIR. Fillmore has, from past associations
and party afintes, many warm and Jealous support
ers May We not hope. that if they the posi-.
o'lItv or probability Of combination in the North
between Black Republicanism and Black American.
Ism, they will lnstinctlyely shrink from party
tesl with those in the South who have in this respect,
interests perfectly Identical with them Now, as in
times OF iar greater moment in the history Of the hu
man race He that Is not with u.s. ia against u.s. and
lie thut Salhereth not with us, scattcrch abroad.
In our succeeding numbers, shall consider Mr.
Flnore's letter to Governor Gayle of Alabama, ils
consequences declarations and excavations, and de-
termlne, by analogy and comparison, how far it can
be construed into dsavowal modification of the
sentiments have shown; and, whether it does
leave him with all the destructive influences, with all
the exceptional votes which We have shown charac-
| terized his public life.
We shall, then, take the line and gauge OF his
course while in the Presidency, and eudeavor to de-
eide whether that constitutes bar to his old offences
whether his services, acts or his policy, have been
such as to close the lips OF doubt or Complaint not
wuhstanding the antscedents which have marked his
previous public life.
We certainly have not the disposition to do him
fairly scGver t or reach Ysaihts aia 6ey6nu hls po
stnn on the slavery question, Ne can, and, perhaps
shall show by bis messages letters and votes that liz
| is now occupying an anta2onstlc ana inconsistent
nostion as the candidate of the Native American or
Know. Nothing party, and that, between himself and
his associate for tue Vice Presidency there are sun
dry ugly portraits, made by each OF the other' when
may now, perhaps better he FURNISHED up, and hung
like banners the wall as harbingers OF our
victory-a lovely brace of Samese-twlns hunting
| after office, like hounds in couples
| You are no surer no.
| Than s the coal OF lire upon the ice,
| Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue ID,
10 make him worthy, whose offence subduas him.
And curse thar justice did it, Who deserve. greatness
| Deserves your hate; and your affections are
| A sick msus appetite. who dosires most that
| Which would increase his evil. lie that depends
| Upon yoar .avors swims with fms OF lead
| And hews down OAK. with rushes Hang ysi
| Trust yci
With every minute you do change mind
| And Gull him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile, that your garland !"
| WHEELING, MAY, 1880 BRIDGE CITY.