Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-10

s-rfon the Enquirer
Facts for the campaign.
NUMBER III.

u Messrs. Editors :-We think we have
:. proven, b, the record, that by every Off
r cial act of Mr.. Fillmore, up to 1913, he
i. was in favor:
First.-Of excluding the South from al
share in the territories belonging to the
, Union.
d.-That he was against admitting
any State into the Union, with constltu-
; ton toerating or establishing slavery.
: Thitd.-That he was IN favor of the I'M
conditional and immediate abolition of sla-
. very in the District Of. Columbia withou,
the consent OF and without compensation
f to The owners Of such property therein.
Fourth. THAT he wa. in favor of the
suppression by Congress OF the free trans
r fer of slaves from one Southern State 10
another.
Flfth.-Tbat be was opposed to the ex>
ecution OF any law passed in pursuance
of that clause of the Constitution with re-
ference to fugitive slaves. or of any legs-
ton which would make it directly obliga-
tory upon the States or the people.
r Sixth.-That he was III favor of the re-
ceptlop of petitions, in every shape in
which they were presented, on the subject
Of slavery, and that in regard to them aud
all other phases of aboltionism, he was as
radical and bitter as either GIddlngs or
Siade.
Seventh.-He was in favor of the prin-
ciple, that the federal government could do
indirectly what 1t could not do directly by
the Constitution, upon the subject OF sla-
very.
Eighth He was in favor of suppress
ing, under the alleged power to regulate
commerce, the coast wise traffic in Slaves,
in vessels of the United States
Ninth.-He was in favor of the recog-
milton, and in favor of establishing minis
tsrial relations with the black republic of
Hayti, and against the recognition of Tex
as, as a State, except upon the condition
that slavery should be abolished therein
Tenth.-He was for discriminating by
direct legislation, in favor Of the property
of one section of the Union. and against
the property of another section OF the
same Union, which Processes to secure to
all its parts Oh equal participation in and
equal benefits among the States and peo-
Pile by whom it is composed.
A record thus feaIiully consistent
whether springing from conviction or pre-
judice-thus dreadfuliy portentous, wheth-
er resulting from his situation or his asso-
Citations, certainly ought not to be waved
away as shadow with the hand. 1t is
crinal to remember and point out the taints
Of his past opinions? 1t is uni Just TO re-
feet upon the effect of his example Is
it unwise to appeal to the past, when we
do not know what may be the trials Of tn t
future? Is it unfair to collate and compare
all his actions? Which is the more com
mendable, the more prudent, the safest, the
best, bind unhesitating credulity, which
will not acknowledge fault, or the mas
terly generosity which seeks to scrutinize
and to amend it?
We say this much by way of estopper
to any of The friends Of Mr.. Fillmore, who
cannot appreciate the kindness of nature
in bringing on the suppura,ion OF the
wound before the curing process common
ces. We are not willing to take him on
trust. He cannot stand before the Ameri-
can people as he now is. He must modi-
fy, extenuate, or change entirely the opin-
ions and positions he has taken upon the
subject of slavery. If no other good can
be accomplished, perhaps, a complete win
howing at his sentiments may induce him
to brace his platform, which is not only
/, enough, but too much in It's present con-
dltion, for the honest conservatism OF the
South. If he shall eoncede something to
its righteous constitutional demands it Will
indeed be well if he shalt establish him
self on the ground which the time require,
f it will still be better.
How, then, have Mr.. Fillmore's friends
how has he himsef-sough, to do away
the effect of the facts which his whole Of
ticia! life developed on the subject of sla-
very The defence, so far, is triplica;e
one. 1t is alleged that be ought to be ac-
ceptable to the South, because, first, in his
letter to Governor Gale of Alabama-se.
cond, in his letter to James Brooks ot.New
YoIk-and third, by his course as a Pres
ident. he has voluntarily purged himself
eased his Bosom of the perilous stud which
weighs upon the hearts of ouf people -
In other words, letters written while he
was candidate for Vice President when
the strongest mortal considerations were in
operation upon him. to extennate, to palii.
| ate, to modify his opinions and BY selfish
and partial professions deaden public clam
A or. We do not say it was so; but we dc
say, that no human being could be entire.
ly exempt from Influences which, under
f the circumstances, go to the credbilty o
the expurgations. We must consider toe
that in this reserve, or reverse movement
he would as far as he could conscientious
!, ly or safely go, and that the very extenua
ton itself would im6ody his extreme con
victions-would glitter all over with tn.
! new lights which Time and Experience
brought to his mind. This is the usual
process OF o'er.vaulting and selfish zeal
, which, in its eagerness to leap at once int
+ secure seat, tails upon the other sIde.---
1t is the very predlcament in which we
find Mr.. Fillmore upon this question. We
!, shall examine these much Wanted letters
and see where they leave him-see what
changes of sentiment he has undergone
, and What CONVICTION he has of his duty un.
, der the constitution. If they can be tax en-
, in the sense in which they are too evident.
, " Intended, by judicious mind, aftel
the evidence which will be presented in
connection with them, we will acknowl-
edge that we have underestimated the ex-
tent of human simplicity and human cred
Unity. But we are not presenting a one
Ia,