Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-10-11

Fillmore Oh Slavery, copied from the Rich
mond Enquirer Of June last His record
upon that subject is much longer than We
anticipated We give enough of it, how,
ever, to quiet all doubts as to his position on
this all absorbing question
The Erie Letter.
BUFFALO, October II. 1888.
Sir y our communication. as Chairman
of a Committee appointed by the anti-slave-
ry society in the county of Erie has Just
come to hand You solicit my answer to
the following interrogatoiies
ftfst.-Do you believe that petitions to
Congress on the subject of slavery and the
slave trade, ought to be received, read and
respectfully considered by the representa-
tives Of the people?
Second.-Are you opposed TO The annex
ton of Texas to this Union, under any cir
cumstallces, so LONG AS SLAVES are held
therein?
Thfrd-Are you i'll favor Of Congress
exercising all the constitutional power II pos
sesses, to abolish the INTERNAL SHAVE YaApE
BETWEEN TILE STATES
oa1fh.-Are you in favor of IMNEDIATF
legislation for the abolition OF slavery in the
District Of Golu,nbia2
j aia much engaged and have 10 time to.
cutter INTO N argument, or to explain at
length my reasons for my opinion. / shall.
therefore fer the present, content myself by
answering all your interrogatories in the Az,
FIRMaTIsE. and leavefor some future occasion
more extended discussion of the subject.
Very respectfully,
WILLARD FILLMORE.
To these four inquiries, each asserting a
serarate substantive proposition, Mr.. Fill
more returns q si,nnle affirmative reply--re-
serving an exposition of the reasons for his
opinions to some more convenient season
He very soon found that convenient season :;
for bei1g elected to the House of Represen-
tatives, he had ample opportunity to Illus.
trate the sincerity of his zeal dgainst slave
~. That the declarations of the Erie letter
to wit II favor of receiving, reading and
respectfully considering petitions on the sub
jeet of slavery and the slave trade; against
the annexation of Texas, under any circum-
stances, so long as its constitution tolerated
slavery; Tin favor of Congress exercising
all the constitutional power it possesses TO E.
abolish the internal slave trade bet geen tle
States = and in favor of immediate lee;sla-
ION for the abolition of slavery in the bis,
triet or Columbia;" that these prineples
We're adhered to with undertaking fidelity and
supported with all the energy of his nature.
is ineontestibly established by Mr.. Fill
more's
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
Mr.. Fillmore entered the House of Ren-
resentatiyes 1t was not long before he re-
yealed himself; for on the 18th of Decem-
Der, 1857, MIR. Adams presented petitiou
praying Tor the abolition of the slave trade
III the District of Columbia, and moved that
1t and others be referred to the committee on
the District of Columbia, with Instructors
to consider and report thereon Mr.. Wise
moved to lay that motion on the table---veas
and nays ordered on that question-veas i35.
nays 20. Adams, Fillmore, Slade. Gid
dings a TO, il the negative. = Cong. Globe,
rot. 6, la 49,
Dir. Adams then presented petition for
the abolition of slavery in the Territories of
the United States, and moved its reference
to the committee on Territories. Mr.. Wise
moved to lay the resolution on the table.
yeas and nays ordered-yeas III. NAYS Y.
Adams, Fillmore, Giddings. Slade & Go. in
the negative Con. Globe, col 6, %. 20. I
Mr.. Wise, of Virginia, on the 18th Of
December, proposed II series of resolutions.
among which one viii he found which asserts
d. trine, on tie fagitice stare ians, that
may enable lis to CLEAN in some measure the
opinions of Mr.. Fillmore upon that subject
the very one now upon which his entire
eialms IN the South repose. .ss,
MIR Wise asked leave to, submit the fol-
lowing reso lutions, as propositions contain-.
ing his sentiments, and what he believed
to be the real sentiments of the whole South
/. Resolved, That Congress has no pow
er TO abolish slavery in the District of Co.
lumbia, on IN the Territories of the United
( States, whether such power in the said Dis
triet or Territories be exercised as a means
or with the view of describing and over
throwing slavery in Che States or not.
2 Resolved, That Congress has no n now-
cr to abolish the slave trade or prob;lit IN.
removal OF slases between the States. or be-
tween the States and the District of (olum-
bia Or Territories of the United States.
g. Resolved, That Congress cannot re-
ceive or consider petitions for the exercise
of any powers whatever over the subject of
slavery, which Congress docs not posse6s.
4. Resolved, That the Laws of Congress
alone govern IN Prescribing and regulating
the mode and manner in which fugitive
slaves shall be apprehended, and their rights
to freedom held in the -slayeholdis~
States, District of Columbia, and territories
and the mode and manner in which thew
shall be restored or delivered to their owners
III the slave States.
3. Resolved, That Congress las NJ row
er b impose uponong STATE, he abolition
u sitn,eiy IN us limits as a condition of al.
mission into Tie Union.
8. Rosc'Hol, That the citizens Of the sla5c.
holding States of this Union have the CON
stitutional right, potuntari7g, to take to- or
through non-slayeholding State, and to 50.
lonrn orremain temporarily with such slaves
N the same, and the slaves are not thereby
'F&o .faef4, emancipated /; and tie .soNsea
government is constitutionally tosiaS "a
protect the rights of slaveholdine Stntes. and
that the laws of non-slaveholling States in
conflict with the laws Of Congress providing
for such protection, are null snd weld