Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-09-16
Mr.. FILLMORE and the Erie Letter.

Erie letter. and toy finyd seemed II ASSENT u"
the correctness Of the declaration. Il is singu
lar that gentlemen who undertake 10 be political
teachers should not inform them seve. more &C
curately. In his letter to Mr. Brooks in l5Is,
Mr.. Fillmore expressly and distinctly feeanted
the opinion he had expressed in rega-d 10 the
slave trade between the States. IN addition 10
this, the whole tenor of his ADMIN siraiian va a
reputation of the positions taken IN thai letter;
for. while it was made his duty by the oonstitu-
ton 20 recommend to Congress such measures
as he might think promotive Of the public god.
he made no accommodation in any Of his mes
saces, approaching an ausien Ia the subjects
embraced in his Erie letter. Gu the CONTRARY,
IN his snueal message sueeee ling the adoption
of the Compromise of 1850, he declared that he
regarded its measures "a settlement, final set
tlement-in principle asd substance of the dan
gerous and exciting subjects which they en-
brace" Among the questions embraced IN that
settlement were all those still regarded living
questions, to which Mr.. Fillmore had referred in
his Erie letter Take for example the question
Of abolshing eayery in the District Of Galnm-
bia Thu, was settled by the Compromise. by
the abolition of the slave trade in the District;
aud Mr. Fillmore has pronounced thai fnal sell
element, in principle aud substance. Iake the
question Of the admission Of new slave States
The Compromise determined that Uiah md New
Mexico should come into the Union NTH or with
.out slavery, they might elect and MIR Fill
more has pronounced that final settlement. in
principle and substance, of that question. And
30 of tho other questions As regards the gen.
eral sentiment and spirit al the Eric letter, let us
whether AIR. Fillmore has not acknowledged
II change in language emphatic us could 10
employed. In 1851, he made tour through
most ofth Southern States Wherever he stop.
ped he greeted by crowds Of admiring and
grateful citizens In many places he WIS re
quired to address the people. We give lew
extracts from his speeches, which will show the
tenor and tone, of his remarks wherever he spoke.
In his address 10 the people Of Mobile, lie said
When called by mysterious dispeusatian ofProv-
liencc to responsibilities from which would
gladly have shrunk formed the resolution 10 take
the Constitution for my guide. and matter with
what prejudice, Friendships il might conflict or what
ii might personally cost me, TO do my duty feafesHly
10 the ,ahot country
Hear him again in Montgomery, Alabama. In
abiding to the nigh, Of Gen. Taylors death, and
his resolves prior 10 his Inauguration pres-
dent, he said
during ITS troubles and anNciirS, ! lHWhrdlY
suvcd to cast far from me any prejudice that might
have entertained against any section or party in he
confederacy and TO be guided only by the consttu-
ton ofmy country. That had entertained prgudi-
against institution of the South do not deny;
but my new position MS guardian of the rights of The
rlole Union Immediately following n period dpi,i9
,chicl presidnq officer Of the Senate and heard
thc question Of siapop fully discussed bV Ar aJiest dc
hbsrGttpe body Of ,Le ,eorid formed proper
and my saucahon, AND pIp So without
consulting atupe Vidunl hut solely
to the Constitution and the laws OF the land
We put the question To all just aud candid
men: have we not in the above passage
phstic and entire rtnnnoiaiioa of his former
prejudiees, besides his glorious aud patriotic ad-
ministration TO endorse his noble resolves
The Augusta Chronicle, in 1854, thus alludet
10 further expressions of Mr.. Fillmore upon tho
same subject:
Having made the tour of the Southwestern slave
States he announced the steps Of the State House
door in Montgomery that the oRh-siarerV pr3afc,y
Of has EARLY education had been bV rhat
had seen IN The South Of the happg oons,aa siape
There it is in language still more cleer pointt
and unmisakable The dnti.Sidrery prejudioes
2fhis early education had been oBLlTERATEp by
..ehof he had seen in the South fine happy co n
dition Of the STARE -
And, also, in Natohez, in the presence of thou
sands Of the people, who had assembled at
moments notice TO welcome and TO hear him. ne
thus gave utteranoe to his sentiments. We
quote from the Natchez Courier Of March Goth,
1854:
When General Taylor the venerable AMI lameuied
Gen. Taylor-died, Mr.. + heiouud himsel suddenly
transferred TO the highest station his conntrymen
could give. No idea of such event had presented
itself to his mind NATL within ten hours Of its
renee. Upon his accession, he found the count y