Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-08
ElLLMORE,S ERIE LETTER.
In the Charlottesville Advocate Of tho 2olh Of Jul
ths edtor says

In the CbarUtttsVHle auVOcate ol INC <.tn VI July
the editor says:
There appeared in the editorial columns Of the
Enquirer some time las! week, what professed 10 be
Mr. Fillmore q celebrated Erie Letter" compari.
son OF the Enquirsr's publication with authentic
copy of the Erle letter, will sEow that the Enquirer
ba. suppressed very material and large part Of the
ette-. Il this suppression was not nm Intentional
fsaud endenvorei to be pa,ned upon The public the
least OF il is that it proves the editors OF
the Enquirer to bo ,he most Ignorant get OF poti-
clans that evs. h!!ed an editorial chair. The J-iIer-
sonan published the same mutlated copy Of the let
ter in IL last issue. We inclined To do the JEFF
fs!sonian the justice 10 say that we believe It was led
into the mistake BY the Enquirer. Win the JEFF
fersonan place itself right in the matter, by publish.
ing the authentic and muti!aed letters side by side
that it's readers may wEa. ~ justice has been done
Mr. Fillmore!
1--WE will publish bcih letters in our next ISSUE
1t would have been much more charitable to have
supposed the: :he Enquirer might have been led into
the mistake in the same way that the Jefersonlan s
supposed to have been. The truth is, having occa-
sion 10 refer 10 the letter, hunted it up among
our exchanges, and published il found il,
without scanning ito identity. 1t has been publish
I'd over aud again throughout the Union in the
identical words copied and though part of let
ter VISA omitted in the copy which followed yet the
part omitted does not in the least vary Mr. Flmore's
relative to the reception and consideration by Con.
gress Of petitions the subject Of slavery and the
slave trade TO his opposition to the annexation of
Texas in the Union; whether he was in favor Of Con-
Sress exercising all constitutional power il possesses
to abolish The internal slave trade between the States
and whether he was in favor of Immediate legisa
tion for the abolition OF slavery ia the District OF Co.
lumbia.
In answer to these nterrogatories, Mr. Fillmore
says: 81 an much engaged and have no time TO enter
into argument, or to explain at length my reasons
for my opinion. shall therefore content myself for
the present. by answering all your nterrogatories in
the AFFIRMATIVE, and leave for some future occa.
sion more extended discussion On the subject"
In this portion of the letter be expresses his decided
opinion to be on the affirmative Of the several ques
tions propounded. We quoted so much OF the letter
to show on which side bis opinion was. Nothing is
more common. Blu: in what manner does the latter
part of the letter modify ha: opinion. He says he
thus frankly gives his opinion, but wouli not desire
to have it understood in the name of pledge. He
says freely give my sentiments, bu. am opposed to
giving any pledge that shall deprive hereafter oi
all discretionary power. He was not requested To
give any pledge, but to give his opinions on certain
questions, and it was those opinions with wh'cn we
desired to deal. Every mans opinions are sonec' 20
modification by information and argument. he Gays
himself II am aware tho; you have not aeked any
pledge and believe know your sound Judgment
and good sense too we'll to think you desire any 'uch
thing" i, ia for this very reason that the latter part
of his lst,sr has been omitted by others as well as
o,rsslvss, because it did not in any manner modify
the opinions he then entertained, though he lett
loon hole TO creep ont at in case necessity should
force him to act in opposition to those then cherished
sentiments.
Il vii! bs remembered oy OF! readers that du-
ring the TAYLOR and Fillmore canvass, the entire let
ter was published in the Enquirer every day for near
three non;hs, Immediately preceding the election.
But in order that our opponents may have all The
benefit which can be derived from it's publication,
give below the entire letter as it appeared in 1885
Here is the precious epist!e:
BrrFAio October II, le3s
Si.:-Yous communication OF :he lah inst- a. EAR
man of Committee appointed By the Anu Slavery eoela
u the county OF Ee has just come TO nsnd lou '
eli my ans~sr to tbe following tn'c.roSasons'