Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-09
THE MODEL PRESIDENT.

THE MODEL PRESIDENT.
Other sazient points in the I'D ainistrotion Of mr.
;, Fillmore, as illustrated BY Major Andre~ S0eS'
son Donetson. .,.,.
points in Mr. Fillmores administration, which MAJOR
Donelson placed on the record during the year tnat
he occupied the editorial chair of the Washington
Union:
It will not be controverted that the cn'ei capl-
tai which Mr. Fillmore has in his presidential enter
prse ia derived from the fact that the slavery agta-
ton in 1850 was Quoted by the passage OF the COM
promise of that year. Major DoEelson had been an
ardent advocate of that Compromise, and an ardent
adinrer of all the statesmen who contributed TO us
consummation. He was, therefore, predsposed to
concede to Mr. Fillmore all the credit to which ne
was Justly entitled for any service he may have rem
dered in so important a matter. 1t was not lons'
however after Major Doneson took charge OF the
Union, before he became suspicious that MIR. Fill
more was not so good friend to the Compromise as
many people had supposed. This Suspicion was
greatly strengthened when he read the speeches OF
the President and his cabinet ministers on their
celebrated tour to attend railroad celebration in
New York. which occurred in the spring of 1851.
As faithful sentinel, he sounded the alarm, and
echoed and reechoed it, day after day. until his sus-
picons ripened into confirmed convictions. Amongst
his first notes of alarm the following, IN regard
to Mr.. Webster's speech at Buffalo, in which MAJOR
Donelson says he spoke for the President and the
Wing party:
ave major Donelsop) venture even to say that a
Just analysis of the view Mr. Webster has taken OF
the Compromise and slavery questions will prove
that the reelection Of Mr. fsl10re ''' unse.tte q"
that has been get done to deprive these questions o.
tho poper eff disturbing tile peace and tranquility
o." the country"
Major Donelson did not leave his meaning in
doubt; he went on to specify, saying:
"In 1850 Messrs. Cass, BUCHANAN, Douglas,
Foote, and other leading men of the Democratic
party, supposed that they had the sanction of the
Wing party to q comprmise which was final ad-
iustment of the slavery question, and that the obi-
cation to execute the fugitive slave law mpeached
no right of the STAKEHOLDER in any Territory of the
United States, or any Territory hereafter to be
CURED by the United States IN less than yer,
Aoeoer the President OF the Compromise OR. FIJI
aaore) is found apologizing to the abolitioniss and
solemny assuring them that their tender conscences
ought not to be disturbed because no saUe Terrific
~ can erer hereafter be admitted into the Union"
At the time of Mr.. Fillmores accession to the
presidency, the country was in imminent danger OF
. civil war; account of General Taylors MONACO
ton policy" Major Donelson asks, with emphasis,
"What did Mr.. Fillmore do in that behalf? Did
he make any effort to avert the storm? Did he do
anything calculated to take off the lightning from
that black cloud in the Southwest? No. His mes
sage on that subject, and his correspondence with
Gov. Bell, showed no feature of concation." r
"He followed in the footsteps of his predecessor,
and manifested every disposition to adhere to that
hazal dous course which Gen. Taylor had entered on
"a course which every man must admit would
have ended in civil war but for the timely action of
Congress-"
The " timely action was the passage of the Com
promise of 1850; and now we are to see what part
Mr.. Fillmore took in that measure. Major Donelson
proceeds
Did Mr.. Fillmore do anything to further that time
" action? Not that we (Aiaor Donelson) ever herad
Of Did he make any reco" mendaon with regard
to the adjustment of the Texas boundary? Did he
recommend a territorial government for Utah and
New Mexico without the Wilmot provso? Did he
recommend more effective law for the surrender of
fugitives from labor? By NO MEANS. < Under
this statement of facts it is clear that Mr. Fillmore
has done nothing to further that plan of legislation
which Mr.. Webster tells us prevented civil war. 1t
is clear also, that he is willing to gain whatever he
can at the North by allowing the idea to be enter
tanned that he and is hostile to the fugveslave
law, as an abstract proposition; while one can
claim for him any further merit in the premises than
a refusal to forget his oath to execute the laws
Major Donelson memorable sentinel he
was not content to kill Mr.. Fillmore but even after
he had crushed the breath out of him, he continued
to belabor him. In August, 1851, Major Donelson
d scovered and announced "a coalition between
Seward and Fillmore :" in these words: The Pres
ident and the abolition synagogue have shaken hands,
and may lie down together in peace and harmony"
But, lest the supplemented wings" of the South,
as Major Donelson called them, should be surprised
at such result, he proceeds to show that it was a
natural coalition, as follows:
But let them (the southern whigs) pause and re-
feet, and review the past, and they will be astonish
ed that they did not anticipate such consumma-
ton. During Mr. Fi,lmore's career in Congress he
went far the farthest in the hostility to south
ern Institutions in disregarding Southern rights,
insulting Southern feeling, and tanning the flame of
sectional hostility. Before the people of western
New York he appealed to the anti-savery feeling,
and ceurted with eager industry the aboltonists,
the anti Masons, and all those fac ions which have
been nurtured and nourshed by the wings in that
section of the Union"
As if to blot out forever all pretence that Mr. Fill
more deserved any credit for his signature Of the
compromise measures. Major Donelson repeated,
with emphasis, that Mr. Fillmore had signed those
measures under constraint and, in regard to the
fugitive.slave law, sheltered himself behind the
opinion of the Attorney General, and then went on
as follows:
From the time of the adjournment of the session
which passed the peace measures everything has
been SO conducted as to avoid if possible, giving
offence to the antislayery party of the North, or
preventing future alliances with it. Some few of the
Presidents personal friends were necessarily
died. Public opinion required change of cabinet.
Mr.. Corwn took the place of Mr.. Meredith, but the
treasury patronage remained where Meredith had
placed it. Mr.. Hall took the place oil Mr.. Colamer,
but the patronage Of the General Post Office remains
in the hands to which Mr.. Collamer had confided it.
Mr.. Stuart took the place Of Mr.. Ewing, and, des-
pite bis declaration in Virginia, the great bulk of
the immense patronage of the Interior Department
is still enjoyed by the appointees of Thomas Ewing
Of Ohio. the bosom friend of VIM. H. Seward, Of
New York.
Major Donelson determined to pile up the evidences
of abolitionsm on Mr.. Fillmore. In September,
1861 he called Mr. Fimores Secretary of the Treas
ury, Tom Corwin, to the witness-stand:
1t is well known (says Major Donelson) that in
the summer Of 1S4s at a town in Ohio called Ridgy,
Mr. Corwin, in advocating before the wing abolition