Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-07-24

The FreesoiI appointments Of Pres
ident FilImore--Leiter fren Hon.
S. A.Smilh.
The following letter from Hon.ls
S. a. Smilll TO Hon. H. M. Shaw
should be widely circulated and
carefully read. The statements
made by Mr.. Smith in his letter
have not been hurriedly or inconsid-
efateiy grouped together, but are
the result of careful, and impartial
investigation. The lei,er-was writ
ten not with a view Of securing
any unworthy political ends, but in
order that the people Of the South
might see that when Mr. Fillmore
is claimed for sound national man,
THE opponent of sectionalism, and
therefore ready to discharge his
constitutional obligations faithfully
aud zesIously, The claim is as I'm.
substantial as il is utterly " worthless:
WASHINGTON June 7, 1856.
DEAR SlR:-I received your let
ter some time since, and ues at
that time investigating The subject
ito which you referred. In Tenn
essee, as weIi as North Caroline, one
of the principal charges against the
Ipresent Democratic ADMINISTRATION
is "the appointment Of Free Soilers
TO Office" and this charge is made
Iby the present supporters Of MIR.
Fillmore for President oil the Uni
tied States. This charge against,
President Pierce. though Unbound,
led, yet coming from The source il
does, has led me TO examine care
fully the political, or rsther sectional,
views Of the. sppoiniees Of Dir. Fill
more during his Presidential term.
! This has been work OF no little
labor, and has required some time,
which accounts for the delay in,
answering your letter.
Upon tits investigation ! find the
following facts:
LIST. Every man sppoined to any
important Office by Mr.. Fillmore
while President, whose residence
was North of Mason and .Dixon's
line. INCLUDING three members of his
Cabinet, were free Soilers, and in
favor Of the "WiImot proyiso.''
2nd. One Of the leading mem-.
bers of his Cabinet, tie Hon.
Thomas Coruin, Of Ohio, Secfe-
tary OF the Treasury, wss a promi-
nent .Abelifionisf.
Sd. Every one Of the sppoimees
before referred to, who had taken
any public position on lie slavery
question, was known, at the time Of
his appointment, to be in favor Of
! the prohibition Of slavery in The
Territories. ~
! 4ih. slost Of tl,nse from the
same section retained IN Office by
Mr.. Fillmore. who had previously
been sppoiuted by President Taylor,
were Free Sellers or Wilmot Provi-.
soists.
I 5ih. President Pierce has sp-
pointed no man to Office since he
was inaugursted who in the canvass
of 1852, aud at the time Of his
appointment, was not believed by
him TO stand on The National Dem
ocratic Platform OF 1852; which ex-
1pressly denies to Congress the power
10 iegislate on the subject of slavery
lin the States or Territories.
j 9th. The difference, therefore, in
this respect, between The two Pres
idents, is this: tina: while Gen.
Pierce may have appoiated some
Free Sellers TO ioflice wishou, q
knowledge Of the fact that they
were such at the time, Mr.. Fill
more7s appointees in the Northern
States were all Free Sellers, and
known to be such at Che time of
their appointment. i'7eh
| / have made this examination
and comparison with no view TO
Iinjure Mr.. Fillmore, because II
think the subject Of appointments
Ito Office and the distribution of Ex-
ecutIye patronage small matters
when compared with the great
principles now at issue between
1.-The various parties of this country. |
shall do Mr. Fillmore fall justice
in the coming canvass for bis con-
duct while President, and shall mott
| x 4. - i.s.e