Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-07-15


We can, perhaps. perform no more acceptable
service to our readers than 10 publish in brief
and cenr manner as possible the record which
WILLARD FILLMORE, tho Model President"
presents to the people of tho United States. Wa
do this with heartfelt PLEASURE knowing full well
that no candidate for the Presidential chair has
ever exhibited n more honorable career, or Il more
bameless private life.
his YOUTHFUL DAYS,
Willard Fillmore is in the true sense of the
word self made man, and it is fact well
thy to inspire "A spirit of emulation among the
youths OF America. that, with scarcely any ex.
ceptions the eminent men of our country have
all been the architects of their own fortunes. ut
is true" said Henry Clay. replying To the sneers
of John Randolph: II was born to no proud
pntrimonial estate :" And it was fortunate, no
doubt, that he could not point back with the &c
centric lord If Roanoke. to his honstcd line of
ancestors; for in such case, Henry Clay could
never have warmed his noble soul to the wants,
the sympathies, and the feelings of the masses.
or gained that ascendanoy in their hearts which
entitled him to be hailed as the .Great Com
moner." 1t is so in every case, Tho life of
Willard Fillmore, the candidate of the American
party for the office of President of the United
States, Is another triumphant vindication of RE-
publican institutions, as aifording that encour-
agement aud opportunity needed for the full de.
veiopment OF the Intellect and talents of the peo
pie. lie, too, has risen by his own unaided ex
crtions, to the highest honors in the Empire
State and in tho Nation. The story Of his early
career and his subsequent success cannot be too
often told to the young men of the work shop and
the farm. II should be read at the fresde of
every hamlet in tho land. and the children be in
cited to initiate his example.
Willard Fillmore was born at Summer Hill,
Cayuga county. New York on the 9TH day of Jan
uary, 1900. He was the son of farmer and
early accustomed to toll. At an early age he
was sent from home to earn his own support. aud
at twelve was placed with clothier to learn the
business of dressing cloth. Soon after he was
apprenticed to n wool curder, with whom he la
bored faithfully until he reached the age of nine
teen, and became master of his calling. Many
anecdotes related of young Fillmore during
this interesting period his life, showing him to
have been early animated by that indomtable
spirit which are the surest guarantees of success
He was great reader, and literally "trlmmeL
the midnigh tlamp' throughout this hey day OF
his youth, in storing his mind with those treasu.
res of knowledge to which he owes his subse
quent greatness. 1t may be hard for the reade
who only knows Mr.. Fillmore as the accomplish
ed statesman and the finished gent leman. remar
kable everywhere for his polished manners an,
fine sense" to imagine him pursuing his hum
BILE calling in the shop of mechanic, and wher
his daily task is done, pouring industriously owe
the ample page of knowledge, by the feeble ligh
of the midnight lamp but such are the ''smp
annals" of the first twenty years of his life, an,
true to the manly instincts of his nature, Mr. Fill
| more was never ashamed TO own hi humble orig
] in. 1t is usually the fortunate lot of ever,
| young man of genius, ut the turning point il
! his life, TO have IA patron who perceives his lat
ept talents, and assists him in finding their ap
| propriate sphere. Henry Clay had such pa
iron, whose influence controlled his exuberan
enthusiasm, and shaped the fight of his ambi
ton And it was Judge Wood, of Cayuga, VIII
became sponsor to young Fillmore, in the stud
| of his profession as n lawyer. He persuade
HIM to accept place in his office. and generous
| ly betrayed his expenses through course of lie
| gal study. We need not say how devotedly h
| applied himself to his new studies, or how h
requited the generosity of Mr.. Wood, BY his re
markable proficiency in the noble science of tn
law. Suffice 1t to say that he was competent I
leave the office in 1920, and proceeded to Buffal
to complete his studies. Having passed his es
animation, he became entitled to practice hi
profession in 1923, and opened an office in III
town OF Aurora In 1897 he was admitted a
an attorney, and in 1899 as a Counsellor in tn
supreme Court From that period he has occu
p'ed distinguished position as "a member of tn
bar.
, He Is ELECTED TO THE ASSEMBLY
WI fhmofe's first entrance into public lif
) was IN the year 1922 when he was chosen to IN
{ Assembly of New York, TO which Office he wa
twice re elected BY talent industry and ntep
: rity, Dir. Fillmore won the esteem of h;
fellow members, until they had such unbounde
confidence in bis honor aud go ID Judgment, III,
it became common saying in the Assembly
Fillmore says ifsright. NELL rote for it,
: was due mostly TO Mr.. F.'s efforts. that a rim
abolish imprisonment for debt was at that lin
! urged through the Legislature.