Washington telegraph., 1856-04-02
~ We transfer with unfeigned pleasure

per. the "Memphis Morning Bulletin the
following dignifed and truthful tribute to
Millard Fillmore. While the editor admin
listers courteous rebuke to that partisan
zeal which is too much disposed to overlook
whatever real service political opponent
may have rendered 10 the country. he awards
the just need of praise to statesman who
never faltered in the discharge of his duties
as the President of the Republic:
The appeal" on Mr.. Fillmore.
We regretted to see reproduced yester-
day morning in the columns of our usually
fair and dignfied contemporary of the "Ap-
peal, fragment of a letter written by MIR.
Fillmore in 1888, which makes him seem
at that time to have entertained strong anti
slavery sentiments. This portion of the
letter was extensively used by the demo-
cratic press and speakers in the canvass of
1913. against Mr. Fillmore and Genl Tay-
lor, aud the defence of him made by his
supporters, of which tie acholc letter is sus
ccp;ible. 1t is one of the staple articles of
clap-trap of a party campaign-has had its
day like other clap-traps of heated parti-
zans-and, as bone which has been thor
oughly picked was thrown aside into the
gutter of politics. That our friends of the
Appeal therefore should fish it up from
among the offal of party, and reeook it into
such a Soa1'e ntGigre as the suhjoined, some
what surprises US. The Appeal" says
g The germs of Black Republicanism
are easily discernable in this letter, and I'M
less Mr. Fillmore has recanted the opinion
expressed. or unless he is entitled to the
/ benefit of the statute of limitations upon
them, he falls far below the standard of na-
tionaltv which the Know Nothings erected
at Philadelphia in June. 1855. These are
not the times to entrust men in the Exccu-
tive chair who are at all cquivocal on the
issues involved in the next Presidential con-
/ test
We say such paragraph as this in the
Appeal founded upon no higher ground
of suspicion than this fragment of an old
letter, surprises us fyr we have been ac.
customed to find in the political disserta-
tions Of that Journal, views both of men and
measures which rise above the mere slang
of party, and which mount to the dignity
of the philosophy of politics. In this in
stance. we say 1t IN regret more than inten-
tional d;scourtesy, it has fallen much beneath
the dignity OF It's deserved reputation
The reputation of a public man is pro.
periy, which it is disloyal to impeach, unless
upon good and solid grounds Whatever
may be Dir. Fillmore after career-v heth
er the recipient of new and fresh honors, or
the defeated candidate of an unsuccessful
party-it is indubitable and indisputable
that he has fairly earned the reputation up
on which reposes the confidence of his coun-
trymen. He has fairly and fully won the
title to full trust in bis loyalty to the Con-
>titution, to full faith in his integrity and
justice as Statesman toward ali sections
of the Republic. If lie has not, then is it
ont of the power of any man to deserve
and establish confidence
BY an act of God, be was placed in po-
sltlon which, to a man not of inhexible in
tegrity and honesty of purpose, would have
been sorely trying On the one hand. all
his feelings, all biS preiudices, even many
OF his opinions, had been cast in the mould
OF Sectton. On the other, the CoNsrrrU-
TON and his oath of Office. Unfalteringly,
firmly, promptly. under the influence only of
an Eonest conscience and an enlightened
mind, the man of section was transformed
into the man of the nation Not since the
days OF WASHINGTON, has there been a
Chief Magistrate, who, in all the acts of his
administration, exhibited more of the spirit
OF cqnal ana exact justice to all portions of
the Union; more of implicit obedience to
ana hrm maintenance of the requirements
of the CONSTITUTION.
/ Since his retirement from Office. there
has been 30 act Of his to tarnish this lofty
renown; and when the Party Press goes be-
hind this bright and clean record, to find the
means of engcndering distrust and suspi-
cion, 1t does itself an injury, by exhibiting
the Willingness without the power of in
ilicting Il wrong
We are not the partisan advocates of Mr..
Fillmore in the attitude in which he has
been placed before the country-so far as is
publicly known, without his procurement or
consent but were we his active opponent.
on pHnclpe, we could not, without a con-
scIous dlsIoyalty to truth, deny him the u,er-
! ii OF Hdtt0nGItfy of character as a states
man The South does itself a wropo when
1T eountenances such indiscriminate marty
warfare: for, if Northern men. who like
Mr. Fillmore, sacrifice all antecedents to do
her justice, cannot enjoy her confidence in
this regard. where is the motive among them
to be national men! No opposition Journal
IN the South, OF any ability or weicht of
character, denies this merit to Gen. Pierce
Our respected contemporary of the "Ap-
peal, IN refusing it to Mr. Fillmore. sfoo1s
to the level of class of newspapers in
which We viii not believe it can find congo
NAL company.
EXECUTION -Skilly and Sawny Proctor,