The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-31
rHE MODEL PRESIDENT.

illustrated by Mayor AHdrsU Jackson DOHelsOH.
We proceed with the enumeration Of the salient poip
in Mr. Fmores administration which Major DOues
placed on the record during the year that he occupied
EDITORIAL chair of the Washington Unioe.
g. 1t will not be controverted that the chief capt.
which Mr. Fillmore has in his presidential enterprise
rived from the fact that the slavery agitation in 1850
Quoted by the passage Of the ComTomse Of that y,u
Major Donelsou had been ardent advocate of that CO
promise and an ardent admirer Of all the Statesmen VII
contributed to its contamination. He was, there0rl
predisposed TO concede to Mr.. Fillmore all the ed
TO which he was justly entitled for any service n
may have rendered in important matter 1t vi
not long, however after Major Donels6n took charge
the Union before he became suspicious that Mr. FiIno
was not SO good friend to the Compromise as many IN
pie bad supposed, This suspicion was greatly strength
ened when he read the speeches OF the President and
cabinet ministers their celebrated tour to attend ID
road celebration in New York. which occurred in IN
spring of 1851. AS faithful sentinel, he sounded II
ALARM and echoed and re-echoed IL day after day uD
his suspicious pened Into confirmed convictions AOus
his first notes of alarm the following in regard
Websters speech at Buffalo, in which Major DonelSOn
he spoke for the President and the whig party:
we (MhjOr Dontlaoh) SeHturu e'eH W say that aW&
of the view Mr. Webster has taken Of the COm
mise and slavery questions win prove that the recollection
Mr. FILLMORE 0a unsss all that been yet done 10 dspr
these questions Of the po,cer Of disturbing The peace and
quia'ty Of the country"
Major Donelson did not leave his meaning in doubt;
went on to specify, saying
ain 1850 Messrs. Cass, BucHAaAs, Douglas Foote al
other leading Of the democratic party, supposed
they had the sanction of the whig party to comprom
g., az tba
that the obligation execute the fugitivesave law
peached right of the STAKEHOLDER in any Territory
United States, any territory hereafter to be acqur
by the United States. IN less than year, however,
President Of the Compromise Mr. Fillmore i, found apo
girng to the abolitioais, and solemnly assuring them
their tender consciences ought not to be disturbed t
slass territory hereafter be admitted into
Union" ... ... 81. .@a.a..
At the time of Mr. Filmorss accession TO the presde
the country in imminent danger of civil war,
count of General Taylor's 'non-action policy" Maj
Doneson asks with emphasis w hat did Mr.. Fillmore N
in that behaf2 Did he make any effort to avert "
Storm Did he do any thing calculated to take of I
lightning from that black cloud in the Southwest N
His message that subject and his correspondence vi
Gov. Bell, showed no feature of Cancellation"
He followed in the footsteps of his predecessor and
tested every disposition to adhere to that hazardous
which General Taylor had entered eowsc chch
san. man must admit could hare ended in civa but
the timely action Of Congress"
The timely action" the passage Of the Compromt
of 1850; and to see what part Mr.. Fimot
bore in that measure. Major Doneson proceeds:
"Dd Mr. Fillmore do thing further that timely
hon Not that Major Donelsonl erer heard Of Did
make any recommendation with regard to the adjustment
the Texas boundary Did he recommend territorial g
i
viso Did he recommend effective law for the su
der of fugitives from laborf By NO MEANS. UtI
der this of facts it is clear that Mr. Fillmore
done nothing further that plan Of legislation uhich Mr.. wy
tells prevented civ 1t clear, also, that be
willing to gain whatever he the North by allowing N
idea to be entertained that he and hostile TO e |
seslars Iar abstract proposition while Cd
claim for him any further merit in the premises than
sal TO forget his oath TO execute the iu,cs."
Major Doneson memorable sentinel be nd
content TO kill Mr. Fillmore but after he had crush
the breath out Of him. he continued to belabor him.
August 1851, Major Doneson discovered and announce
"a coalition Bcceen Scard and Fiumorer in these words
"The Pre,idnt and he abolition demagogus haze shata
hands and may lie dozen together in union and hs
mOny" But lest "the supplemented wings Of the SOut
Major Donelson called them should be surprised su
result he proceeds to show that 1t was natural CO,
lition, as follows:
But let them (the southern whigs) pause and reject
and review the past, and they will be astonshed that
did not anticipate such a contamination. During Mr.. FIJI
mOres career in Congress he far the arthed ia
hostility TO southern iHstionsin disregardiag soutA0
right, insHling southern e,ig, and fanHag the flame Of
oHai Ao'tay. Before the people Of western New York
sPPssled TO the snsavery feeling, and eOurtsd rA sa
'@dat,y hs abooni the anMasons, and all those Ia
tons Which havebeen nurtued and nourshed BY the wings
that sc On Of the Union"
A. 10 blot out forever all prcteues that Mr. FllmOr
deserved any credit for his signature Of the comProm
measures, Major Doneson repeated with emphasis, thu
M. Fillmore had ,igHed aoss mea,ua under eoaarair
and In regard 10 me gpe-saUs ia sheltered hiFH,sy
hind he opinion Of he AnorHey General and then went
a. follows:
From the time Of the adjournment OF the session whie
passed the peace everything has been 90 conducts
to avoid, II possible giving offence to the sntslsrs7
party OF the North, preventing future alliances with
some lev Of the Presidents personal friends we're
ry rewarded Public opinion required change Of cabinet
Mr. corwn took the place Of Mr. Meredith but the re.ur
patronage remained where Mr.. Meredith had placed H.
Hall took the place Of Mr.. Colamer but the patronage
the General Post Office remains In the hands 10 which
Colamer had con6ded IT, Mr. Stuart took the place Of
Ewing, and, despite his declaration In Virginia the gre,
bulk Of the immense patronage Of the Interior Deparsr
s still enjoyed by the sppontees OF Thomas Ewing Of Ob
the bosom friend Of Vim. II. Seward, OF New York"
Major Donelson determined to pile up the evidences
sbolitiosism on Mr.. Fillmore In September, 1851 b
called Mr. Fmores Secretary Of the Treasury Tom Coz
vim to the witnessstsnd
at well known (sys Msjor Donesop) that In the sun
OF ls4s town 10 Ohio called Ridgy Mr. Corwin
advocating before the whig sbotionis, Of that State
Flmores election Vice President declared in publ
speech that Mr. Fillmore then "a kaonn obolifionist