Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-03-25
From the Memphis Bulletin, March, 21St

We regretted to see reproduced yesterday morn
ing 10 the columns Of our usually fair and dignI6ed
contemporary OF the appeal, a fragment OF a let
ter written by Mr.. Fillmore in 1888, which make
him seem at that time TO have entertained strong
ant-slavery sentiments This portion Of the letter
was extensively used by the democratic press and
speakers in the canvass Of lS4s against Mr.. Fill
more and General Taylor, and the defense of him
made by his supporters of which the hoLe letter is
susceptible. Ii is one of the staple articles Of clap
trap OF party campaign-has had its day like
other cap-tTaps OF heated partisans-and, as bone
which has been Thoroughly picked, was thrown
aside into the gutter Of politics. That friends
OF the appeal, therefore, should fish it up from
among the ofal party, and recook into such
sOupe naaigre as the subjoined sonewh't surprises
The appeal says
1.-The germs Of Back-Repnblicanism easily
discernole in this letter, and unless Mr. Fillmore
has recanted the opinions expressed, or unless he is
entitled the benefit Of the statnte Of limitations
upon them, he falls far below the standard of
tionslity which the Know4Nothings erected at
Philadelphia in June, 1855 These are not the
times TO entrust men in the Executive chair who
are all equivocal on the issues involved in the
next Presidential contest"
We say such paragraph as this in the appeal,
founded upon no higher ground Of suspicion than
this fragment of old letter, surprises u.s. for We
have been accustomed to fud in the political dis
sertations Of that journal. views both of men and
measures which rise above the mere slang OF party
snd which mount to the dignity of the philosophy
OF politics. In this instance, say il in regret
more than intentional discourtcsy it has fallen much
beneath the dignity OF its deserved reputation.
The reputation of public man is property,
which it Is disloyal to impeach, unless upon good
aud solid grounds. Whatevermay be Mr. Fillmores
alter career-whether the recipient OF new and
fresh honors, or the defeated candidate OF al IN
successful party-it is indubtable and indisputa-
bic that he has fairly earned the reputation upon
which repOses the confidence Of his countrymen.
He has fairly aud fully won the title TO full trust in
his loyalty to the Constitution, to full faith in his
integrity and justice a Statesman toward all secs
tons OF the Republic IL he has not. then is it out
OF the power Of any man to deserve and establish
confidence.
BY an act of God, he was placed in position
which TO man not Of nhexible integrity and
honesty OF purpose would have been sorely trying
On the hand, all his feelings, all his prejudices
even many Of his opinions, had been cast in the
mould OF section. On the other the Constitution
aud his oath Of office. Unialteringly, firmly.
promptly, under the influence only of an honest
conscience and an enlightened mind the man of a
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 ad-
mnistratiou exhibited more Of the spirit of equal
Justice 10 al PORTIONS OF the Union, more
OF implicit obedience t. and firm maintenance Of
the requirements of the Constitution.
Since his retirement from office, there has been
no act Of tarnish this lofty renown; and when the
Party Press goes behind this bright aud clean re-
cord, 10 find the means Of engendering distrust
and susUcion, it does itself an injury, by exhibit-
ing the willingness without the power Of iuhicting
a wrong.
We not the partisan advocates Of Mr. Fill
more in the attitude IN which he has been placed
before the country-so far as Is publicly known,
without his procurement consent;-but were we
his active opponent, on principle, could not,
without conscious dislovalty to truth deny him
the merit Of nationality of character as a statesman
The south does itself wrong when il countenances
such ndiscriminate party warfare; !or If the North
ern men, who, like Mr. Fillmore, sacrifice all ante
cedents to do her justice, cannot enjoy her conf
drnce in this regard where is the motive among
them TO Toe notoual men? No opposition Journal
in the South, OF any ability or weight OF character
denies this merit TO Gen. Pierce. Our respected
contemporary Of The appeal, in refusing it to Mr..
Fillmore Stops to the lvel of class of newspapers
in which we will not believe it find cOngenial
company.