Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-08-08
THE MODEL PRESIDENT.

The supporters OF Mr. Fillmore lay great stress on
the fact that he is tried mfn" and the more ar
dent of them hold him up as the model President"
We propose TO the correctness of these claims to
popular confidence by enumerating several measures
which we're identified with single year of his ad-
minstration, and giving the views thereon of his
vice presidential associate, Major Donelson:
i. The month of May, 1851, was distinguished
by concurrence of several interesting events which
bear upon the subject under consideration. The
State rights party had called convention, to meet
at Charleston the fllibusters had made demonstra.
tIons, indicating descent upon Cuba; Mr. Fillmore
had issued remarkable proclamation, which plain
notified the libusters that they would be treated
as pirates-he had engaged the steamer Crescent at
New York. at $1,000 day to go some important
cruise, either to disperse the South Carolina conven.
ton or 10 intercept the Fillibusters; portion of the
democratic senators in the New York legislature had
resigned their seats to prevent the wings from pass
ing bill appropriating nine millions of dollars for
the enlargement of the Erie canal the governor had
ordered elections 10 fill the vacancies, and the fate of
the nine million bill depended on the result. With
all these pressing matters crowded together, Mr..
Fillmore and ma lority of his cabinet became sud-
denly impressed with the Importance of taking
tour to New York, in order to be present at railroad
celebration which happened to be coming off just at
this critical period of time Major Donelson was
shocked by this &c crimnal'' exodus from Washing
ton when the presence of the Executive was so i'm
portant. He said
eff the ostensble object be the true one is it not
criminal in the President and majority of his cab
met to desert the seat of government if their pro-
LESSONS OF loyalty to laws or of danger from South
Carolina are to be construed in any but Pickwick
ian sense The truth is, we Major Donelsonl firm
believe that the cabinet regards the success of the
whig party as an object higher than all law, and
that its recent exodus from Washington dictated
purely by political considerations"
i Major Doneson was not satisfied with the distinct
charge of fragrant neglect Of executive duty, but
on subsequent day made the distinct allegation that
Mr.. Fillmore was guilty of duplicity in pretending
to visit New York to witness q railroad celebration
and that he went there with his cabinet TO interfere
in and influence the election in that State. His Ian
guage is explicit
"We will rather adhere to our first impression,
that he apprehended danger before he authorized
military preparations (charterng steamer and de-
failing 800 troops,) and that he went to New York
not to witness the opening of railroad, but TO lnt
the approaching election. belicuing that SO 0oo,
900 aUaS GUh1ch ought not to be lost to further
political operations an the State"
i 2. About the time of the criminal exodus of the
sc model president" AID his GO model cabinet" the
pretext of celebrating the opening of railroad in
New York, rumors reached Washington tEat the
Mexican government was about to claim many mil
lions of dollars damages for the failure of gov
ernment to execute faithfully the late Mexican treaty
Those damages had accrued from the depradations
Of Texas Indians diving en- the frontier, against
which, by the treaty, our government was pound to
protect Mexico. Major nonelson was vigilant and
prompt in fixing the responsibility for the violation
of treaty Obligations and readily discovered that the
blame attached to Mr.. Fillmore The administra-
tion organ the Republic. ventured 10 defend Mr. Fill
more, alleging that Congress had made inadequate
appropriations Major Donelson replied overwhelm-
ingly by showing that Congress had appropriated all
that the administration asked for, AMI even more,
and then triumphantly said
"A wbg administration must, therefore, be held
responsible for the inadequate manner in which the
treaty with Mexico has been executed, il must be
held responsible for the commencement OF Cumanche
depredations by the removal, for merely party rea-
sons, of Maj Neighbors, who could control them,
and by the appointment, for like reasons, of sue
cessor who was we informed, at The time of his
appointment physically incapable of dischargng the
duties of Irdian agent. He added The people of
Texas have been wronged, and the stipulations of
the Mexican treaty have been practically repudated
And further, Major Doneson said 1t is clear, from
what We have said in this behalf that the RESPONSE
bilty for all the outrages and depredatons hitherto
$ committed on the frontier is properly chargeable to
the netciency, bad judgment, and sncomPetency OF
the administration"
8. On the 31st of May Major Donelson took Mr.
Filmore's special organ the Republic to task fol
i certain comments on the wonderful foreign emigra
ton which had taken place of late He said We
Ms0r, r., D9%dsS1 one are glad to see this h
force need to fell the forest and to build our i'm
provements. We have yet, and will have for many
t long years. scope and verge enough for their indus
try and enterprise. \ The native party is now
pToStraVe, anu II Will DC ume enough 10 commence
the discussion when another attempt is made by tht
federasts to reviue the principles of the alien la1c.
4. In July, 1851, Major Doneson very indig
nant because MIR. Fillmore had allowed five months
10 elapse after the passage of law creating boart
of commissioners to investigate land titles in Cafor
MIA without having the law executed. In this mat
Y ter he says:
l. "The administration is guilty of a most wantor
disregard of the vital interests of California, and has
without reason, entailled a heavy expense on tn
treasury"
Again Major Donelson said:
Is " The administration has acted with cold, deber
's ate cruelty to the people of California 1t has shu
it's eye to their interests denying 10 them their rights
and sitting their progress"
s. in August 1851, Major Donelson discovered
al and like faithful sentinel proclaimed, that g mai
h feasance in Office had been the order of the day
r, Washington. His language was pointed
~ ~ ''It is unpleasant task to tear off mask an
Ie paint the features beneath it, But position fol
ces such tasks upon us as duties which we dare nc
u neglect 1t may be weak in us, but truth forces
to say that we have not the courage--we have nj
the nerve--to enable to stand complacently, wit
- folded arms, while corruption is becoming rampan
of and corrupt practices every side OF With
rs in the last two years system has grown up, and
ng now almost organized. 1t is organized sufficient
for most energetic and formidable action. 1t proven
n the allowance of honest claims, and carries throug
NJ dishonest claims against the government. The la
and the present cabinet wilfully and premeditated
or from weak ignorance have given aid and comic
to the scheme, and assisted its growth and streng
If we had claim, could mention half doZe
ne men to whom could afford to give interest
IN they would not buy an interest We would sacriic
es part rather than lose the whole.
e, But the worst feature in Washington corruptic
IN that high in authority and in positions whic
l. 49, i I IL