Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-03
NO. XII.
Prom the Richmond Wzig.
Fillmore Judged, Not by His Peers, but by
His Opponents.

Mr. Buchanan has been tried. and mnst, be-
yond doubt, be convicted, upon the evidence
: Of his own friends.
1t is proposed to subject Mr.. Fillmore to trial
|, also, but with this material difference-all the
witnesses in the case shall be his political adyer-
saries. AS they are numerous, the evidence
must be condensed u.
The Congressional Globe-an official reporter
of the Senate Debates-furnishes the testimony
of Senators Cass, Clay of Alabama, Lownds Of
Louisiana, Clemens of Alabama, and Dodge Of
Iowa. The debate arose Oh the subject OF the
execution of the Fugitive Slave Law during the
administration of Mr.. Fillmore. General Cass
said $50 far as | understand the measures OF
the President, approve them, and believe he
is determined to do his duty firmly in respect to
this law; and as one member Of the Senate, /
will say that if the law is defective, am willing
the limits of the Constitution"
Testimony of Senator @. @. Clay II think
there is no Just gronnd of reproach whatever to-
wards the executive of the nation. am happy
to see the Senator from Michigan, though stand
ing in different political relations to the Presi-
dent, do him the justice which he has made
Sir, am perfectly satisfied, from all know of
the President and his Cabinet, that there is
most perfect and immovable determination to
carry into execution the laws of the land, and
employ all the means in their power in their or
der to accomplish it."
Senator Downs said, 81 for one am disposed to
give the President all proper power. de has
given us no reason to doubt his sincerity and D.
deity in carrying out this law. think it is the
duty of Congress to give such power, and for one
shall do it more cbeerfully."
Senator Clemens testified, 81 honor him for
his course, and if the appreciation of political
opponent, who has in times past done him some
wrong, be at all grateful to him, let him be as
sured that not only, but thousands OF others OF
nv political friends, heartily thank him for what
he has done, and fervently thank God we have
in this crisis patriot ard statesman at the
head of affairs who knows his duty and dares to
perform it,"
Senator Dodge-"I am one of those who be-
lieye that the President of the United States, IN
his efforts to enforce the law, has done, and is
now doing his duty to the country. l take thus
occasion to declare that, humble as my support
and influence are, and hostile though am now,
and ever expect to be, to the political principles
of which he is the representative, he will have
in his efforts to enforce the law my vote here, II
he continue in the fearless and patriotic course
which he is pursuing.
| "If at any time the present Executive enter
tanned the sentiments which the Senator from
Tennessee has ascribed to him, when he reached
the high place of President of the United States,
and came to act for the whole country, he has
laid aside the prejudces and predictions OF
mere district representative, and has acted for
the whole nation, and respect him for having
done so."
General Cass again expressed his admiration,
in subsequent debate, of Mr.. Fillmore's admin
istration of the government, in the following ar
dent terms
1.-THE Administration has placed itself high in
the great work Of pacifying the country, and
they have received the need of appreciation from
political friends and political foes. Ipartake Of
the continent! do them justice. But am
democrat, and, God willing, / mean to die one.
| This is Whig administration, but there is no
reason why l should not do them justice; and l
do with pleasure in this great matter of the sat-
cation of this country, if | may say so. have
done So and shall continue to do so whatever
sneers the papers may contain, for do it not for
their sake, but for the sake Of the country"
Let the testimony of still greater power in
the nation-the periodical press-be now taken
down.
The Democratic Reciew thus spoke Of Mr. Fill
more in December 1856, referring to the COM
promise measures of 1850-"MOmentous events
were transpiring. The agitation of the question
of slavery was paramount in the public mind
In this crisis. it was we'll that so reliable man
az Mr.. Fillmore was found in the Presidential.
chair. Tho safety and perpetuity of the Union
were threatened. Already had fanaticism raised
its hydra head. Schemes and "isms" leaped
from O thousand ambuscades. The enemies OF
the Union started forth on every side-Aboli-
! tionism here; secession there; acquisition and
| fllibusterism elsewhere. These were the form-
i dable elements of misrule with which the Exec
utive had to cope. How well he met, and how
entirely he, for the time, overcame these ene-
mics of the peace Of the republic, we leave the
historian to relate but our retrospect would be
incomplete and disingenuous did we not accord
the n,eed of praise due to high moral ercetIene6
and intellectual and administrative honesty and
talent as deoeloped in the administration Of Ar.
Il Fillmore"
i The Florence Gazette, an influential Demo-
cratic paper in Alabama, on the 18th OF June,
1852. proved its independence and sense OF JUS
tice in speaking Of Mr. Fillmore in the following
terms tIf there is one trait Of character which
we possess above all others, it is political inde-
pendence; that kind of political independence
which prompts one to do justice to the acts and
motives of political adversary, regardless OF
that party circumspection, which says, thus Jar
shalt thou 90 and no farther. Prompted by this
feeling. we unhesitatingly express the ardent
hope that Millard Fillmore may be the nominee
of the Whig Convention. Should the nomina-
ton fall upon him, we should oppose his election
with all our zeal, but should he be elected, ~c
J mould feel that in him tho South had TRUE AND
RELIABLE FRIEND" "We notice that several OF
our Democratic contemporaries call him 'Aboh-
ton Fillmore This is an unjust anlputatton.
When Mr.. F. was first nominated as candidate
for the Vice Presidency, we shuddered at the
thought of his election We saw that ne had
piyen votes obnoxious to the South, and there
r fore believed him unsound upon the slavery
: question. Our heart sickened at the prospect OF
: his success. and we bitterly and violently de-
. nounced him. But we are happy to say we
d were agreeably disappointed, and that Mr. FILL
s MORE Is ONE OF THE soUNDEsr MEN IN THE UNION
: ON THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY; AND THAT HE is
: PATRIOT AND AsTATEsMAN. His ADMINISTRATION
n HAs RERN HIGHLY CONSERVATIVE. He ddrocdted
: the con,promise, and used all his influences Il
0ueU tie storm Of tanaticism, while his admins
D tration shows that his sympathy and teelngs ar.
y NTH the South. Such conduct is deserving
i praise and we are not afraid to bestow it."
It TNe merit evidence is from the Richmond En-
I, quirer, Sept. 14th, 1852:
II "Gen. TAYLOR died at the very crisis of affairs
% The country felt reIiersd from an awtul agony
e ,ohes Mr.. Fillmore took the reins Of goueramen
thrsso aside Gen. TdyLor's advisers, formed be,
ter cabinet, and gace his conscience to other keet
Q eys than iSeward." "Ths whole policy Of gocerr
q ment Immediately changed"
u "IAe compromise measures quickly passed, an
5 THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS RELIEVE
le FROM ITS PAINFUL ANXIETY"
ID ssEver since that change the Southern Whif
have become more and moro devoted to N
is Fillmore. lie became their chosen leader-the
D. special and particular candidate for the Pres
dencv. Whilst the North, deserting him, too