Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-04-19
WILLARD FILLMORE.
s'Honor and fame from no condition rise.''

emulation among Amercan~youth, that. with
scarcely any exceptions, the eminent men Of
our country have all been the architects of
their own fortunes. at is true" said HENRY
Clay, replying 10 the sneers Of JOHN RANDOLPH:
Il was born 10 no proud patrimoniaI estate
Aud it was fortunate, no doubt, that he could
not point back, with the eccentric lord of
Roanoke, 10 his boasted line Of ancestors; for
in such a case, HENRY CLAY could never have
warmed his noble soul 10 the wants, the syApa-
thies, and The feelings OF the MASSES, or gained
that ascendancy in their hearts which entitled
him to be hale as the Great Commonor.'
1t is so in every ease. TIE lie Of Milard
Fillmore, the candidate of the American party
for the Office Of President Of the United States,
is another triumphant yindication Of republican
institutions, as a~ffording that encouragement
and opportunity needed for The full deyelope-
ment of the i~ntelIec! AMI talents of the people.
He, too, has risen by his own unaided eHtge
tons, 10 The highest honors in he Empire
State aud in The Nation. The story Of bis
early career and his subsequent success, can,
not be too often told TO the young men Of the
workshop and lhe farm. Il shou'd be read ~
the freside of every hamlet in the land, and The
children be melted to initiate his example.
MnLARD FILLMORE was born at Summer
Hill, Caynga County, N. Y. on The 7tb day Of
January, 1900. He was the son Of a farmer,
and early accustomed to toll. AT an early aye
he was sent from home 10 earn his own sup
port, and at twelve was placed with a clothier
TO learn the business of dressing cloth. Soon
after, he was apprenticed TO a wool cardef.
with whom he Iabored faithfully until he had
reached the age of nineteen and became master
ofhis calling. Many anecdotes are related of
young Fillmore during this interesting period
Of his life, showing him TO have been early ani~
mated by that indomitable spirit which overs
comes all obstacles in life, and that industry
and perseverance which are The surest guaran>
tees Of success. He was a great reader, and
literally trimmed the midnight lamp" through
out this hey day Of his youth, in storing his
mind with those treasures Of knowledge 10
which he owes his subsequent greatness. 1t
may be hard for the reader who only knows
Mr. Fillmore as the accomplished statesman
ard the finished gentleman, remarkable every
where for bis polished manners and fac sense"
to imagine him pursuing his humble calling in
the shop Of the Mechanic, and when bis daily
task is done, poriug industriously over the
ample page acknowledge, by the feeble light Of
the midnight lamp; but such are the "simpIe
annals" Of the FIRST twenty years Of his life, and.
true to the manly instincts Of his nature, Mr..
Fillmore was never ashamed to own his hum
BILE origin.
1t is usually the fortunate lot of every young
man ofgenius, at the turning point in his life,
to have a patron, who perceiyes his latent tai
ents, and assists him in finding their appropriate
sphel Henry Clay had sueh a patron, whose
infu ice controlled his exuberant and shaped
the 1ghts Of his youthful ambition. And it
was Judge Wood of Cayuga, who became
sponsor to young Fillmore, in the study of his
profession as a lawyer. He persuaded him 10
accept Il place in his Office and generously de-
frayed his expenses through a ~feealQr course of
legal study. We need not say how dsTsaedIg
he applied himself to his new studies, or how
requited the generosity of Dir. Wood, by his
remarkable proficiency in the noble science of
The law. Suffice ii to say tAat he was compe-
tent to leave, the office in 1921, and proceeded
10 Buffalo to complete hio studies. Having
passed his examination, he became entitled TO
practice his profession in 1923, and opened an
Office il the town Of Aurora. In 1927, was ad-
as an attorney, and in 1929, as a Couu-
sellor to the Supreme Court. From that PEI
Rod, he has occupied very distinguished posi-
ton as d member Of the bar.
He now began to be known in the political
world. In 1899, he was chosen to a seat in
the Assembly from Erie county. He acquitted
himself Of that trust to the satisfaction Of his
constituents, but in 1880 he concluded TO re-
to Buffalo, and enter more extensively
into The practice of his profession. He was
not long permitted, however, to enjoy his
prediction. He was elected TO Congress in
the fall Of 80, and served successfully in the
twenty>sixth, and tweniy-seventh
Congresses. His eminent %taIents were i'm
nediately ~rpcongnized in that body, and he be-
anne one of the most useful members of the
House, where he held the same influential posi-
ion, as a Wing leader, which was awarded to
Mr.. Clay. at that period, ia the Senate. Ile
VAS placed in a prominent position on the lead
ng Committees, and wggthe attention of the
country BY his able reports and ocea-
excellent speeches iRthe House.
But Mr.. FILLMORE. determined to return a.
min Ia bis nrofessional dnties. declined the re-