Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-03
sTAUNr0N. VIRGINIA, SATURDAY, NAY 8, 1856. {

people are based upon the policy he par'
sued upon slavery in 1850. That portion
of the compromise Which has reference
to the District of Columbia. was 10 precise
accordance with the views of Mr.. Fill
more. announced IN the Erie letter. in
1893. If he has modified his opinions, as
thereiD expressed, IN any essential par
Iticular. we are certainly not aware Of the
fact. and we will endeavor to show that,
whatever action he took, officially, upon
the subject of slavery, was in strict con-
sonance with his deliberate and long en-
tertained sentiments, with his votes, with
his speeches, and that he is, at this mo-
ment. as obnoxious to the South as he was
sixteen years ago.
1t is not possible for Mr.. Fillmore &c
have changed his convictions ca Ills sub.
iect, without rendering himself subec. TO
which we shall be the last to
apply. The character of the man himself,
(f all other evidence were wanting. J
would afford a safe guaranty against such
conclusion He is constitulionally apa-
thetic aud cold. slow 10 form opinions
and the positive and negative qualities of
his nature are SO equally balanced, that he
is not liable to sudden alterations upon
any subject, least of all, upon those ma
terials which would enter into his political
creed. HIS record is an ihvariabe one,
from the period he FIRST entered Congress
until he retired. II, during his Presiden-
tial term, no occasion presented itself TO
test, BIZ substantive action, the question Of
the abidiBgness of his sentiments, upon
those phases of the slavery issue upon
which Ae had uuequivocally committed
himself before; if, whatever action he
took as President, did not conflict with
his previously announced and consistently
maintained positions, with whit justice or
PROPHECY, can his friends claim that he is
any more trustworthy ao,c. than he was
when he was.Ir Congress The Phia.
Convention expressly repudiatsd the plat
form which had been previously agreed
upon, and left the only issue III this cam
vass, which has any value 20 the Sortll, at
sea withouta sail, or ruddsr. or a compass.
In asprit OF affected osten.ation, they
have proclaimed tina, they wanted no
platiorm--tha "Mr Fillmore was platform
enough for the Southern people. They
hare in this respect, courted enquiry, and
apparently deed Investigation. We beg
leave. therefore, to throw open the whole
record and see " there he stands.
On the 18th of December, 1887, Mr..
Adams, presented petition, pra, log for
the abolition Of slavery and the slave
trade in the District OF Columbia, and
moved that the petitions, presented by
himself aud colleagues, embracing up
wards Of SO 900 sgners, be referred to the
Committee for the District of Columbia
with instructions to consider and report
thereon.
Mr., WISE, of Va, morpd to lay that
motion on the table. Mr.. Fillmore. voted
Nay, with ADAMS. Harper and Slade.-
This was nearly year before he had
written his Erie Letter, and shows that,
his opinions had been formed, from the
ouse,, in regard to the controversy, in
which the country was then involved.
Some idea of the nature ard extent OF
the feelings which prevailed. may be
gathered from s.scene. which took place,
in the House, on the Goth Of December,
following. $500.
Mr.. Slade again resumed his remarks,
end after proceeding some time, he entered
into am argument touching the subject of
slavery in the State Of Virginia. and was
about to read paper on the same Subjeci;
whereupon, y ..z==.=.-- ~.
Mr.. Wise fntsrposed. and said thai the
gentleman had been discussing slavery in
the South, slavery in the District, and
slavery in the Slate Of Virginia, and he
now asked his colleagues to retire with
him from that hsll. Mr.. Holsey made the
same request to his colleagues from Geor-
gia, aud expressed hope, that the whole
Souihe I'm delegation would retire. Mr..
Rhe,t said, the whole delegation Of South
Carolina has already signed an agreement.
Various questions Of order here arose, and
MI. SIade pledged himself, if the House
would permit him to resume, not to dis
cuss the question of slavery in. the States.
On the pending question Of leave TO pro-
ceed, tie House adjourned. 40
The next day. Mr., Patton of Virginia
asked leave to submit the following reso.
luton: 9
itesoi'eu, 4Hdt dH peitloHs. memo
rails, and papers touching the abolition Of
slavery, or the buying, selling or, ira nsf.fs
ring of slaves. in any State, District Of
Terr,tpry of the United States. be laid on
the table, without being debated, printed,
read, or referred. and that no further &C.
ton shall be had thereon" s4 e=ss &.
Mr.. Adams objected. MIR. Patton
moved a suspension of the rule. The
vote stood, Yeas, 1876. Nays 60, Mr.
Fillmore voted Nay, with ADAMS, Harper
and Slade. The resolution was adopted
by vote of 1872 TO "a. Mr.. Fillmore sill
voting against il. a-s=saz aa '.a-s7.5f
1t the next session, December II, 1888
Mr.. Anterior, Of n. II offered tie fol-
lowing respia,ioiis: -,
1. Resolved. That this government Is a
government of limited powers. aud that
by the Constitution Of the, United States
Congress has no iurisdictiop whatever over
1.-THE institution Of slavery in the several
States of the Confederacy. A' -
Q. Resolved, That pet;tlons for the
abolition of slavery in the District Of Co.
|iumbia, and the Territories Of the United
States, and against the removal of slaves
from oke siale TO another are part of a
plan Of operations, set on foot to aifec. the
institution of slavery ia the Several States,
W I:...,I., ~ dactsn, shat