Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-10-11


Mr.. Fillmore,s Claims to Southern Support..-.
II Fugitfve-Slaye Law
Rs We find all we have to say on this subject well
expressed in the Mississippi Gazette that we appro-
pirate its article:
This was the only measure of the we'll known acts
of 1850, which claimed to be for the benefit of
the Southern States. It was a mere constitutional
measure to which they were entitled irrespective of
any other law, but his partzans contend that lie is
entitled to much credit for signing it.
WHY HE SIGNED THE FUGr1vE-sLAvE LAW.
We will let him explain for himself, and then the
reader decide whether he is entitled to credit for
the act:
We will quote from speech delivered by him in
Louisville, KY, on his Southern tour. The Louis
vile journal is our authority. He said:
"The Fugitive Slave law had some provisions in
it to which [Flllmore] had some OBJECTIONS
Iregreted the necessity Of its being passed at aM-
When the bill came to me from the two houses,
examined it in the midst of hurry, confusion and
difficulties, and doubt came up in my mind wheth'
er it was not UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS DENYING THE
RIGHT OF HABEAs CORPUS TO THE FUGITIVE SLAVE,
which I submitted to the Attorney General (Mr.
Crttenden) and being assured By him that the law
was not violation of the Constitution, therefore
gave my sanction to the bill"
Hence according to Mr.. FillmCre's own declara-
ton before audience of his own Southern friends,
he doubted the consttutionality of the measurable
was opposed to it because it did not provide jury
scondlng sTave-and only signed it when assured by
Mr.. Crittenden that it not violation of the
constitution" John j. Crttenden then, and not
Willard Fillmore, is entitled to the credit of the as
sent of the Executive for signing the Fugtive-Slave
law.
TESTIMONY OF ANDREW J. DONELsON.
To prove what we here assert, will introduce
as Witness Mr.. Fillmore's associate on the Know
Nothing ticket-no less parsonage than Andrew
j. Donelson!
In 1851, Donclson, through the columns of the
Washington Union, said:
AS to the assertion that the Administration (of
Filmore is entitled to the credit of standing up to
the measures of the Compromise in good faith, it is
too ridiculous to require denial, and too prepostcr
to demand refutation. Every free white citizen,
who is not infant, idiot lunatc, woefuy for
gctful, knows that it is utterly and entirely without
foundation. All the measures of the compromise,
except the fugitivc-save law sefenactng. As
to THAT LAW, Mr.. Fillmore was UNWILLING
to PERMIT it to BECOME A LAW before he CON-
SUITED Mr.. Crittenden the subject-a fact
aohich the Republic (his Organ,( mentioned at the
time, in order to justify Mr. Fillmore before his
Northern higher lao friends for not returning the
bill aoith lis objections"
JUDGE coNKlLN's TESTIMONY.
Judge Conklin of New York, friend of Willard
Fillmore and his Minister to Mexico, in late Speech
made the following apology for him for signing the
fugitive-slave law:
"Of this gentleman l have to say few words,
that due alike to him and to myself. The friend
ly relations that have long subsisted between US;
the high opinion entertain of his patriotism, integ
rity and talents; the confidence he fit to repose
in me, and the great personal kindness received at
his hands while he filled the Presidential Office all
conspire to render it painful to me to withhold my
support from him, and had he been brought forward
under other auspices, as cherished vague hope
he might be, it would have offered cores
ponding degree of satisfaction to yield him that
support.
l am aware of the persistent, and doubt not, to
some extent, successful industry with which for
years he has been exhibited by those who had FORM
ed different estimate of his character in an atti-
tude that, if had believed it to be just would have
rendered it inconsistent in me holding the principles
do relative to slavery to favor his elevation to the
Presidency, under any circumstances But in inn
putting to him willingness to extend and fortify
slavery, an persuaded his assailants hare done him
injustice. believe, the contrary, that he still
holds slavery in the abstract, he is known former
ly to have done, in great adherence they do.
The evidence constantly cited to justify this charge
is the fact of his having affixed his signature to the
fugitive-slave BILL The alternative was to interpose
his veto. But no one had right to expect him to
do this for he had right himself to do it. Either
from doubt about its consttutonality, from defer
to the opinion of those who questioned it, he
did appoint the usual precauton of submitting the
bill to the examination of the Attorney General and
vetoed it under the very extraordinary circumstances
of the case, would have been, to say the least pal
pabe violation of the constitution. No enlightened
man who understands the subject can doubt this,
and such man can have been sincere in casting
censure upon Mr.. Fillmore for adopting the opposite
alternative"
TESTIMONY ANOTHER FRIEND.
The New Albany Tribune, the leading Fillmore
organ in Indiana, says:
Mr.. Fillmore gave his official sanction to the fu-
gtive-s slave bill because Ohe freesoilers,) could
not have got other laacs on which our hearts
set, that have got had not that lao been passed
also, and because in doing SO he was but carrying
out one of the great principles of the party which
elected him-that the personal opinions of the Ex-
ecutive mere questions of policy, ought to
be brought into conflict with the will of the peoples
representatives, by arbitrary exercise Of the geto
p0Wer."
1t might be worth while for the Southern people
to recoect shat election for President rather pre-
sidcntial electors, will take place on Tuesday, the
4th day Of November next. There appears to be
calmness almost amounting to apathy, prevalent
throughout the South-the Democrats seem to take
it for granted that the day is their own and there
fore few exertions to the victory al
ready within their grasp This is neither safe nor
right 1t was by no such course that the Democracy
of North Carolina fought its way up from position
of apparently hopeless minority to triumphant sue
cess and should never be forgotten that strenuous
and unt'rlng exertons are necessary to win victory