Washington sentinel., 1856-07-31
tuasbiugtan gentinsl:
From the Louisiana Courier.

pdItutly nO5L OF tlc solemn De-
clarations not only of the Cincinnati Platform
but of Mr.. Buchanan, on these points upon
which the slave States are most deeply con-
cerned, are, on the other hand, most magnani-
mously liberal in their confidence in Mr. Fill
more and the small squads of National X. Ms.
to be found in the free States since the storm
of Black Republicanism has swept over them.
The address delivered by Mr.. Fillmore at
Albany and other points on his progress from
the city of New York homeward to Buffalo,
have, judging from the tones Of jubilation
which thunder through the columns Of their
leading organs, thrown them into ecstasies of
patriotic delight, and the whole vocabulary Of
comparisons and compliments has been rapidly
exhausted upon the head Of one who in their
set phrase, has "dared" in such troublous
times and such infected places, to utter words
SO bold and defiant OF anti-slavery sectionalism.
1t Is by no means our purpose to detract in
anywise from the real merits Of Mr.. Fillmore
arising from these late declarations. We cannot,
however, share the feelings of those men of the
South who look upon the sentiments lately ex-
pressed by Mr.. Fillmore, either standing by
themselves, or taken in connection with ante
cedent facts and opinions, as emitting that gen
tleman TO the appellaton of national states.
man, or making him reliable friend Of the
constitutional rights of the South to perfect
equality with the North in the existing Con-
federacy.
The true test to be applied to the claims to
confidence and support from the Southern
people, set up on behalf of Mr.. Fillmore or
any other man, should be one more rigorous
in its terms and more certain in its practical
results than that arising from scattered declara-
tons made during the heat aud enthusiasm Of
popular canvass. The great and absorbing
questions should be: How did he pote when
his vote had some influence in shaping the
legislation of Congress, by which the constitu-
tional rights of the Southern States to be
affected for good or evil2 Was he not, on
such occasions, the friend or the foe Of those
rights? Was he or not sectional and proscrp
tive in his opinions and acts aud not national
and liberal?
Applying the searching but just test indi-
Gated by these questions to Mr.. Fillmore's en-
tire career, we shall proceed to demonstrate
that he is not the man upon whom the South
should rely in this hour Of doubt and danger
We propose to place before the people Of
Louisiana chronological statement Of Mr..
Fillmores views and votes as candidate for,
and as member of Congress, from which
they will be able to determine the extent of
his claims on them, either as concerns his
nationality or his regard for their rights. We
begin with the year 1888, when he was can
didate to represent the Erie District of New
York in Congress. In answer to letter ad-
dressed to him by William Mills, the President
of the anti-Slavery Society of Erie county, he
declared in express terms: lst, That petitions
to Congress on the subject of slavery ought to
be received and considered by Congress. I'd.
That he was opposed to the annexation Of
Taxae lnpc eli hola thara,p I'd
That he was in favor Of the exercise by Con-
gress Of all its constitutional power to suppress
the internal slave trade between the States
and 4th, that he was in favor of immediate
legislation for The abolition Of slavery in the
District Of Columbia. AS a member of Con
gress he voted against the famous Atherton
resolutions, which we're designed to check the
growing anti-slavery and sectional spirit of the
North, by declaring among other things, shat
Congress could not righlfuly discriminate be-
tween the institutions of one portion of the
States and another, with the view of abolish
ing the one aud promoting the other"
In the year 1912, ia the well remembered
case Of the brig Creole, which, on her voyage
from Richmond to this port, had been taken
possession of by the slaves on board, and car
ried into Nassau, he sustained, by his vote and
influence (for he was then chairman OF the
Committee Of Ways and Means in the House
Of Representatives, the grossly offensive and
insulting resolutions Of Mr. Giddings, which,
in effect justified the acts Of murder and
piracy committed by the negroes on board, and
expressly declared that all attempts TO regain
possession OF the offenders we're unauthorized
By the Constitution, and incompatible with the
national honor.
lie sustained, in the year l843, the bigoted
and fanatical Slade, Of Vermont in a most out
rageous and insulting effort to abolish the sale
Of slaves in the District of Columbia.
When, by the death Of General Taylor, he
succeeded TO the Presidency in 1850, he showed
his sympathy and affiliaton with the Free-soi
aud anti-slavery parties by appointing three
members Of his cabinet who were Free-solerS
and in favor Of the wilmot proyiso; one Of his
cabinet, Thomas Corwin, of Ohio, being an
avowed Abolitionist and it is charged on him
by the Hon. Samuel A. Smith, Of Tennessee,
one Of the most accurate and reliable men in
Congress, that every man appointed by him to
any i'm portant office north Of Mason and Dixon's
line was a Free soiler.
Mr. Fillmore now comes before the country
on the nomination Of the American" Conven.
ton, held in Philadelphia in February last,
majority Of whose members, it is well known
we're thoroughly hostile in feeling TO the rights
Of the South, and bitterly anti slavery in their
Federal policy; Convention, disgraced by
scenes Of the lowest blaekgunrdism on the part
Of some Of its leading members, which dis
gusted every one in the body who still had
left any sense Of decorum, and the majority Of
whose members ruthessly repealed the twelfth
section Of the platform Of the same party OF
June, 1855, by the ambiguous phrases Of which
the Southern adherents Of its policy we're alone
induced to hope that the rights Of their portion
Of the Union would not be altogether trampled
under foot, a body which condemned the repeal
Of the Missouri restriction, by which was re-
stored to the South those rights 10 the common
territory of which she had been so long de
prived. In this declaration Of hostility TO that
repeal Mr.. Fillmore has concurred, not only IN
his letter Of acceptance Of his nomination, but
even more positively by declaiming against the
policy and Justice Of the step, in the very
speeches which he has within the past fortnight
delivered in New York.
Against this powerful array Of votes and acts
in the past history Of Mr.. Fillmore as candi-