Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-06-13
1.-THE MAN FOR THE CRISIS. 1"

eN"SsV''0 ''e "'orai ana intellectual proportions of
'he'r respective candidates. but there has never been
'uen all instance OF extravagant appreciation of per
sonar Qualities as is exhibited in the decation of
Miiard Fillmore by the opposition press They rat.
hm only little lower than the angels, and point to
nun as an example Of the most perfect development
OF the divine attributes of humanity. In their es-
innate he is at once moral paragon, and ntellec-
tual prodigy. As the Pagans OF heather times in.
Voked the aid of their greatest god in moments of
extreme distress, do the idoatrOus sect of Know.
Nothings call aloud upon Milard Fillmore for help
in the present crisis of public agitation and alarm-
And, in truth, there as much sense in appealing
to a bronze Jupiter as TO the human Fillmore.
Miard Fillmore is nothing more than respecta.
BILE mediocrity. Between his intellectual and moral
qualities there is perfect harmony of development;
snd in neither respect is he the least superior the
common order Of men. He is precisely the sort of
person one meets in every condition Of society," with
no great vices and no heroic virtues of character and
with just enough of mental power to direct the in
stlncs of elfaggrandiZemen TO pruds BILE purpose
in life. So absolute control does he WELD over his
passions, that it is doubtful if he was ever betrayed
into momentary oblivion of the proprietes of his
position. Equally incapable of ardent affection or
intense hatred, he can neither conoiliae strong
friendships, nor provoke active enmities 1t may be
the interest OF persons to oppose or support him, but
friend and foe must really regard him with the same
conempluous indifference. If he never violates the
decalogue, he distinguishes himself by any DO.
sve act of conspicuous pety His cold and mpassive
nature be warmed into enthusiasm or excited
to active effort by the most touching appeals Of suffer
-. 4 & J,t
smile, the only services he renders to the interests
Of humanity. Incapable Of that intense earnestness
of soul and that utter abnegation of self which are
essential great achievements his exertons in SUD.
port of the best cause languid aud intermittent
lie has no convictions. There is no truth by which
he would swear, and no principle for which he would
suffer Yet, this absence of moral sense, is very
we'll thmpensated ty al acute perception of proprie
ty, and AL anx ous concern for his own INTERESTS
The maxim that honesty is the best policy" furnishes
the koy to Fillmores virtuou. life.
The easy Indifference of his nature is apparent in
that smooth expression of face aud unruiied dignity
of manner, which pieases people in FilImores pres
ence No high purpose or burning passion is reveal
ed in his oountenance. No warmth of feeling impars
hearness to his address, smile which beams with
the freezing radiance of polar star, and mechani.
cal civity of manner which is studied with careful
regard to theatrical effect, however they impose upon
superficial observers, only repel the approach and
ALLEVIATE the confidence Of persons who can distinguish
between true heart and the marble image of man.
In heir estimate of his intellectual capacities, Fill
more's friends display a yet more silly and ex,ruva-
giant dolary. !, is simply absurd to cell him great,
who, with the rerest opportunities Of fortune and un-
der the a,ronGeo stimulus Of necessity, never uttered
a word which anybody remembers, or exhibited al
energy of character which raises him above the lowest
level OF human imbecility. He in Congress, and
where is the speech that stamps him as an Of e;.
traordinary mental endowment lie was PRECEDENT
of the United Stated, and whtre il the act that be-
berays {he least ssgaaty III cousel or enterprise of
character Fillmores term Of service was coinci
dent with period Of unusual tranquility at home
and abroad He came into power just at the close of
the great sectional struggle Of 1851, and he rode So
curely in the calm which followed that anlry Storm
lie went out Of Office Just another tempest was
gathering the distant ori."n lie found tee foreign
reeticl.a oi lie G. ni soeN hat disturbed by inter
naola disputes and, true the ;iinid and selfish i'll
sncts of his nature he eAered ali lila power to post.
pone the rupture anti, he shoui escape responsihi
tY OF confronting the danger. In powerhe was nothing
moro than head clerk Of the Government; and the
only duty which he discharged with competent ability
the display Of his 6ue person at Executive enter
tainments.
To pretend the. an individual cf SUCH common-
r!sGe character ami feeble powers Of intellect is
IT person Tor the Presidency i'll tho eaiara osis OF
affairs, is TO beray either most ridiculous exaggera-
tiuR OF Fillmore. qualities, Or total misconcepon
Gf the cxgences of the hour. Never the peace
srd security OF the country menaced by such
cumulaon Of present embarrassrnents G.h lg@lIui
porten;s. The popular feeling IS la,amed to .hc very
verge OF haoii ts!ol.cu. Section is arrayed aEa:.i
seetioa ia qteen and threatening apl.4onISm. Civil
war RACES upon our wecern frontier; while in the
heart Gf tho ooniederacy, in the very halls Of Con.
xress, spirit is roused which may at any momen:
precipitate the Union into hopeless ansrOhy To az.
gravate the horrors oS our situation, tho COUNTRY ia
in irnplinvnt hasard Of collision with more than
one foreign Power. From this complication Of dill.
culties and dangers the most sagacous statesmen are
puzzled to discover way of escape. How :..:ptak
ably absurd then, TO talk Of o.... I.,n tie Iestes
of the country t1 nan who has never displayed any
resources Of wisdom above the capacity of the Chief
clerk in commercial establishment, Or an ener,y
Of will which the obscure mi.ca 60 not posses, in
| equal measure,