The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-08-01
Mr. Fillmore on ths Slavery ousstion.

mr.. Fillmore on the Slavery Question.
As the Democratic papers of the South are
just now very busily engaged in reproducing
the same old stereotyped charges which they
rung upon Mr.. Fillmore in 1848 and which
the people of the South then repudiated as
foul calumnies, it may be we'll enough for US
to republish the following:
ALBANY, N. Y, July 81, 1848.
Hon. JOHN GAYLE-DEAR SIR: have YOUR
letter of the 18th instant but my official duties
have been so pressing that / have been COM
PEELED to neglect my private correspondence.
had also determined to write no letters for
publication bearing upon the contest in the ap-
preaching canvass. But as you desire some
information for your own qualification in regard
to the charges brought against me from the
South. on the slavery question, have conclud-
ed to state briefly my position.
While l was in Congress there was much
agitation ON the right of petition. My votes
will doubtless be found recorded uniformly in
favor of it. The rule upon which l acted was,
that every citizens presenting respectful pc
tition to the body that by the constitution
had the power to grant or refuse the prayer of
it, was entitled to be heard; and therefore the
petition ought to be received and considered.
If right and reasonable, the prayer of it should
not be denied. think all my votes, whether
on the reception of petitions or the consdera-
ton Of resolutions, will be found to be consist
ent with this rule.
have none of my Congressional documents
here, they being at my former residence in
Buffalo, nor have | access to any papers or
memoranda to refresh my recollection; but
think at some time while in Congress | took
Inoo cio 70 fa in STh hn
subject of slavery in the States. Whether the
remarks were reported or not am unable to
say, but the substance was that | regarded
slavery as an evil, but one with which the
National Government has nothing to do; that
by the Constitution of the United States the
whole power over that question was vested in
the several States where the institution was
tolerated. If they regarded it as blessing,
they had constitutional right to enjoy it, and
If they regarded it as an evil, they had the
power and knew best how to apply the REM
edy. / did not conceive that Congress had
any power over it, or was in any way respon
sibe for this continuance in the several States
where it existed | have entertained no other
sentiments on this subject since | examined it
sufficiently to form an opinion, and | doubt
not that all my acts, hubble and private, will
be found in accordance with this
I have the honor to be your obedient SER
want, WILLARD FILLMORE.
Since this letter was written Mr.. Fillmore
has been elevated to the Presidential chair
which he occupied for three years. He came
into power in the middle of )rm. And his
first efforts were directed to giving quiet to the
country and securing the rights of the South
How we'll he succeeded the American people
know and the compromise measures of 1850
fully attest. He now pledges himself that his
former administration shall be the polar star
to guide and direct his future course. Is there
a man in all this broad republic who desires
any higher or better guarantee? If there is,
we should like to see him and know something
of his antecedants. That he is the man for the
present crisis, no impartial, intelligent patriot
in all America will pretend to deny, and that,
if elected, he will restore the country to quiet
and maintain the constitutional rights of all
sections, every honest, intelligent and truthful
man believes and will admit.