Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-22
FILLMORE AND SLAyERY-TEST!MOSY OF
HIS FRIENDS

No man capable Of an impartial Judgment IN the
matter will Dispute the conclusion which we have
s..~a from a survey of Fillmore's public conduct,
g viz thG. he has besa from ds BEGINNING IN The close
o. las career, consistent and -eoious adrersary of
.&..sry. However much we laay oppose him, aud
:a,y istra.t the deficiencies of his character, NE
-. 81 least give him credit for fidelity TO his early
pa&yes to the ebo!itionst. aud for considerable
e5.sv ol purpose in his upon the interests Of the
:. All. Deep and permanent mus, be the conviction
w.E,h can sustain u politician in such nndeva:ing
sd ~ 'asspg pursuit of particular ie Of public
pv!;cy.
rnou.h Fillmore has been thus ardent aud ene.gel.
IL in II, hostility TO the interests Of slavery, it is not
it.-oc.i5le tina; be may forego the p,udices ~htch
he Gyu,sk an ruth lis uthers ni, aud bind himSel!
hereafter to harmless neutrality towards the South,
Z" accepting the nomination Of the Know Nothing
r,r,v on the basis of the philadelpbis platform. Does
-; platform impose any such obligaiio: upon HIM
W. admit that lie must accept nomination. and plat
form together, and that the candidate fairly entitled
=: ,vdntsoever credi. he may derive from the prncl.
pl.s OF his party.
Ncs il is the universal concession Of the Know.
N,:';rss themselves that their platform is altogether
unsatisfactory TO the South. Its only distinct avow-
al rt principle touching slavery, ia an indignant con.
:ags,!on Of the repeal oil The Missouri restriction.
<, tbs. the platform, 80 far from modifying the atoi-
:iop prjuices Of the candidate is Fashioned rather
10 accordance with them.
II. Know Nothing press, indulge i'll vague pro-
e.; agaus, our conclusion Instead OF denying spe'
c!ic statements of Flmores particular acts OF hos.
ti.y 20 slavery They dare not come to closer quar-
tiers. The Wing is cUntent 10 rcproaeli US win an
excess Of party bigotry but his is no answer " our
Augment. Yet though our accusations DO the re-
Sc! vf 6lgotry, such imputaticn iscredlt tie
authority Of Senator Dixon of Kentucky, Ill cld.line
WING, disciple Of Gays and an intimate friend OF
Willard Fillmore. This ia wha: he SAID the 18th
@! April IN Wing Convention a; Lexington, Ken
tu,ky:
.iie believed Mr.. Fillmore tn honorable man, had
g. ;,r.el his administration, aud recommended it
ira aad sound. BIT. u W. Fillmore accepted M'
nowtro.toaof the Knor-Noaing order, he ras bound,
es "a honorable man, TO stand Their plaorm, and
je,os< tie exponent Of her sentiments. In that eren,
IL eouia rot cad ,road not support him. But there
VA. d more serious objection 10 Mr.. Fillmore He
now stood uaoomni;tsd-iu the platform Of which he
was proposed TO DO the expoaent-upon the
..:.inportsu: and prominent slavery question:
Tine q reference continually made tu
Va ADMINISTRATION. and that held up as stuff
Glen, con,n;ttal all the issues arising out of thai
Question: But r-Aen he :uraed .ottat administration
X iArs found the great statesmen Clay and Webster
MIL r,i.rr s,is of h,m urging and Influencing han
!. he cgpcorri IF tie fngre STARE Tar. 1hHf sing"
ict eas a., he lid, IN all has Administrations 4"
-ccomm-nd Am TO tie confidence Of The SoafA ana
t6n ac'. prompted II ,a,y haee been by patriotism
kssLIgyEo INCONSISTENT WITH HIS WHOLE ANTE
cEpESr RECORD, CONTRARY TO HIS owns PERSONAL
OPINIONS, AND IS VIOLENCE 70 HIS FEELINGS. III
pa, made to take tie sep by the influence 81 sgTe0
s.aksmsn xpoa rho,s he leaned for odp'ee and sup
fo,s."