The Winchester weekly appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-07-26
Letters from Mr.. Fillmore i'm Is1s

the opposition press Of the South in re-
laton to Mr.. Fillmore position touching the
subject of slavery-old ISLANDERS of 1915
now re assertod--we publish the follow.
ing letterby which the misrepresentation
to which it relates was then exploded:
ALBANY, Sept. 10, 1858.
DEAR SIR: | returned this morning
from the West, and have yours of the
10th, in which you say it has been charg.
ed in the Richmond Enquirer that hold
it to be within the power of Congress to
interfere with or break off the transporta.
ton, removal or disposal ofpersons held
Vas slaves from one slave. holding State to
another.
lam aware that this question has ever
been discussed in Congress, or was ever
presented for the consideration of the Su.
preme Court of the United States before
l84l. In that year the celebrated case
from Mississippi was decided, and Mr.
Justice Mclean gave an elaborate opn.
ion on thispoint! in which the Chief Jus.
tlce concurred. He came to the copclv.
sion that the constitutional power over
this matter was vest in the several States,
and not in Congress. So far as my
knowledge extends, this opinion carried
conviction to every unparalleled mind,
and the question was considered settled.
At any rate, this was my opinion then,
and | have seen no cause to change it
since. Should do so, shall not hest.
tate to declare it.
You will therefore, perceive that you
did me no injustice ia representing to
your friend that these were my senti.
ments.
| write in haste, amid the pressure of
official duties, but remain
Truly yours,
WILLARD FILLMORE.
JAMES Brooks, ESQ
ALBANY, N, Y, July 81, 1913.
Hon. JOHN GAYLE-Dear Sir: | have
your letter of the 9Th instant, but my OF.
fetal duties have been SO pressing that
have been compelled to neglect my pri.
vate correspondence. | had also deter.
mined to write no Letters for publication
bearing upon the contest in the ap.
preaching canvass. But as you desire
some information for your own gratifca.
ton in regard to the charges brought
against me from the South. on the Slave
ry question, have concluded 10 state
briefly my position.
While was in Congress, there was
much agitation on the right to petition.-
My votes will doubtless be found recorded
in favor Of it. The rule upon which
acted was, that every citizen presenting
respectful petition 10 the body that by
the Constitution had power to grant OR
refuse the prayer oft, was eo,itled TO be
heard, and therefore the petition ought to
be received and considered. If not right
and reasonable the prayer oft should be
denied. think all my votes, whether
on the reception of petitions or the consil.
Grafton of resolutions, will be found con.
sstent with this rule.
| have none Of my Congressional doc.
uments here, they being at my former res.
idence in Buffalo, nor have access to any
papers or memoranda to refresh my re.
collection; but | think that some time
while in Congress | took occasion tostate
in substance my views on the sub iect Of
slavery in the States. Whether the re.
marks were reported or not, am unable
to say, but the substance was that | re
garded slavery as an evil, but one with
which the national government has moth
ing to do. That by the constitution o
the United States the whole power owe
that question was vested in the severa
states where the institution was tolerated
It they regard it as blessing, they ha,
constitutional right to enjoy it, aud i
they regard it as an evil, they had tn,
power, and knew best how to apply tn,
remedy. did not conceive that Con
gress had any power over it Or was in an,
way responsible for its continuance In ih
several States where it existed. | hav
entertained no other sentiments on thi
ubiect, since | examined sufficiently t
form an opinion, and | doubt not that al
my acts, public and private, will be foun
in accordance with this. have the hon
| or to be your Obedient servant.