The true Democrat., 1856-04-29
How Fillmore came to Approve the Flu
 gitive Slave Law.

gitive Slave Law.
 Judge Conklin, of New York, and friend of Willard Fillmore, makes the following apo- logy for him, for approving the fugitive slave law
 "Of this gentleman l have to say few words, that are due alike to him and to myself. The friendly relations that have long subsisted between us; the high opinonI entertain of his patriotism, integrity and talents; the confidence he saw lit to repose inme, and the great perso- nal kindness 1 received at his hands while he filled the presidential office all conspire to render it painful to me to withhold my support from him; and had he been brought forward under other auspices, 1 cherished a vague hope he might be, it would have afforded me corresponding degree of satisfaction to yield him that support.
 :" am aware of the persistent, and 1 doubt not, to some extent, successful industry with which for years he has been exhibited by those who had formed a different estimate of his character, ln an attitude that, if 1 had believed to be just, would have rendered it inconsistent in me, holding the principles 1 do relative to slavery, to favor his elevation to the presidency under any circumstances But in imputing to him willingness to extend and fortify slavery, l am persuaded his assailants have done him injustice. 1 believe, on the contrary, that he still holds slavery in the abstract as he is known formerly to have done, in as great adherence as they do. The evidence constantly cited to ius- tlfy this charge is the fact of his having affixed his signature to the fugitive slave bill The alternative was to interpose his veto. But no one had right to expect him to do this, for he had no right himself to do it. Either from doubt about its constitutonalty, or out of de- ho { It, he did adopt the unusual precaution of sub- mitting the bill to the examination of the attor- ney-general and asking his opinion of its con- stitutionality To have vetoed it under the very extraordinary circumstances of the case would have been, to say the least, palpabe violation of the constitution No enlightened man who understands the subject can doubt this, and no such man can have been sincere in casting censure upon Mir. Fillmore for adopting the opposite alternative.
 With regard to the precautions he SAW it in some Instances, to take for the purpose of in- sunng the enforcement of the act, if they ap- peared, even to some impartial minds ndica- tive Of undue zeal, 1t should not be forgotten that the case was one admitting of no halfway measures, and that it presented, therefore no other alternatives, except either such display of the national power as effectually to forestall opposition by rendering it hopeless or total ab- stinence from all interference In word, then. my objection to Mir. Fillmore is that though by the act of others, and in his absence from the country. he stands before the public as the representative of principles, and of policy which abhor, but to which, should he be elect ed, he would feel bound to adhere Whether his personal friends have acted wisely, or even justly towards him, in permitting this to be done, and whether, had he been present, he would have consented toit, must be permitted strongly to doubt. Be this as 1t may, the ob- jection to me is insuperable; and, if required any other reason for withholding my support from him, should find it in what appears to me to be the utter hopelessness of any effort to secure his election.