Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-08-29
WHOLE NO. e4s.


returned to this city. This result enraged
and humiliated the abolitionists. and well
they might mourn over their defeat. The
South appreciated their triumph and will
ever be grateful to the man 70 whose en-
ergy and fidelity they owe their victory.
1t has not been many years since che
people of Washington city were startled
one fine morning blythe discovery that
Yankee kidnappers had run otfsomething
more than seventy slaves. belonging in
the District. A steamer was instantly
sent in pursuit. The piratical craft was
captured down the Potomac. The slaves
were restored to their owners, and the
Yankee rogues were committed to the
penitentiary: Time passed on and the
thing was forgot. when remarkable cir
cumstance revived recollection of tho
event. During the summer of 1859 It
was announced in the National Era news
paper, of Washington, that President
Fillmore, at the instance of Senators
Sumner aud Seward, had pardoned the
kidnappers out Of the penitentiary, and re-
leased them from the seventy odd other
indictments on which they would have to
stand trial in running off slaves. The
rogues escaped to the North. abandoned
the honest trade taught them in adyersi-
ty, and went about inaaming indignation
against the South by publicly reciting
their wrongs. This is another service to
slavery, and another claim to the graft.
tude Of the South. for which Millard Fill
more should receive proper acknowledge
ment.
The above extract from Fillmore's Lou
isville speech, recalls still another in>
stance Of his patriotic regard for the in~
terests Of slavery and the South. The
dispute between Texas aud New Mexico.
over certain debatable territory, very
much infamed the sectional excitement
Of 1850. The land in question was slave
soil, the title of Texas was good yet
Millard Fillmore called out military
force to compel sovereign State to sub
nit to the uni ust claim Of a mere provinI
cial government, He slept very soundly
while the Fugitive Slave Law was defied
in Boston, he conniyed at the escape OF
the Crafts, aud suffered the Southern
gentleman, who had gone in quest of his
property, to be subjected to every sort Of
insult aud outrage; but he could exhibit
energy and assume responsibility on an
occasion that should appeal to his anti
slavery sympathies. To lash q sovereign
State into submission by the force Of the
Federal Government, and to compel Tex
as to convert its territory into free soil was
an enterprise that drew out all the ener.
gies Of his nature. Congress interfered,
and by offering Texas an indemnity, re-
cognized the validity Of her claim. Tex>
as accepted the terms Of adjustment, and
thus escaped tho impending blow
The pardon Of the Washington kidnap-
pers was among the closing, acts of Mr..
FiIlmore's Administration. For, the first
application for their release. being made
just before the Wing convention, Of 1859.
was quietly laid aside, and was not again
taken up and acceded 70 until Mr.. Fill
more found he had nothing TO, lose by in
sulting the pride and assailing the intcr>
ests Of the South. After the nomination
Of Scott, he let the Williams 60 on their eT.
rands Of Abolitionism.
We now come to consider Mr.. Fill
more's record on the issues Of tho Cans
vass.
The general question Of slavery. in all
its relations. is involved in the present
canvass; but the repeal Of the Missouri
restrictions is the issue more Immediately
before the country. Mr.. Fillmore bore
no public part in the enactment Of this
measure. but his position IN respect 10 il
IS defined beyond the possibility Of mis-,
take or Misrepresentation. After his re-
turn from Europe he entered upon q sort
of stump canvass through the State Of
New York. At first he was little shv
and reserved in revealing himself on the
issues Of tho day, and il was not until he
got as far as Albany, that he thus avowed
his opposition TO the repeal Of the Nilsson.
ri restrictions.
"0f the present Administration I have
nothing TO say. know and can appte-
ciate the difficulties Of administering thi,
Government and If the present Execu.
tive and his supporters have with good
intentions and honest hearts. made a mis-
take. hope God may forgive them az 1
freely do. Cheers. But If there be
those who have brought these calamities
upon the country for ambitious obiects.
it is your duty, felIow-citizens, and nv
duty to hold them TO strict responsible.
ty. Il
" The agitation which disturbed the
peace Of the country in 1850 was uuaVoi.
dable. 1t was brought upon Us by the
acquisition of new territory. for the gov
ernment Of which it was necessary 10 pro-
vide Territorial Governments. Bat L is
for you 70 say whether the present sgita-
ton that now distracts the country and
threatens civil war has not been reckless.
ly and Wantonly produced by the adopt>
ing Of measure to aid in the personal
advancement ofits author"
In subsequent speech at Rochester.
be employed the following still more en-
phatic and explicit language Of eondem>
nation