Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-04-08
Willard FIIlnore.


The Presidential record of Willard Fillmore
shows in every line of it that he has never
been outdone in abject servility to the slave
power. The more it is explored the more is
this disgusting fact apparent. The Richmond
wing, eager to give its readers every assur-
ance of Mr.. Fillmores entire subsection to
the influence of slavery, publishes the secret
history of Judge Conklins appointment to
Mexico. 1t is known that Judge Conklin is a
personal friend of Mr.. Fillmore, and also that
he has lately published letter in which he
declares his determination to go with the Re-
publican party. 1t is this letter probably
which induces the Richmond Wing to pub
lish the following short but significant chap
ter from the secret history of the Fillmore ad-
ministation:
"Conkliu was Judge of the United States
District Court of New York. The fugitive
slave law was about to come before his Court,
and serious apprehensions were entertained
lest he should decide against the constitution.
atty Of the act. Mr.. Fillmore, wit the fore
cast of wise and patriotic man. knowing
that Conklin could do no misehiefj,r Mexico.
and by deciding the faagitigs act unconstitu-
tlonal; al time when popular excitement was
Z very high, might do vast mischief at home,
ten pied him from The bench with the mission
to Mexico The thing was wisely done, and
attended with happy results"
This is now given to the public as some
thing for Mr.. Filmere's friends to be proud
of, as something for them 10 brag of in every
part Of the country. The Boston Courier CO.
pies it with evident satisfaction, and appears
to feel that it is perfectly right for the Nation
al Executive to deal with the Judiciary in
this fashion. That paper, and many others
of like character here and elsewhere, have
been accustomed to maintain that the Judics
larry is altogether too sacred to be criticised or
interfered with. They have periodically
flooded Their readers with great freshets of
solemn talk about the " independence of the
Judiciary" This case gives US a very salts
factory explanation of hat they mean by it.
This case also furnishes another very strik-
ing illustration of Mr.. Fillmores furious
alacrity in supporting and executing the fu-
gitive slave act. His crawling, shameless
servility to the slave power began to show it
self some tune before the death of Gen. Tay-
Tor. Immediately after that event he employ
ed the whole influence of the Executive Of
flee to force that internal act through Con-
gress. He wished to have bold opposition to
this infamy prosecuted and punished as soon
structive treason" With him the foremost
business of the Presidential office was to ex-
ecute It; and this secret history of Judge
Conklin's appointment to Mexico shows what
means he could employ in conducting this
business. Judge Conklin was removed from
the judicial office, "lest he should decide
against the constitutonahty of the act
No language is strong enough to portray
the infamy of this conduct of the fugitive
slave act President as it deserves; and yet it
was similar in character TO all the other acts
of the Fillmore administration on the slavery
question. What man among us who opposes
the fugitive slave act, or has any respect for
an " independent Judiciary" and at the same
time retains even faint memory of what it is
to be honest, will not now make himself felt
as a stern opponent of this MIllard Fillmore?
Where among US is that anti slavery Know
Nothing, who will, even by hesitation or ST.
lence, allow hin self to be counted on the
si1e of the Fillmore and Donelson ticket
But this ticket is now so dead hat the people
in every part of the country shun il as they
would pestilence. If any professedly anti
slavery Know Nothing can now be found. who
hesitates or is silent in regard to it, he can on
ly be some forlorn individual, thirsting for
some new experience, and therefore very
anxious to crawl into the political kneading
trough of the slavery propagandists.-Bo Boston
Telegraph.