The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-07-05

| which he was elected, he returned to his home.
more graiiied at his relief from the cares of
official Ii le, than he had ever been at the pro-
spcct of its highest rewards and honors. But
though kccnlv enjoying the freedom from pub
lie responsibilities, and the pleasures Of social
intercourse in which he was permitted to in5
dulgc the qualities of mind and habits of u s.
tcmatic, close attention to business, that so
cmincntly fitted him for successful Congress
sional career were so called into full exercise
! by the rapidly increasing lcquirenlcnts Of pro-
fcssional pursuits, never whollErgivcn mp
There is fascination in the strife Of politics,
its keen excitcments and its occasional but
always tempting brilliant tri,lmphs that when
once felt, few men are able to resist SO COM
pletely as to return with relish to the compar-
atively tame and dull occupations Of private
life. But TO the calm and equal temperament
of Mr.. Fillmore, rcposc, a ftcr the stormy
scenes in which he had been forced to take
a leading part, was most grateful. He had
ever regarded his profession with affection and
| pride, and he coveted more the Just, fairly
won fame of the jnrist, than the highest pol
itical distinction. lie welcomed the toll
therefore, which large practice in the high.
er courts imposed upon him, and was as re-
markablc for the thoroughncss with which he
prepared his legal arguments as he was for
patient, minute investigation of the dry and
difficult subjects it was so often his duty to
clucidate and defend in the House of Repre-
senalives.
In 1914. in obedience to poru'ar wish too
strong TO resisted, he reluctantly accepted the
wing nomination for Governor. The issue of
that conflict has become history, and though
deeply panied at the result he was only so in
view of the national calamtics that he forcsaw
would follow the defeat of the illustriouS
statesman and patriot, Henry Clay, who led
the Wing host. For his own defeat, Mr.. Fill
more had TO regret. lie had no aspirations
for the office, and with til e failure of the cleo
ton, he trusted would end any further demand
upon him to serve in public life.
In lS47 a popular CALL similar to that of "A
was again made upon him, to which lie vel
ded l., luctant assent and was elected Comp
tro Her of the State by majority larger than
had been given to any State officer at any for
mcr election in many years. There were some
peculiar causes that contributed to swell his
majority at that election, but, independent Of
them, there eau be 10 doubt that the general
conviction of his eminent fitness for the Office,
would, under any circumstances Of the oppos-
ing party, have given him nercat and triumph =
ant vote. That such evidence of the confidence
and est ccm of his fellow-ci,izcns was crafty
ing to his feelings, cannot be doubted, but few
can justly appreciate the sacrifices they i'm
pose. The duties Of his present Office could
not he discharged without abandoning at once
and forcvcr-ior who ever regalncd profess
siona standing once lost lucrative business
which he had been years in acquiring nor
without scvcrng all those social ties, and
breaking up all these domestic arrangements.
| ~ MI
to the city where the best portion Of his life
had been spent. Yet feeling that the State
had Il right to command his services, he cheer
fully submitted to its eXactions, and ON the
first Of January removed to Albany, where he
has since resided, displaying in tie pcrfor-
nance Of the duties of his arduous and rcspon.
sible Office, the high ability and thorough at
tention which have always characterised the
discharge Of all ms public trusts.
In the month of May, 1917, the Wing Ma
tional Convention. which assembled at Phil
adclpha, unanimously nominated Mr.. Fill
more as their candidate for Vice President of
the United States, in connection with Gen.
Zachary Taylor who bad been selected as
their candidate for President. OF the result
that followed tins nomination shall not speak
as it would be useless to trespaSs further up
an your time in describing an event with
which you ale 50 well acquainted.
1t was that very time when sectional strife
began 10 raise its arm against the law of the
land and threaten the Union of the States,
that Willard Fillmore was called to preside
over the dcs,inics of the nation, to occupy the
chair now made vacant by the death of the la
mcnted Taylor. l, seemed as though Proyi-
dence had selected from among the many pa
riot sons and unioa-lovins men of our coun-
try, one not unknown, bUIryhosc past career
had established for him a%.sghly honorable
reputation among his fellow -citizcns--anoth,r
Washington whose patriotism, whose wis
DOM" and whose experience would calm the
troubled waters, and say, peace he still y
Such. indeed. was the result Of Mr.. Fillmore S
administration: he knew on North no South
no East no West" but the whole Union; to
cement it more closely together was his hi I'll
est aim for the history of that a administration
riliccd every thing rather that fail to have pre-
ser we'd union and harmony throughout The
'''u'
w