The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-07-18


(tag a1td &nttts'
MR. FILLMORE's SPEECH AT
ROCHESTER,. i
We prsjent below the eloqhe1t and patrioticl
ppseeh Of Miilard Fillmore, al Rochester, New
York. Weak for It the candid attention of men
d ~ parties No man can rad II without . |
solemn conviction that Fillmore . thu man for !
tie crisis Again We soy to I'll, rad III
After returning his thanks for the manner 10 |
which he had been received, and for the 6atter- |
ing terms In which the chairman had been pleased
tospeak Of his administration, Nj. Fillmore aid
that be had no reason to disguise his sediments
on the subject Of the repeal of the Missouri CONF
promise, which seemed to be the chief source Of
unfortunate agitation that now disturbed the
peace Of the country. He said that It would be
recolected that when he came into the admiuistsa-
ton the country was agitated from center to Cir
conference with the exciting subject Of slavery.
The question was then forced upon the country
by the acquisition of new territory; and be feared
that the eloquent address Of the chairman had
given him more credit for the settlement Of the
ever, than he would have deserved had his power
equaled his desires. But the truth was, that
many noble patriots-whigs and democrats-in
both houses Of Congress rallied around and sus-
tanned the administration 10 this trying time, and
to them was chiefly due the merit Of setting this
exciting controversy.
These measures, usually called the compromise
measures OF 1850, were not In all respects what I
could have desired, but they were the best that
could be obtained after protracted discussion
that shook the Republic to its very foundation,
apd felt bound to give them my official appro-
| val Not only this, but perceiving there was
deposition TO renew the agitation at the next ses-
sion. took the responsibility Of declaring, 10
these measures Is "fnal settlement Of this ques-
ton. and that the laws thus passed ought to be
maintained, until time and experience should dem
onstrate the necessity Of modification or repeal.
I then thought that this exciting subject was at
an end, and that there would be no further occa-
sion to introduce it into the legislation Of Com
gress. Territorial governments had been provided
for all territory, except that covered by the
Missouri compromise and had no suspicion that
that was TO be disturbed. have no hesitation
in saying, what most of you know already, that
was decidedly opposed to the disturbance of that
compromise Good faith, as well as the peace Of
i d
which had stood for more than thirty years ahould
not be wantonly disturbed.
i These were my sentiments then, fully and
freely expressed, verbally and il writing to all
/ my friends, North and South. who solicited my
opinion. This repeal seems to have been PAN
doras box, out of which has issued all the poti-
cal evils that now aflict tie country, scarcely
leaving hope behind. and many, / perceive are
READY to attribute all these to our Southern breth-
rem. But is this justf [aNo, no."1 1t mus.
be borne in mind that this measure originated
with a Northern Senator, was sustained and
sanctioned by Northern President. do no,
: recollect that ever petition from Southern
State solicited this repeal and how could South
{ ern members Of Congress refuse boon thus Offer
] ed by the North to the South? 1t could only be
done by sacrificing themselves upon the altar Of
their country for their countrys good aud this il
, certainly expecting too much from political mer
in times like these. The blame, therefore, it ap
pears to me with ell due Difference, is chiefly
chargeable to those who originated this measure
: and however we may deplore the act, it afford
!, no just grounds for controversy with our South
. ern brethren certainly none By which they shoult
: be deprived Of their political rights But, W
now see party organized in the North, and 70
the first time selecting ts candidates for Presden
and Vice President exclusively from the Northerl
States, with the avowed intention Of electin,
= them to govern the South as well as the North
!, BY what rule is President. thus elected, t
q select his cabinet council. his foreign ministers
. Judges and administrative oficers2 Are they ais
to be selected from the Norrh--or may you tax
. cabinet officer from the South, though you can
!! not President or Vice President! These, j
practice, as have said on another occasion, mus
4 become embarrassing questions The North il
: beyond allquestion, the most populous, and th
. most wealthy, and has the most votes, and there
fore has the power to infict this injustice upo
e the South. But we can best Judge of its conse
!. quences By reversing the scene. Suppose tbs
the South was the most populous, the most wealth!
= and possessed the greatest lumber Of elector'
70 votes and it should declare that for some fancie
It or real injustice done at the North it would elet
none but President and Vice President Of slav,
holders from the South, to rule over the Nort
lido You think, fellow citizens, you would submit
% this injusticef laNo, no."] No. truly, go
= uoud not; but one uniusrsal cry Of sNo" sOo,sl
8 rend the sk,es And can you suppose your Soutl
ID ern brethren less sensitive than yourselves or le
b Jealous of their rightsf II you do, letme tell yo
, that You are mistaken: and that you, therefor
must perceive that the success of such pdrtg sca
ne such an object, must Be tie dissolution tie Uaio,
II am unwilling to believe that those who are el
u gagged in this can forsee the consequences Of the
!. own acts.
: Why should not the golden rule which 0,
e Saviour has prescribed for Intercourse with eat
other, be applied to the intercourse between the
Il fraternal Statesf Let Us do unto them that '
would that they should do unto Us in like circur
Z. stances They are brethren, they are our friend
q and we are all embarked in the same ship; and
II she founders in consequence Of the mismanag
"a ment Of the crew. we must all 60 down togethe
this Union must be torn asunder; this beautif
fabric, reared BY the hands~of our ancestors, mu
y be scattered in pieces and the people, in the ID