The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-21
MR.. FILLMoREs PAST CAREER.

W. have had numerous calls from friends Ia the different
..ous Of the country for sketch Of the past history Of
NJ Fillmore upon the slavery question. While were
rsuang one in reply these calls the Austin State Ga
s.ts lTexas) came with SKETCH taken from the
Rnlo Courier which, we think, win do for the present
lis as follows:
We have before us many ugly documents. We her,
,nboin the following from the New York Buffalo Courier
with the remarks Of able correspondent Of the Rich
mond Enquirer
The Buffalo Courier in September lo4s, published ia
the city where Mr. Fillmore resided makes Of th
language
HOW MR.. FILLMoRE BECAME POPULAR
twill be seen by the following letter originally pub
Ghed In the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, the 30tf
day Of October 1885, that Mr. Fillmore in correspond
ence with the Erie County AntiSayery Society placed
himself distinctly the abolition PLATFORM far thai
patiorm then la existence. The step taken by Mr.
FILLMORE at that time was absolutely necessary gain po
uia influence and public favor in western New
York Having taken IL, his position strengthened
and he became chiefly in consequence of the ayowas In his
letter the foremost in section Of country where the
fell spirit of aboiionism then, and is now all power
m at the baot-box. To that avoal Of his sentiments we
attribute the popularity which he enjoys among abolition
s and whgs here and in other northern States especially
Ohio for know nothing has public We Or services cal
cuaed raise him to the emnence which he has been so
fortunate as To reach.
Mol II was Mr. Fillmores avowal of abolition senti-
mens as long ago 1888 his declaration that he was In
favor Of the immediate abolition OF slavery in the District
Of Columbia his in Congress, whenever the sub
ect Of slavery came before that body and his fierce
tion to the annexation Of Texas, that gave him conse-
quenc and enlisted in his support those who have at last
succeeded in placing him before the people candidate
for the vice presidency Having done So they discover
the necessity which exists OF conca.ing their tellowci-
Gems the South who like Gen. Taylor happen to hold
few slaves and VIGOROUSLY cautious in bestowng their
share Of the honors trusts of SO obvious
Is this necessity, that the southern friends Of Mr. Fillmore
call attention TO the fact that in his Erie letter in 1888
Mr. Fillmore gave pledges But asked him 10 giut
his pledges His sentiments satisfactory the society
which he addressed and the Whole abolition party of the
North. ] Ng
FILLMORE DELIBERATELY AN ABoLITIoNisT
Mr. Flmores whole policy upon the question of slavery
must be regarded deliberate and well settled The
preext under which he seeks to escape in regard to the
Mississippi case, decided by Judge Mclean, is an exceed
ngy bold in ITSELF for the decision there only en-
braces properly the point that the power given Congress
to regulate commerce among the several States did not
conflict with the authority Of the State Of Mississippi to
prohibit by law the introduction of slaves into that State
as articles Of merchandise. But, be that it may
have yet done with the Brooks letter. We give him
the full benefit of the conviction which he expressed that
Congress has over the subject OF slavery as
exists in the several Statesa position which we have
shown is disputed by the ultra abotonist
in the country The to which Mr. + refers eectng
the change in his opinions decided at the January
of the Supreme Court SAL and is that of Groves
Slaughter Is Peters, 449 He states in express terms, in
the Brooks letter. that the in question decides that
ahe constitutional power the transportation removal
other vested in the several States and not in Congress
This opinion carried conviction every appropriated
mind and the question considered settled AT any rate
this my opinion them and have seen no cause to
change il since.
Now win it be considered credible after this apparently
candid and ingenious recantation, that Mr. Filmores
whole legislative action and votes after the year 84
INSTEAD Of being in with the principle which
he would have believe he regarded in his unprudced
mind setted in direct dshonorable conflict with the
severaon he makes We have already shown that he ID
eontradcted and mpeached by his and his
acts in the statement that this had been discussed
in Congress before We shall prove that he again
fouls his own nest in the latter material assertion
By the Congressional Globe I'd session 27th Congress
part ls4l page 442 will appear that the 2lst
March, 1872 Mr. Gidding of Ohio said he had series Of
resolutions upon subject which had called forth
interest the other end of the Capitol and in the nation
We annex Them emitting the three first:
aResoiped, That slavery being Infringement of the
natural rights Of man, exist only by force Of positive
municipal lar and is necessarily confined TO the terrific
rial jurisdiction of the power creating it.
as That when ship belonging 10 the citizens Of any
State Of this Union leaves the waters and territory of such
State and enters upon the high seas the persons slave
board CEASE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE SLAVE LAWS OF
STATE and thenceorth governed in their relations
each other by and amenable to- the laws of the United
States
That when the brig Creole, on her late passage TO
Atp Orleans, LEFT THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION yR-
G the slave laws Of that State ceased have jurisdc-
ton over the persons Slaves board said brig and such
persons became aenabe only TO the laws of the United
States
a. That the persons slave) on board said brig in re-
suming their natural rights OF personal liberty
no LAW OF THE UNITED STATES PENALTY
AND ARE JUSTLY LIABLE TO 80 PUNISHMENT.
~ That all attempts TO regain possession OF to
ensaYe said persons usA6ToRizED ny THE oossTrU-
Eos AND LAWS or THE UNITED STATS
BILE WITH OUR NATIONAL HONOR
70. That all attempts TO exert national influence in
favor OF the coAsTwsE TRADE place this nation
IN the attitude OF maintaining a in human be-
ngs subyersye of the rights and injurious TO the feel
ngs and the interests Of the ea States UNAUTHORIZED
y TINS eossTrvIror and pfeiadciaI TO our national char
aeter.p q
motion made that the resolutions do lie on the
table, Nr, Fillmore voted Nay, with Adams, Gddings
and Sade And yet we called upon 10 believe that bis
nAd wag upprsjudieed and although the resolutions
proposed year after the decision in the case on
which he relies he regarded the questions raised by them q
settled John Minor Bolts on the same day, offered the
following preamble and resoutonsi
Whereas the Hon Joshua r Giddrgs has this day pre-
Bnted TO this House series Of resolutions touching the
most important interests connected with sr poton a
The Uniou subject Of negotiation between the uni
d States and Great Britain Of the delicate nature
The result Of which may eventually involve those nations
war and whereas II q lhe duty ofeJery good citizen
lSe0uannaace oil egcrts 10 create excitement dssasfac
eSn and dtision among the people OF the United States
such time under such circumstances and whereas
~ and therein justified and approved, in
terms shocking to all sense Of law order and humanity
therefore
@olrsd That this House holds the conduct Of the said
member altogether unwarranted and unwarrantable
and deserving the condemnation Of the people d
this country, and Of this body in particular
On these resolutions motion made to suspend the
rules-ycas 1875 nays 6s Fillmore voted nay with Adams
Gddngs, and Slade Twothirds not voting in the affirm
alive, the rules were not suspended.
The call for resolutions still resting with the State
A. .ffa araV NJ