Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-08-15
The Model President.

Donelson
We proceed with the enumeration of the salient
points in Mr.. Filmore's administration which Major
Donelson placed the record during the wear that
he occupied the editorial chair of the Washington
Union
1t will not be controVered that the chief capital
which Mr.. Fillmore has in his presidential enterprise
IS derived from the fact that the slavery agitation in
1901 was quleted by the passage of The Compromise
OF that year. Ma jor Donelson had been an ardent
aoVocae OF that Compromise, and an ardent admrer
OF all the statesmen who contributed to lis cOnsum
nation He was, therefore, predisposed to concele
TO Mr. Fillmore all the credit to which he was Justly
emitted Tor any service he may have rendered in SO
important matter. 1t was not long, however after
MAJOR Donelson took charge of the Union before he
became suspicious that Mr.. Fillmore was not so ood
a tnend to the Compromise many people had sup
posed. This suspicion greatly strengthened
when he read the speeches of the President and his
cabinet ministers their celebrated tour to attend
railroad celebration in New York, which occurred in
the spring of 1851 AS faithful sentinel he sound
ed the alarm, and echoed and reechoed it, day after
day. until his suspicious ri pened into confirmed con-
vlctions. Amongst his first notes of alarm was the
following, in regard TO Mr. Webster's speech at Buff
talo, in which Major Donelson says he spoke for the
President and the Wing party:
"We (Major Donelson) venture even to saw that a
just analysis of the view MIR. Webster has taken of
the Compromise and slavery questions will prove
that the ne election Of Mr.. Fillmore qviH unsee all
that has been get done TO depUe these questions of the
po'cer OF disturbing the peace and tranquility Of the
c0untry."
Msjor Donelson did not leave his meaning in
doubt; he went on 10 specify, saying:
In 1850 Messrs. Cass, BUCHANAN, Douglas Foote
and other leading men of the Democratic party, sup
posed that they had the sanction of the Wing party
to a compromise which was final ad ustment OF the
slavery question, and that the obligation to execute
the fugitive-slave law impeached no right of the
STAKEHOLDER in any Territory of the United States
any Territory hereafter TO be acquired by the United
States In less than gear, however, the President
Of the Compromise CMr Fllmore) is found apologize
ing to the abotuionists, and solemnly assuring them
that their enderIconscences ought not 10 be disturb
ed because sldUe Territory hereafter be
admitted into the Una0rl"
At the time of Mr.. Fillmore's accession to the
presidency the country was in imminent danger Of a
ton policy" Major DOnelsOn asks, with emphasis,
g w hat did Mr.. Fillmore do in that behalf ? Did
he make any effort to avert the storm Did he 40
anything calculated to take off the lightning from
that black cloud in the Southwest No. His mes
sage that subject, and his correspondence with
Gov Bell showed no feature Of conclliation.'
He followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, and
manifested every disposition to adhere that haz-
ardous course which General Taylor had entered on
Vhich erery must admit acoud haze
ended IN cuH but for the timely action of Con-
greSs."
The timely action " was the passage Of the Com
promise of 1880; and now to what par
Mr.. Fillmore bore in that measure. Maj or Donelsor
proceeds:
Did Mr.. Fillmore do anything to further that time
ly action Not that (Major Donelson) eve,
| heard Of Did he make any recommendation with
regard to the ad justment of the Texas boundary
Did he recommend territorial government for Utaf
and New Mexico 1Ulthout the Vilnot proUiso Die
he recommend more effective law for the surrender
of fugtves from labor? By NO MEANS. x Un
der this statement of facts it is clear that Mr.. Fill
more has done notang to further that plan of legis
laon 1Chicb DIR. Webster tells as prevented civ aOdr
1t is clear also, that he is willing gain whateve
he can at the North by allowing the idea to be enter
tanned that he ayaS and is hostile to the fugitive
slaVe lar, as an abstract proposition while on
Can claim for HIM any further merit in the premise
than refusal to forget his oath to execute the lauc
Major DoneIson inexorabe sentinel h.
was not content 10 kill Mr. Fillmore but even afte
he had crushed the breath out of him, he continues
to belabor him. In August, 1851, Major Doneso
dlscov cred and announced coalition bettvee Sea-
ard and Fillmore" in these words The PreSide1
and the abolition synagogue haze shaken hands, an
may noW lie doavn together in peace and harmony.
But, lest " the simple minded wings" of the South
as Maj Donaldson called them, should be surprise
at such result he proceeds 10 show that it
natural coalition, follows:
But let them Ohe southern whigs) pause and re
fleet and review the past, and they will be a>tonsh
ed that they did not anticipate such consummatlon
g,
far as the tarthest an his hostility 10 southern instu
E tionS - an diSregardlng southern rights lnSuIttn
southern feeling, and funning the flame of SeC9onC
hostility. Before the people 0, western New York b
appealed to the islavery feeling, and coued avt
eager industry the abolaon:Sts The anti. Masons, an
] all those factions which have been nurtured an
nourished by the wings in that section of the Union.
As if to bot out forever all prelence that Mr.. Fill
more deserved any credit for his signature Of tn
compromise measures, Major Donelson repeated, wit
emphasis, that DIR. Fillmore had signed those meas
ares under conStr0int and, IN regard to The fugiut
slave Ia2e sheltered himself behind the opinion Of
T attorney General, and then went on as follows:
"From the time of the adjournment of the sesso
which passed the peace measures everything hf
!, been so conducted as to avoid, if possible, giVn
offence to the anti slavery party of the North, pr
2 venting future alliances with it. Some few of tt
Presidents personal friends were necessarily rewa
ded Public opinion required change OF cablne
Mr.. Corwn took the place of MIR. Meredith but tt
treasury patronage remained where Meredith ha
5 placed it, MIR Hall took the place of MIR. Coliame
but The patronage of the General Post Office remain
e in the hands to which Mr.. Colamer Lad confded
Mr.. Stuart took the place OF Mr.. Ewing, and, de
pite his declaration in Virginia. the great Oulk of
immense patronage of the Interior Department
n still enjoyed by the appointees of Thomas Ewing,
Ohio, the bosom friend of VIM. II. Seward, of Ne
r York"
Major Donelson determined 10 pile up the ey
dences Of abolitionism of Mr.. Fillmore In Septer
Der, 1851 he called Mr.. Fillmores Secretary of Il
le Treasury, Tom Corwin, TO the witness stand:
n n ''It is well known (says Major Donelson) that
,e the summer of 184S, at town in Ohio called Rdg
Mr. Corwn, in advocating before the whig abolitio
r, lists of that State Mr.. FllImore's election as vi
g. President, declared in public speech that Mr. Fl
Sc more tUus then "a knoaUn aboL1tionist. "
to 1t was not until October, 1851, that Major Done
Us son was able to draw Mr.. Flmores special org