The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-12-29
THE RIGHT KIND OF TALK!

In these days CT political fanatlc'sm
and sectional strife, II is refreshing to hear
man express such sentiments as are
onlained in the following letter, written
by Milard Fillmore in reply to an invita-
tion to attend the recent Union Meeting ip
New York City. ltwould be glorious
thing for this country il every man who
occupies seat in our national legislative
halls entertained similar sentiments. The
following is the letter:
BurrAL", Dec. l6, 1859.
Gentlcmcn--Y Your letters Of the 18th
reached me yesterday, enclosing cali
for public meeting in New York City,
headed .Iec.g ltra ef0.a
"7ze Worth and tie South-lusties and
Fraternity" ..,..p
and inviting me to be prcsen, on tbe occa.
sion. As no time is specified. hasten
to respond by saying that tie objects
Of the meeting have my most hearty ap.
proval, but have long since Withdrawn
from any participation in politics beyond
that of giving my vote for those whom
deem The best aud safest men to govern
the country; and uniformly. since was
at tho head of the:.government, declined
all invitations to attend political meetings;
yet, in view of the present stormy aspect
and threatening tendency Of public events,
did | feel that my presence at your meet
ing could. in the least, tend TO allay the
growing jealousy between the North and
the South. should at some personal in
convenience, accept your invitation, and
cordially join you in admonishing the
country North and South, to mutual for
bearance towards each other; and to cease
elimination and rccrimination on both
sides, and endeavor to restore again that
fraternal feeling and confidence which
have made US great and happy peo'
pie.
But it seemsto me that il my opinions
are Of any importance 10 my counrymen,
they now have them In a much more re-.
sponsible and satisfactory form than l
could give them by participating in the
proceedings Of any meeting. My sen,i-
ments on this unfortunate question Of
; slavery, and the constitutional rights Of
Of the South in regard to it. hare mol
changed since they uere made manifest 10
The whole country BY The performance Of a
painful official duty IN approving and en-
forcing the fugitive Stare iaw. What the
Constitution gives would eonceds at ev-
cry sacrifice. would not seek to enjoy
its benefits without sharing its burthens
and its responsibilities. l know Of no
other rule Of political right or expedien.
cy. Those were my sentiments then
they are my sentiments nov. l stand by
the Constitution Of my country at every
hazard, and am prepared to maintain i,
at every sacrifice.
Here l might stop; but since have
yielded to the impulse to write, will not
hesitate to express. very briefly, my views
on one or two events which have occurred
since retired from Office, and which in
all probability have given rise to your
meetings. This l cannot do intelliglbly.
without brief reference to some events
which acquired during my administers
ticn. . k..sag sfaE
All must remember that in l849 and
so. the country was severely agi;ated on
this disturbing question Of slavery. That
contest grew out Of the acquisition OF new
territory from Mexico, and contest be.
tween the North and the South as to
whether slavery should be tolerated in
any part Of that territory. Mixed up with
this, was claim on the part of the slave.
holding States, that the provisions Of the
Constitution for the rendition Of fugitives
from service should be made available,
as the law Of 1898 on that subject. which
depended chiefly on State officers for
It's execution, had become imperative, be.
cause State officers were not obliged to
perform that duty. 4
After severe struggle. which threat.
ened the integrity ofthe Union, Congress
finally passed laws settling these ques.
lions; and the government. and the peo-
pie for time seemed to acquiesce in
that compromise as a final settlement OF
this exciting question; and it is exceed
ingly to be regretted that mistaken am
bitten or the hope Of promoting party
triumph should have tempted any one to
raise this question again. But in an
evil hour this Pandora's 6or of Slavery
was again opened BY waat I conceive to b
an awasGfaUs ottempt to force Slavery
inio Aaasas by repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise, and the food Of evils now
swelling and threatening to overthrow the
Constitution. and sweep away the foun-
dasion Of the Government itself, and
deluge this land with fraternal blood
goy all b traced 10 dis mforanafe act
Whatever might have been the motive,
lew acts have ever been so barren Of good
and so fruitful Of evil. The contest has
exasperated the public mind, North and