White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-26
Misttllalrtuilss
Letter from Ex-Presidsnt Fillmore
Read at the New York Union Meet
ing, held Dec. 18th.
BurFALo. Dee. 18. 1850

BUFFALo, Dec. I6, 1859.
GEsTLEMEN: Your letter OF. the 18th
reached me yesterday, inclosing call fo
a public meeting in New York City
headed asaa-tr 10 .ur1,
TIE North and the South -Justics anc
Fraternity"
and inviting me to b e present on the oc
casion. As no time is specified, / haster
to respond by saying that the objects Of
the meeting have my most hearty appro-
val, but | have long since Withdrawn
from any participation in politics beyond
that OF giving my vote for those whom ]
deem the best and safest men to govern
the country; and l have uniformly.
since was ct the head of the Govern,
nsnt. declined all invitations to attend
political meetings; yet, in view of the
present stormy aspect and threatening
tendency of public events, did l feel that
ny presence at your meeting could, in
me least. tend to allay the growing jeal-
Gusy between the North and the South,
lSnouid, at some personal inconvenience,
accept your invitation, and cordially
ION you in sdmonishing to country,
NORTH aud South, to mutual forbearance
towards each other; and to cease crimina-
uo9 aud recrimination, ON both sides,
aud endesvOr to restore again that fra
'sfnai feeling and confidence which have
U1,e us great and happy people. iir
but 1t seems to me that if my opinions
are OF any importance to nv country
men, they now have them in a much
more responsible and satisfactory form
:na1 L could give them by participating
ll Tue proceedings of any meeting. Nv
%Otiments on this unfortunate question
W slavery, and the constitutional rights
u the South in regard to it, have not
Sua1ged since they were made manifest
y the whole country by the perform snce
va painful official duty in approving
1 Tri enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law
what the Constitution gives I would
eoIceds at every sacrifice. I would not
: >: 70 enjoy its benefits without sharing
- ourAens and its responsibilities. /
SuoS Of 40 other rule Of political rights or
s ~! These were my sentiments
soI'nese are my sentiments now. /
= oy the Constitution of my country
~, Svery hazard. and am prepared to
n1Intain it at every sacrifice. .
mere might stop. but since l have
,%'Ieu to the impulse to write, I will
, - hesitate to express, very briefly. my
o.. 1--WE On one or two events which have
An since / retired from Office. and
!. a' In all probability have given. rise
t.li E0gt meeting. This / cannot do in
g'Oly without 8 brief reference to
A.. s events which occurred during my
administration. ss as1l't iss3l : :
"a, All must remember that IN 2 is4s and
On v Is. Tue country was severely sgitated
H.. 'as disturbing question, Of Slavery,
dc contest grew out of the acquisition
t.,t Nv y. territory from Mexico. and a con-
hwSs ,Teen the North and the South as
n nstAer Slavery should be tolerated
VIII y. part Of that Territory. Mixed up
S,r.Su S was a claim on the part of the
oftbsu TTI0lng States that the provision
kr;s Constitution for the rendition Of
ava;I.11s from service should be made
s,Is oie, as the law of 1909 an thai
uSScs,s' y witch depended chiefly on Stats
aoDs-..;;Or It's execution, had become
lot oS1;e , because Stats officers were
'Sed to preform that duty. sis'