Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-20
speech of Ex.Pres,den, Fillmore.


At public meeting in Buffalo, NY, on the
10th inst, ex-President Fillmore spoke as fol-
lows:
Fellow-citizens: 1t is many years since 1
have taken any part in political meeting
and never intended to attend another. I
have long since ceased to be a partizan or pol
itician in the ordinary acceptance of those
terms. But havenot ceased to love my coun-
try, TO venerate its institutions, to take a lust
pride In Its prosperity and glory, and to trem-
bic with anxiety when I see ali that a patriot
should hold dear in the most3i imminent peril.
1t is for this reason that l have, at your re-
quest, consented to preside at this meeting
composed as it is Of the citizens of Buffalo,
without distinction of party, who have assem-
bled here to express their sentiments on the
alarming state Of the country. To be thought
worthy of such an honor at such a time from
those with whom my life has been spent, calls
for my grateful Acknowledgements and there
fore return you my cordial thanks for this
mark of your continued confidence and respect
But. my yfellow-citizens, this is no time for any
man to shrink from the responsibility which
events have cast upon him. We have reached
crisis in the history Of this country when no
man, however humble his work or limited his
influence, has a right to stand neutral Civil
war has been inaugurated, and we must meet
IT, The Government calls for aid, and we must
give 1t. Our institutions are in danger, and
We must defend them It is no time now to
inquire by whose fault or folly this state of
things has been produced The ship of State
Is In the breakers, and the muttering thunders
and darkened sky indicate the coming storm,
ana II she sink We must 60 down with her. We
have common lot and must meet a common
fate. Let every man, therefore, stand to his
post, and, like the true Roman Senator at the
gate OF P0mpeii. let pOsterity, when the storm
Is over, find our skeleton and armor on the
spot where duty required US to stand
You know, my friends, that my love of
country embraces the whole Union In all
tnat relates to the administration of the Gov
ernment, L know no North, no South Each
and every portion is alike entitled to its pro-
lection, and l have that confidence in this
Admlnistratlon to believe that it will receive
IT, L therefore think our southern brethren
have made great mistake in arraypg them
selves against the Government for fear il will
be improperly administered and had hopsd
that, II peace could be maintained for short
time. until they could be convinced of their
error, that they would voluntarily unto with
us again; or, if that were impossible, that time
might be gained for a National Convention,
which might so amend the Constitution as to
enable US to separate without war; but if they
commence an aggressive warfare, We have no
alternative but to rally around the constitut ed
authorities and defend the Government
But no language oan express my admiration
Va tIo NnOit-eOuteu ul3pIeyed 0y
the Union men of tho border States They
stand like rock in the midst of the ocean
against which the surges of secession beat in
vain; not moved by terror or seduced by an
unholy ambition, they have formed rampant
for the protection Of the Constitution. Their
patriotism is as pure as the unsulied snow, and
their loyalty as uncorruptib!e rs virtue itself
Ii they ask further guarantees for any cOnsti-
tutlonal right which they may think endan-
gered in consequence Of their relative weakness
by secession, | would cheerfully grant it. [
feel they deserve 1t, and no mere abstraction
should induce me to withhold il; but speak
only for myself The meeting will speak it's
own sentiments, and / await its further
pleasure.
Resolutions were adopted denouncing seces-
sion us unjustifablo rebellion, and all engaged
In II as traitors; assuring the South that we
are their friends, and will tolerate no aggres-
sion upon their rights by the General Govern
ment, but we look upon the Constitution of the
United States as a priceless heritage, which, if
we fail 70 defend, we shall prove false to our
hOliest and highest duty as freemep, false to
our ancestors, false to ourselves and our chill
dren, and justly merit the judgment of Heaven
and the contempt Of mankind; rendering to
the noble men Of the Border States thanks for
their firm stand by the Constitution and the
Union, admiration as patriots, loyal as friends,
and We embrace them as brothers, united with
US in noble cause; that we have witnessed
with pain the conquest of Fort Sumter as the
Inauguration OF civil war, and we assure our
SOuther brethren that whoever lays a sacre-
hgious hand upon our Constitution is our en-
emy, and, regardless of party, we will rally
around it for its defense.