The New York herald., 1873-09-23
M-PRESiDENT FILLMORE.
a Venerable Link Connecting the
Past and the Present.
4 WORTHY EXAMPLE FOR MEN OF STATE
Mr. Fillmore on Our DiplOmatists
and Foreign Relations.
A SCHOOL OF DIPLOMACY.
General Grants Administration
and Appointments.
THE PRESID ENJOY.
One Term of Six Years and a
Pension Afterwards.
How to Avoid National Disgrace
in the Future.
THE CHIEF JUSTICESEIIP.
Elevated Ideas on the Administra-
tion of Justice.
THE PRESIDENCY.
One Term of Six Years and a
Pension Afterwards.
How to Avoid National Disgrace
in the Future.
THE CHIEF JUsT1CEsH1P.
Elevated Ideas on the Administra-
ton of Justice.

ClOn Oh JuSC1Ccs
BUFFALO, N. Y. Sept 49, 1873.
'sThe hoary head Is q crown OF glory If 1t be
found in the way Of Righteousness" So are we In
structed by the Book of Life. and experience con-
firms this in our daily dealings with the world. To
have lived hle of diligence ana virtue honorable
and honored to rise by the force OF intellect from
secluson to the forum OF public usefulness and to
tho highest pinnacle OF distinction attainabe in his
time. is no less matter of self-congratuaton for
an individual in day than when the illustrious
OF Sparta and Athens sought, by means of energy.
eloquence and heroic achievements, to establish the
principles of freedom and leave for the generations
chat should follow lessons Of encouragement to
maintain and improve the lessons so founded. ltis
seldom the good aboriOus soul who seeks to scatter
the seeds of virtue the face OF the whole earth
lives to see the buds burst forth or watches the
fruit through all its stages until 1t is gathered
mp as q harvest Of indestructiDle blessing TO his
race. The sower Is too often the victim OF his own
endeavors, and nature yields prematurely before
the exhaustive efforts and ceaseless labor OF him
who would reap as well as SOW. There priv
neged few, however, whom Providence permits to
behold during the sunset Of life, the fulhlment of
hopes long cherished, to realize the fruits OF intel
ligent labor and reap the rewards OF honest indus
try. These often serve the purposes of history, or
form, as 1t were, living connecting links between
the past and the present, oracles Of wisdom and in
structiOn.
A GREAT LIVING EXAMPLE.
Among the latter l think eX-President Mlard
Fillmore may be classed. AS sat in his presence
this morning, at his little comfortable but unpre-
tentious of1oe In Court street, and noticed
Ms hearty condition, his excellent state
OF preservation and snow white hair,
and felt the encouraging influences OF
his courtesy and kindly expression l was
involuntarily carried back to the days when the
Individual before me was engaged in the honest
capacity Of q woo-comber In the wilderness Of Liv
ingston county, and felt how deeply instructive
was the lesson OF his life for the young men OF
America IN unfolding the cheering prospects which
await those who apply themselves virtuousy and
diligently even In the most humble stations to the
great purposes Of life, and in showing the necessity
of bestowing the highest culture on their minds
before entering the vast arena where all their re-
sources will be called into activity. From poor
boy IN clothing store he became, by the force OF
his own energy and application, great LAWYER,
served his own State Ia the Legislature for several
terms; ten years he held his own in Con-
gress, q great portion OF the time as q
leade5 under most trying circumstances, was
electei Vice President at the general election
whichelevated General Taylor to the honors of the
saw 1t to recall the latter from the scene of all
earthly cares Millard Fillmore was called upon to
preside over the councils OF the nation. How well
he succeeded at this difficult period Is now a mat
ter of history. His calm and deliberate Judgment,
his dignity and gracefulness OF manner, his fnan-
cial accurlcy, his gifts Of Illustration nvncibility
or argument and honesty of purpose were the
qualifications, secured by a life of earnest study
which HI carried with him to the post Of honor
He chose councillors such rs Webster and Everett,
and inspired the nation and foreign countries with
confidence in his government Relatives and
partisans found no pre-eminence in his admins
traton, and the clouds OF doubt and difficulty that
had long obscured the political horizon were swept
away, aid new hope and light dawned upon the
country.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF SCIENCE
Our conversation was begun by reference to the
recent attempt at aerial navigation across the
ocean, which naturally led to an achievement hav-
ing far greater objects in view-the connecting Of
all nations by an instantaneous method OF commu-
ncation viz, by means OF the electric telegraph.
81 was chairman OF the Committee OF Ways and
Means,p said Mr.. Fillmore, "when Morse first
brought bis batteries and ten miles Of wire In
coll to the committee rooms Washington. We
were asked for an apFropramon OF $50, 900 in order
90 extend the experiments, o wire to Baltimore
being the 1rst under contemplation. l went to the
committed rooms and saw the operations OF the
instruments and the messages recorded, and be-
came conainced that here was an invention that
was destred toad in the civilization and progress
OF the wond. Many OF my colleagues and friends
In and ont OF Congress saw 1t also; lew be-
iieved in 1t, others turned round aud declared
that 1t was pure nonsense for a man to believe
ne could senG message to New Orleans In the
course OF q few seconds. advocated the measure
fOrf fhn a. ri.ftn Wit al 10
command, believing saw in the invention some
fhing OF tnit which has since been developed, aud
finally succeeded an having 1t passed. believed
In an enlightened Frogress, and supported my con-
victions by my voice and vote"
otR FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES.
From schnce we .drifted into diplomacy and
Craftsmanship. 1 veBtured to touch upon Mr..
fillmores tlst to Esrope and his ideas OF our
<oreign representatives
"Dnring my travels IN Enrope,n replied Mr..
Fillmore, Il was usually treated with courtesy
and consideration But there were occasions
when actually felt ashamed for my county. where
she unntnes OF the American diplomatic and con-
sular appoirtees was so glariag to reflect seri-
ously upon the character OF the American people.
leading to all kinds OF ernbarrassments. ssuch ap-
oontees were simply the subjects OF contemptibe
sneers by the polished and diplomatic minds
with whom they were forced into contact. I
remember one instance In France. Soon after
I had landed at B. sent my card 10 the United
States Consul at that port. In the course OF the
evening he called to pay his respects to me. Alter
some conversation with him l became convinced
chat he was utterly out Of place in such position,
and asked him how It was he mad been appointed
10 the post. He informed me that during the pre-
vtous administration (before came to the White
aOpse) he vas the editor Of small paper some. !