The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-03-13


In ls47 Mr.. Fillmore was nominated
and elected the Comptroller of the State,
an office which, in New York, is hardly
inferior in power aud dignity TO that of
the Governor. While Comptroller he
was selected by the Wing Naiional Con-
venlion at Philadelphia a. the candidate
lIor Nice-P President of the United States
upon the ticket which lad General Tav-
ler for President. Cu ,he 4fh OF March.
lS49. after his election, he assumed tie
duties OF that position. On july llih.
1850, some fifteen months after his in
auguration. General Taylor died, and
Mr.. Fillmore under the Constitution.
became President OF the United States
No man save Mr.. Lincoln ever took
possession Of the Office when the politi-
cal skies were so threatening. The North
and South were then upon the brink o.,
an armed struggle, which in all human
probability would have occurred had Il
not been Tor the death OF Gcncrii Taylor
and the accession OF Mr.. Fillmore. The
slavery question as il was introduced in
tne admission of California into the
? Union. the organization Of New Mexico
land tiah as Territories, the settle
ment of The Texas boundary and the
Fugitivc-slave Law. hld been ia angry
discussion TO Tie exclusion OF every
thing else Tor eight months. and Sc; no
thing had been done The different
plans Of compromise between the Norih-
lern aHfi-slAyery mon aud the Southern
leXircrli~t> bad failed 10 pass. The Cab
linet OF General Taylor. which governed
hun. was virtually directed by Wm. II
Seward. and il was Ak iiHst the adjust
lincnt proposed by the -enaie Committee
lOf Thirteen. at ihe hclu OF which was
the venerable Henry Clay. and whicl
lincinded in It the most eminent Demo
Icrai, and " Whigs in that body. The i'm
mediate point Of danger was the Texa'
boundary. The Stale of Texas claimed q
large portion OF New Mexico. which
1.-THE United States had bought from
Mexico at the conclusion OF the Mexican
War. She proposed Ia take possession o.
il and exercise state jurisdiction. This
General TAYLOR had resolved to resist
iby the military power OF the United
States. The whole South were backing
Texas, and the first blood shed musi
have been like the attack on Fort Sumter
leleven years later, and would have cal
led the whole country 10 arms. The
first act Of Mr. Fillmore was to surround
himself with Cabinet of extraordinary
ability. At its head was Daniel Web
lster OF Massachusetts. Secretary of State
Thomas Corwin, OF Ohio. was Secrctar,
lof the Treasury. Mr.. Fillmore, whel
lin Congress, had been distinguished TO
strong anii-slavery views, but they wer'
lall within the scope of the Constitution
lie saw at once lhe deadly nature OF t,i,
peril aud the necessity which existed o
IA compromise OF extreme opinions. 2
latter OF whom also displayed the great
est patriotism. the compromise OF Nj
Clay, by which Texas, in consideration
of slOOOo,OOO, relinquished her right t
, New Mexico. was passed. California
! lat the same time. was admitted a. a fire.
, state. New Mexico aud Utah were or
/, ganized rs Territories. leaving the in
, habiiants of them TO have slavery or not
as they pleased. aud the t'ugilive-slav
: Law. to carry out an express provision
|. in the Constitution that fugilives fron
: service should be returned. was adopted
+. That saved the Union. for had the wa
{ then broken out the south would hav
! obtained its independence.
The general affairs Of the Governmen
:. were administered b, Mr. Fillmore wit,
: the greatest dignity aud moderation.
He did his best to COOL down the l,ate
passions whirh existed at both ends O
t the Union. and he obiai ied = great sue
I cess. In 1852 lie received Oh many ba
lots the highest vote in the Wing Na
Z tional Convention for re-nominatio
+. TO The Presidential office. but was iinall
u defeated by General Winfield Scot
Z who was thought mistakenly 10 be III
! more available candidate. On the At
: OF March, 1858. Mr.. Fillmore retired I
! private lite. I'm 1896 hc was nominate
/ Tor the Presidency by The America
y National Convention. aLd In that ir
II angular contest between the Deinocrs
u James Buchanan aud the EcpHOlica
J. John G. Fremont. received n very n
specialize vote. lie carried the elect,
y raj vote OF Maryland. From that Ia
i he has never taken any active part
: political lite. As statesman he rci
y dcrcd. as we have seen, the greatest Sc
!" vices 10 his country. aud discharged q
ie duties of The Presidency with remarl
~ able ability aud success. Personally
W was Straightforward. sensible. practic
~ man, with very few of the weakness
y, aud iniirInilies which belong to hum
81 nature. While lie Will not rank amor
" the greatest OF American citizens. i
10 name will occupy high position amor
u. those of the second class. lie was
nc faithful disciple of the political scho
: of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, ~
9, in all bis actions was guided hy sen
IT. OF what his duty required under 4