Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-09
Daath Of Ex-President MilIarE Fill.
more.
From the Washington Republican

From the washington RepuDllcan.
BUFFALO, March Sex President Millard
Fillmore died at his residence in this city at
ten minutes past | o'clock tonight. lie was
conscious up to the time of his death. Al 5
o'clock, iu reply to aquestlon by his ,phy9;;ctau
he said no nourishme was palatable. nese
were his last words His death was painless
Willard Fillmore, thirteenth President OF the
United States, was born at Summer Hill, Gag
uga county, New York, January 7, 1900:
Western New York was then wilderness, aud
when a boy Mr.. FILLMORE was sept to Living
ston County to learn the clothier's trude, and
soon after was regularly appreutlced to wool
carder for four years While serving this APP
preoticeship he devoted his leisure hours to
the Improvement of his MUD by study. There
we're no common schools 10 those days In that
region, and his knowledge from books was
chiefly self-acquired. When nineteen years old
be gave his attention TO the study OF the law,
for which profession he had conceived a strong
preference, and to which his later experience
proved that his mind was well adapted.
w lille pursuing his studies he taught school
portion OF the time to aid 10 the liquidation
of bis expenses At his majority in 1921, MIR.
Fillmore removed tv Buffalo, where be pursued
his legal studies for Two years more, when he
was admitted to practice 10 the Court OF Com-
mon Pleas of Erie county, aud opened his Office
at Aurora, a village in the same county. La
1927 he was admitted as practitioner 10 the
Supreme Court The same year he was chosen
to represent the county 10 the Legislature, and
the following year removed TO the city OF BUT
falo and continued his practice. lu 1882 he
was elected Representative in Congress irolD
the Erie district, aud at that tine served but
siugle term, returning at Its close to the prac
tce of the law. In 1886 he was again elected
to Congress and Continued to serve untii the
year lS43 without interruption. He Was a
member of the Committee on Elections IN the
| TweD,y-ffth Congress, and Of that uf Ways
and Means Of the Twenty and Twenty
seventh. He was chairman OF that Important
committee in the latter Congress during the
famous apostacy Of President Tyler FROM the
| Wing party, aud led the bitter and animated
contest 10 the House upon the bank and tariff
bills which were vetoed by Tyler. The debates
of those days upon these questions were among
the most brilliant and exciting recorded iu the
annals of Congress. Hon. Henry y. Wise aud
Caleb Gushing followed the lead Of President
Tyler and deserted the Wings, while Ed. Stan
ley, of n c., who was Colleague Ut Mr.. Fill
more upon the Committee Of Ways and MeaDS,
with Hon. Juhu Nj. Bolts and others, acnlcv-
ed great distinction iu the advocacy ut the pro,
lection doctrines of Mr.. Clay The Wigs were
successful 10 carrying their measures through
| both Houses in TWO or three different shapes,
but they were all slaughtered by the vetoes Ol
the President. This result caused the greatest
dissatisfaction among the Wings all over the
country, and upon the return OF the members
to their homes the Wings were received with
open arms by their constituents. Prcsldent
Tyler aud his "corporaTs guard We're de-
nounced at public meetings 10 New York 10
the most unmeasured terms. AL Immense m
diguatioD meeting was held in the Broadway
Tabernacle, in the city Of New York. which
was addressed by Messrs. FILLMORE and Stan
ley, giving full account Of the proceedings IL
Congress on the finances and the tariff, aud tx
painiug the treachery of Tyler at the different
stages; how he indicated what he would APP
prove if passed and afterwards reuporselcssly
vetoed. Wise aud Gushing also came in for a
| liberal share Of blame for the bad advice they
gave TO Tyler They never more acted With
the Old Wing party, nor recovered the CONT
deuce of their former colleagues, but were
driven clear over into the racks Of the DcInoc-
racy.
Mr.. Fillmore DOW retired from public lite and
resumed the practice OF his profession III c"u-
nection with Hon. n. X Hall and Hon. Solo
mon g. Haven, whu had risen from being STU
deuts iu his Office to the Enjoyment of share OF
his extensive though not very lucrative prac-
tice. They had the reputation OF being souLd,
honest lawyers, possessing the confidence and
esteem of the entire community ihey were
| temperate, prudent and wise men, whose couse
was sought largely By commercial men. They
enjoyed large admiralty and collection bust
ness, which they transacted for moderate fees,
aud with as little litigation as possible they
rarely lost case or client. The confidence
reposed 10 this firm was well attestcd by the Sc
lection of all three OF them, successfully, to
represent the district in Congress- Mr. Hall
was chosen in 1916 and served Que term, aud
MIR. Haven 10 lS5O-'52 and 81 The latter
died in Buffalo in 1861.
Iu the campaign Of 1874 the great popularity
of Mr.. Fillmore aud his prominent idenihca-
ton with the tariff measures OF 1912 pointed
him out as the proper man to be nominated
upon the ticket with Mr.. Clay for the Office of
Vice President, aud his name was strongly
urged upon the Convention by many trleuds,
but Mr.. Freelinghuysen, of New jersey, was
selected as, in the judgment of the Convention,
stronger man with the religious element Of
the country MIR. Fillmore was then selected
as the Wing candidate for Governor of New
York. This frightened the Democrats, aud
they forced upon Silas Wright the candidacy
of their party as the only mau who could defeat
Mr.. Fillmore 10 the State. Mr.. Wright was
very popular with the people and brilliant and
effective orator He accepted reluctantly and
tovk the field. His friends had thought that
he should have had the nomination for Presl-
dent Instead of Mr. Polk, and were sadly dis
gruutIed at the nomination of the latter. They
were justly iodiguaot that their favorite should
be used as ca,spaw 10 pull Polk's chestnuts
from the fire. But time Modified their feelings,
and all went to work for their eloquent eaier.
The contest Of 1874 was the most exciting
within the last half century. lu New York
especially it was known to be exceedingly
close Still the wbigs were cop6Ient that with
the Dames of Clay and Fillmore they could
beat Polk and Wright. The contest waxed
warm, the issues being Free Trade versus High
Tariff, and it was soou found that New York
must determine which party should have the
victory.
The unbounded popularity OF SiIas Wright