The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-10
OBITUARY.
WILLARD FILLMORE.


the rudest sort, for he had never seen
grammar or geography up to his nineteenth
year. At that age he conceived the design
of studying law, devoting his time previously
to dressing wool and farming. After most
laborious experience in teaching scoool,
sweeping out law offices, taking charge of a
post-office, and rdading law between times
he was admitted to the bar in 1923. He was
sent to the the legislature in 1928 by the au.
ti-masons. and made himself prominent
there by his advocacy of the act to abolish
imprisonment for debt. His congressional
career commenced as an anti-Jacksonian
in 1892, and was continued as a full
fiedged whig in 1886, 1888 and 1910. At
Washington he supported the wing doctrine
of protection, but never looked with much
love upon the national bank. His sympa-
thies were wildly with the abolitionists in
the slavery matter. Mr.. Fillmore played a
prominent part in the celebrated New Jer-
sey contested election case, being at that
time member of the committee on cleo
tons. In this capacity he canvassed the
state of New Jersey. In the twenty seventh
congress. Mr.. Fillmore was given the posi-
ton of chairman of the committee of ways
and means, and the tariff of 1912
was principally the creature of his
brain. He was again put forward as can.
didate on the expiration of his term of
Office, bat refused TO accept the nomination
afterit had been rendered and even pressed
upon him. Having been nominated for the
gubernstorial chair of New York, he was
overwhelmingly defeated by Silas Wright
IN. I,rt ala &oI
years afterward by large majority, and re-
moved to Albany in order TO fulfill the du-
ties of Il is Office. Mr.. Fimore had been
talked for the second place on the
ticket with Mr.. Clay and when in
lS4S Tachery Taylor was made the standard
bearer of the wings. Millard Fillmore was
nominated for vice-president over Abbot
Lawrence and twelve others. When after
the election he took his seat as the presiding
officer of the Senate, he found that Calhoun
had established the rule that the vice presi-
dent had no power.to call a Senate to order
for words spoken in debate. The incumbent
announced his determination "to maintain
decorum in debate" and the Senate
unanimously entered his views
on the journal. When in July
$780, President Taylor died in the midst OF
the exciting fight over Mr.. Clay's omnibus
bill" Mr.. Fillmore became president. The
principal events of his administration were
the settlement of the difficulties growing out
of the boundary dispute between Texas and
New Mexico, his signing of the fugitive
slave law and proclamation on the rescue iR
Boston. his misunderstanding of the fillibus-
tering of lopez in Cuba, the passage of the
famous compromise measures, and the send
ing out of Capt. Perry's expedition TO
Japan. All these measures Were
received by the people with consld-
cradle favor, except those which referred
to slavery and which aroused storm Of ia
in the north. And although the
next wing convention expressed its approval
of his course by the decisive vote of 22z to
go. yet an attempt to renominate him COM
manded only 20 votes from the free states.
At the expiration OF Mr.. Fillmore's term OF
office he spent some time abroad and was
received with marked attention. While in
Europe, he was nominated for the presidency
by the American party on platform which
recognized the principles OF the Kansas Ne
braska act and the fugitive slave law. Mr.. F.
accepted the nomination in a letter dated
Paris, May q, 1856, but in the contest the
Americans were left entirely out of view and
their nominee carried only the state of
Maryland. Mr.. Fillmore had of late years
made Buffalo his home, where he resided in
elegant. retirement during the close of his
long, busy, honorable and, for the most
part, admirable life.
The. following interesting account of his
last Wednesday: About two weeks ago Hon.
Willard Fillmore. our distinguished and re-
spected townsman, experienced stroke of
paralysis. In order to create no undue ex-
cltement in the community and in conse-
lueRee OF the personal requests of members
Of the family, the press of the city have, up
to the present time, RETAINED from making
any mention of the circumstance
But now the case has taken on such a /
serious aspect, and become besides a
matter of such general comment and |
inquiry, that it is but right for us to present |
TO our readers the facts AS they are.
1t was on the morning OF Friday, Feb |
ruary 81, that Mr.. Fillmore experienced the |
firs5 stroke of paralysis, and since that time
his condition, instead of taking a positive /
favorable turn, has gradually grown worse
and it is with great reluctance we chronicle |
the fact that Mr.. Fillmore now lies in very
critical condition. The paralytic stroke
which at first destroyed the sensation and |
power of motion in the left arm only, has
slowly but steady extended. until it now
embraces the whole left side and all the mus
cles connected both with the voice and power
of swallowing. In the case of Mr.. Fill
more there is also concretion of blood gath
cred around the brain, which, although it |
does not seriously Interfere with the mental
makes the power of expression ex-
difficult.
At the first symptoms of the attack, DIR.
James p. White, the eX-president's family
physician, was summoned, and under his
skillful attention the patient improved so
far that he partially recovered the use of his
parts, and actually seemed to be
IN fair way of complete recovery. On
last, however, there was a return
Of the attack, and DIR. White, desiring to
consult with some other physician upon
whose opinions be could rely, telegraphed
n FIR nr
rived in Buffalo the same night, and on
The following day friday both doctors Wis
ted the patient, and there was an entire
both in the diagnosis and man.
ner Of treatment. Up to Sunday last the
patient had not lost control of his lower ex.
tremeties, and was able to walk about the
house from room to room, but his limbs
then refused to bear his weight, and he has
since been closely conhned to his bed. Day
before yesterday the proper medicines were
given him freely, and with their aid he
passed a tolerably comfortable night. All
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