The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-12

:
grossment and third readings
np.rE or yx.pREs1DBNr FILLMORE. -
Mr.. STUART said: s. ~,
Mr. Speaker,--I riseto perform a melau.
choly duty. The press has, don6tess, nia .;.e
| Known to the members OF tnis pooy .n'
dpath of the Hon. Willard f1nmore, eA,
President of the United States. My puipos =,
now is to make an official announcement " y,
fine fact. and to ask the Generai Assenio,s
Of Virginia to place on its Journals the t,lpule
| TO his character which bold, 10 my nanu.
and which will take the liberty OF rea".ns
The General Assembly OF virginia nav v,
heard with profound sorrow OF the oealu VI y,
the Hon. Willard Fillmore, eX.ffesloe a,, VI >,
the United States. Although ne nao hlIeu
the allotted span of human Lille, the hoI,e W" a.
generally entertained that ne ln.su. y,
spared for many years as wise cou.is s,,,,ia
| of his couutrymen, and as bright eAahPle
| NJ nublic and private virtue TO rising gene
rationS. u;ra;nja
Tn Willard Fillmore the people OF virginia,
while they have occasionally dissenteu iIo'n
some of bis views of public policy, nave ave-, ~,
WAYS recognized statesman OF DISTINGUISHES and
ability, of catholic patriotism, OF miS ;sdnn,
carried attainments, Of profound "isuon'
and of unsulIied integrity. ,,;t;ons ot
Having filled many public: posltions % .,
| ,,;aI, t,,,st and responsibility, be discharged
the duties of all of them in such manner US
- ,oa,,ro tbe confidence and esteem OIL Tue
GOOD men of all parties, and even amldsG Tue
800 .o;tan,ent of the most heated contests none
have ventured to express a douot as 10 inc
nuritv of bis motives and purposes.
His private life has been as spotiess as MS
,rhIic career has been useful and honorable.
10 Roman courage and firmness OF purpose
hc united genial temper, sincere deVotlon
to friends, generous federation to those VINO
differed from him, and all the gentler graces
which adorn the character of an accom-.
plished gentleman. When such man closes
his mortal career the people Of Virginia can
not fail to regard his death as national be-
reayement. The General Assembly, there
fore, acting on their behalf, avail themselves
of the opportunity of placing on their Jour-
nails this enduring testimonial Of their ap-
probation of the talents, patriotism, public
services, and exalted virtues of Willard Fill
more, and of rendering to his widow and
family the assurance of the heartfelt sympa-
thy of the people of Virginia in their attic.
ton.
1. Resolued, therefore, by the General as
sembly Of Virginia, That copy of the fore
going tribute to the memory of the late Hon.
Willard Fillmore, properly authenticated by
the presiding officers of the two houses, by
the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the
House OF Delegates, be prepared and for
warded to the widow and family of the de-
ceased.
2. Resolved, As further testimony of re-
spect to the memory of the deceased, this
house do now adjourn.
It was my fortune TO form tne personal
acquaintance of Mr.. Fillmore IN an early
stage of the session Of the Twenty seventh
Congress. It was during a period Of great
marty excitement. A political revolution
had been accomplished, and the men who
had been most active in achieving it were
sent to the Congress of the United States
to push it forward to its legitimate results.
The best talent of the country was to be
found in the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives. Two Of the great triumvirate,
Clay and Calhoun, were ia the Senate, and
the third, Webster, vas in the Department
of State, other gentlemen, scarcely less
distinguished, occupied seats in the Senate.
Among these were Benton. Serrier, Silas
Wright, Clayton, McDuftie, Buchanan,
Riyes, and host Of others.
The House OF Representatives was graced
by the presence of John Quincy Adams,
John Sergeant, Thomas F. Marshall, Daniel
D. Barnard, Thomas W. Gllmer, George w.
Summers, and many others OF equal ability.
Amidst this array of talent and statesman
ship MIR. Fillmore stood preeminent,
and, by common consent, the chair
manship of the Committee of Ways
and Means, which was but another
name for the leadership of the House of Rep
resenhtives' was assigned to him. 1t was
position of great labor and responsibility,
and one which required the constant exer-
else of high mental powers. He fulfilled its
duties in the most mastery manner, and
often heard it remarked that nature seemed
to have created him for that particular posi-
ton.
Six years afterwards he was elevated by
the voice of the people to the vice-pFesi-
dency of the United States. By virtue OF
that office he was president of the Senate, and
here, again, he manifested such peculiar apti-
tude for the duties of his position. and dis
PLAYED so much dignity and impartiality, as
70 extort the highest praise from men Of all
shades of political opinion.
By the untimely death Of General Taylor,
in July, 1850, the Office and duties Of Presi.
dent of the United States devolved on Mr..
FILLMORE. His accession to the presidency
occurred in the midst of scenes Of fearful
excitement, which threatened the peace of
the country. Congress was In session, and
the COMPROMISE measures Of 1850 were
pending. In this condition of public affairs
I was invited by Mr.. Fillmore to become one
of his constitutional advisers. When I ar
rived in Washington l found that some
of the compromise measures had passed the
two houses of Congress, and others had not
yet been disposed OF. Among those which
had passed and been sent to the President
was the fugitive slave law. That act was q
subject of discussion at the first Cabinet
meeting which I attended. was,
of course, very anxious to know
what was the position Of the Presi-
dent and my associates OF the Cabinet
in regard to that exciting measure, and
A question had been raised at previous
meeting as to the constitutionaity Of the
act, and the Attorney General, John j. Crit
tenden, had been instructed to examine and
report On this question. 1t was season
of intense excitement, but MIR. Fillmore
maintained his equanimity undsturbed,
and when MIR. Crittenden. announced bis
opinion that there was nothing in tie act at
variance with the Constitution the Presi-
dent did not hesitate to sign it. know well
how painful it was 10 him to discharge this
high constitutional duty. That he was an
anti-slavery man in sentiment was known to
us all. He had been born and reared in
Western New York, where the anti.slarery
feeling was peculiarly strong. His educa-
ton and all his associations tended to
strengthen the prejudices of his childhood