Gilpin observer., 1910-01-27
How Fillmore Tricked State

TeaulnS as does the early life OF
Abraham Lincoln.
1T was my good fortune to know
Fillmore well. He became comptrol-
Ter of the state of New York in 1847,
and not until the following year was
he nominated for vice president on
the Whig ticket with Gen. Taylor.
During that period was deputy treas
quently dropped into my office to chat
with me, and in this manner l came
to know him intimately.
But of all the things he told me
confidentially of the great politicians
of the day, and of all the things he did
to my own personal knowledge. moth
ing threw for me so interesting
light on the mans character as did
his methods of tricking the state
whenever he wanted to be absent
from his office. 1t is a story that
illustrates perfectly the crafty side
of his nature. His other and nobler
side was that which any great man
and true patriot possesses.
Soon after he became comptroller,
Fillmore brought to the treasurer
Office some blank warrants and asked
me whether II he signed them in
blank, they could be utilized in case
he were absent from his Office, for
he expected to go pretty often to Buff
falo and other points in the state. I
answered that this could not be done.
but added that If he were out of the
state at any time, then his deputy
would have authority to sign war;
rants, which the treasurer would be
obliged to honor.
WELL said Mr.. Fillmore, II
should go to New York and take the
Housatonic railroad. which runs
through Connecticut, 1t would take me
out of the state for a few hours. then
my deputy would be authorized to
sign. and it would not make any diff
ference If l got to New York City
that way?'
IF you notify us that you are go
ing into Massachusetts and Connecti-
cut l replied, then your deputy
would be authorized to sign the war
rants until you notified us of your re-
turn to the state
THAT was all the assurance that
Mr. Fillmore wanted. and after that,
for several months, whenever he went
to New York City, he took the Housa-
steamboat down the Hudson, as al
most everybody else did. But first
he always notified us that he was
leaving the state and took equal care
not to notify us of his return to it
until he was back in Albany.
"But l think that without question.
the strangest of all his subterfuges to
trick the state of his time, and so give
himself more time, he employed at
the time the suspension bridge over
the Niagara river was under construc.
ton.
There was to be some sort of cere.
mony at Niagara in which he wanted
to take part, and 1t was to occur at a
time when some important warrants
would have to be signed by the comp
troller. Nevertheless, he went on to
Buffalo. had himself taken across the
river in a basket in which the bridge
workmen were conveyed across the
chasm, and then sent us word that
he was In Canada, SO that we would be
compelled to recognize this deputy's
signature on those important war.
rants and all others until such time
as he notified us that he had returned
to the state.
Think Of 1.-THE man who was to
be vice president in two years, and
president in three years and half
later. being the party to subterfuge
like that. For he was actually out of
the state less than an hour. though
officially he did not return to IL for
some days.
Copyright. 1909. by lS. ]. Edwards)
- lH n.A~