Year: 1860




full duty in approving and enforcing
the fugitive slave law. What the
Constitution gives / would concede at
every sacrifice. / would not seek to
enjoy its benefits without sharing its
burthens and responsibilities. know
of no other rule of political rights and
expediency. These were my senti-
ments then-they are my sentiments
now. l stand by the Constitution of
my country at every hazard, and / am
prepared to maintain it at every sac
rifice.


Here might stop; but since l have
yielded to the impulse to write, / would
not hesitate to express very briefly, my
views On one or two events which have
occurred since retired from office,
and which, in all probability, have
given rise to your meeting. This /
cannot do intelligibly, without brief
reference to some events which occur
red during my administration.


All must remember that in 1S49 and
1850 the country was severely agitated
on this disturbing question of slavery.
That contest grew out of the acquisi-
ton of new territory from Mexico, and
contest between the North and the
South as to whether slaves should be
tolerated in any part of that territory.
Mixed up with this was claim on the
part of the slaveholding States, that
the provision of the constitution for
the rendition of fugitives from service
should be made available, as the law of
1893 on that subject, which depended
chiefly on State officers for its execu-
ton, had become imperitive because
State officers were not obliged to per-
form that duty.


After severe struggle, which
threatened the integrity of the Union,
Congress finally passed laws settling
these questions; and the government
and the people for time seemed to
acquiesce in that compromise as final
settlement of this exciting question ;
and it is exceedingly to be regretted
that mistaken ambition or the hope of
promoting party triumph should have
tempted any one to raise this question
again. But in an evil Eour this Pan
dora's box of slavery was again opened
by what | conceive to be an unjustifa-
BILE attempt to force slavery into Kan
sas by repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, ard the flood of evils now
swelling and threatening to overthrow
the constitution, and sweep away the
foundation of the government itself,
and deluge this land with faternal
blood, may all be traced to this unfor-
tunate act. Whatever might have
been the motive, few acts have, ever
been so barren of good and so fruitful
of evil The contest has exasperated
the public mind, North and South, and
engendered feelings of distrust, and /
may say, haste, that l fear it will take
years to wear away.


The lamentable tragedy at Harper's
Ferry is clearly traceable to this unfor-
tunate controversy about slavery in
Kansas, aid while the chief actors In
this criminal invasion has exhibited
some traits of character that challenge
our admiration, yet his fanatical yea
seems to have blinded his moral per
ccptions, and hurried him into an un
lawful attack upon the lives of peace
ful and unoffending community in {
sister State, with the evident intention
of raising a servile insurrection, which
no one can contemplate without hor
ror; and few, / believe very few, cal
be found SO Indifferent to the conse
: quences of his acts, or so blinded b,
fanatical zeal, as not to believe that h,
justly suffered the penalty Of the Law


which he had violated. / cannot bu
hope that the fate of John Brown an,
: his associates will deter all others from
e any unlawful attempt to inrerfere il
the domestic affairs of sister State
Butthis tragedy has now closed, and Vii
. ginia has shown that she eisq quite compe
l tenttomanage her own Affairs and protee
e her own rights. And, thanks to an over
ruling Providence, this question Q
slavery in Kansas is now also settled
: and settled in favor of freedom. Th


North has triumphed, and, having tri


umphed, let her, by her magnanimit
b and generosity to her Southern bretf
Il rem, show that the contest on her par
:, was one of principle and not of pei
: sonal hatred or the low ambition {
o a sectional triumph.


o Finally, if had the power to speal
y and there were any disposed to liste
g to my counsel, 1 would say to m
l brethren of the south Be nc
y alarmed for there are few, very few
# at the North who would justify in an
n manner an attack upon the institution
n of the South, which are guaranteed b
7. the Constitution We are all Ant
l. Slavery in sentiment, but we kno
d that we have nothing to do with it
e the several States, and we do not il
g tend to interfere with it. And / woul
Il say to my brethren of the North
g Respect the rights of the South; a
e sure them by your acts that you regar
h them as friends and brethren. And
r would conjure all, in the name of a
/ that is sacred, to let this agitatio
l. cease with the causes which have pr
d duced it. Let harmony be restored b
Is tween the North and the South, an
N let every patriot rally around our n
ID tional flag, and swear upon the altar
n his country to sustain and defend it.
re / am, with.great respect, your obed


ent servant, MILLARD FILLMORE.