MR. FILLMORE'S SPEECHES IN 1856

AS CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT

The American party, at its National convention at Philadelphia, February 26, 1856, chose Mr. Fillmore as its candidate for President. He appears first to have received the news while in Rome, but the official letter of notification reached him in Venice early in May. He wrote his letter of acceptance at Paris, and arrived in New York on June 22d. There, and in all the principal towns through which his way lay to Buffalo, he was forced by the political exigencies of the hour as well as by popular enthusiasm to address the crowds that everywhere greeted his coming. The following record of these speeches is drawn from the newspapers and pamphlets of the day.

ON ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK.

When the steamship Atlantic, on which Mr. Fillmore was a passenger, reached her wharf at New York, Sunday evening, June 22d, a reception committee boarded the vessel and found Mr. Fillmore sitting quietly near the cabin door. Alderman Briggs, for the committee, having delivered an address, Mr. Fillmore responded:

MR. CHAIRMAN: This unexpected and flattering reception from the city of New York, and my native State, reaches a heart that cannot feel otherwise than grateful. It is true, sir, that for more than a year I have been a laborious traveler in foreign countries, and though I have wandered

far, my heart has always been yearning for my own native land. And this, sir, is the happiest and proudest moment of my life, to be received thus by a city that is known all over Europe. For you can travel in any part of Europe and ask the humblest peasant what city he knows in America, and he will reply, "the city of New York." I am proud to own that I am a native of the State of New York, but I am prouder still to say that I am an American citizen.

Sir, you have been pleased to allude to my former services to my country. It does not become me to speak of them; they have already passed into the history of the country. Much less would it become me to speak of the future. All I can say is, sir, that my name, unsolicited on my part, and entirely unexpected, has been presented by my friends for the suffrages of the people. If they shall see fit again to manifest their confidence in me by elevating me to that high position, all I can promise is, a faithful and impartial administration of the laws of the country, to every part of the country. If there be those either North or South, who desire an administration for the North as against the South, or for the South as against the North, they are not the men who should give their suffrages to me. For my own part, I know only my country, my whole country, and nothing but my country.

Sir, I was unexpectedly called upon to address you this evening, and can only conclude by returning my thanks and an appreciation of the honor which the Corporation of the City of New York has unexpectedly done me in this reception. I return my thanks to the people, too.

AT THE ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL, NEW YORK.

On arriving at the St. Nicholas Hotel about 1 o'clock a. m., in order to gratify the throng that had gathered, Mr. Fillmore appeared on a balcony and addressed them briefly:

FELLOW-CITIZENS: I believe I shall hardly trespass upon the Sabbath-for it is past midnight-if I give you my thanks for this welcome back to my native State. You may

readily conceive that a person come from a long voyage, weakened by seasickness and wearied by travel, can hardly appreciate the enthusiasm displayed by a street full of people, gathered together at this unseasonable hour. I have seen much of European life-I have been able to contrast it with my own country. Compared with my own I would say to you, that after all my wanderings, my heart turns to America, my home and the place of my birth.

But, fellow-citizens, this is no time for a speech, and I will merely add, that from this time forward, I am not only with you but of you.

The following morning (June 23d) Mr. Fillmore was waited upon at the hotel by a delegation from Philadelphia, whose spokesman, Hon. Henry D. Moore, made a speech of welcome and invited him to visit Philadelphia. Mr. Fillmore responded:

MR. CHAIRMAN: This unexpected welcome from the city of our Independence and of the Constitution, calls forth feelings of gratitude which I have not words to express. If there be any place outside of my native State which I respect, more than another, that place is Philadelphia. Its history, its sacred associations, all inspire me with respect and admiration, and I look to it as the birthplace of our Liberty and our Laws, for there Independence was proclaimed and our Constitution formed; and when I see here today the number of your delegation, and know the intelligence they represent, this kindness gives me a pleasure I have not the power adequately to express.

You have, sir, in your remarks, seen fit to allude to my travels and receptions in foreign countries. It is true that, from the crowned head to the peasant, I have been received everywhere with kindness and respect; but I do not attribute this to any merit of my own, but to the fact that your power had elevated me to the office of Chief Magistrate of this great and free Republic. But often, sir, while I have received such kindness abroad, I must own that I have

heard, with the most painful solicitude, of events and scenes which have been transpiring at home. Not often, in many parts of Europe, have I been able to see an American paper, but extracts from them I have seen everywhere copied into foreign journals, which showed that alarming dissensions and turmoil existed in my own country, such as excited in my mind the liveliest solicitude, and which have given me the greatest pain. And when it is known that foreign monarchies are watching with feelings of satisfaction every new cause of internal discord, and expecting there from a speedy dissolution of this model Republic, is it to be wondered at that such should be my feelings?

But, sir, it was some consolation to see-nay, a real satisfaction to know-that in all parts of Europe, many hopeful hearts were beating with anxious solicitude for our welfare, and were trusting and believing, that a free and intelligent people would continue to govern themselves. They trusted, and I trusted with them, that the day is far distant when we shall be called upon to witness so great a calamity as civil war in these States. For God's sake, let us remember that our present freedom and greatness are the gift of our forefathers, and of their concord and unity in your own city of Philadelphia.

But I am trespassing on your time. I only intended to return my acknowledgments for your kind invitation to me to visit your city. I regret that it is out of my power to accept it. I am anxious to return to my home, and see my friends from whom I have been so long absent-and at some future time, after the people shall have decided to do with me as they have a right to decide, it will afford me extreme pleasure to respond to the cordial invitation of my friends in Philadelphia.

AT THE NEW YORK CITY HALL.

At 11 o'clock, Mr. Fillmore was escorted to the City Hall, where, in the Governor's Room, there were introductions and an address by the Mayor, to which Mr. Fillmore replied: