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It’s a hot, steamy, summer Sunday night. There really aren’t any clouds to speak of, but I think if I went out and shouted loud enough, I could trigger storms. It feels like one of those days where something bad weather-wise could happen at any time, but so far, nothing.
July 4th hasn’t always been a good day for Presidents. We know that because we’ve discussed it on a couple of occasions. Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on this day. And our 12th President, Zachary Taylor, overdressed for the 4th of July celebrations (wearing a heavy black suit), got overheated, and then tried to cool himself by over-consuming iced milk and cold cherries. He apparently shocked his system to the point of death, which took him five days later in a bout of gastroenteritis.
And so Vice President Millard Fillmore became our nation’s 13th President on July 10, 1850. Unfortunately, I know very little about Fillmore (my study of the Presidents is currently at #5…James Monroe). Well, here’s what I know…
Fillmore was a member of the Whig Party and was the last Whig President. Of course, the mid-19th century was dominated by the issue of slavery, and Fillmore came down squarely in the middle of the issue. He was against it personally, but also supported slavery measures for the sake of the South. My eyebrows are always raised when I come across this kind of logic, and I wonder what Jack Marshall over at Ethics Alarms would have to say about it (Fillmore’s dual stance on slavery, not my raised eyebrows).
Anyways, that’s pretty much what I know…so not very much.
The Constitution contains exactly the sort of equivocating on the slavery issue that you attribute to Fillmore, so he was in good company.
W C Casey,
Thanks for reading. You are absolutely right. The Founders punted on slavery for the sake of getting the Constitution passed. Very few of the Founders were actually dyed-in-the-wool abolitionists (Adams & Hamilton come immediately to mind). Many were pro-slave or, at the least, conflicted. Washington, Jefferson, and Madison all spoke against slavery while simultaneously owning slaves.
Yeah, so Fillmore wasn’t alone.
I appreciate the comments.
Regards,
Joel
im doing a report on the 13th president Millard Fillmore……….my teacher wants us to anwser these 2 questions are…………what contrubitions did Fillmore did?and why is millard fillmore appreciated in history……like i said im doing a report on him its due tomorrow…please reply and help me!!!!
Joel: You ask, and I comply.
Fillmore’s famous quote on the subject of slavery— “God knows that I detest slavery, but it is an existing evil, for which we are not responsible, and we must endure it, and give it such protection as is guaranteed by the Constitution, till we can get rid of it without destroying the last hope of free government in the world.” —indeed could have been made by Adams or Franklin at the time of the Declaration. But this wasn’t 1776. It didn’t take a genius ti figure out that the slavery issue was tearing the country apart and couldn’t be put off much longer. We may have been lucky that Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan were weak, weaker and weakest, because it meant that succession came when the right man was in office. But Fillmore position as an anti-slavery leaders who took pro-slavery positions smacks of cowardice and expediency, rather than necessity. Few historians feel that he had to sign the Fugitive Slave Act to preserve the Union. Adams and Franklin compromised to give bith to a nation that would have been stillborn without deferring the slavery issue—that was a valid utilitarian, ethical act. Fillmore gave up his principles—for the Fugitive Slave Act?.Come on.
It’s an insult to the Founders to equate their courageous decision with Fillmore’s cowardly one. The 13th President was a weasel.
But i always liked his hair.
Wow! I was requesting your thoughts somewhat rhetorically. Imagine my (pleasant) surprise to actually see them. Thanks! I always appreciate your views on current issues, so it’s good to get an opinion from you on past events.
I spent nearly an hour writing a response, but then I chucked it out because I’m still digesting your comments. And that’s appropriate. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve written responses to pieces over at Ethics Alarms, only to pitch them because I realize there’s more I need to consider.
Keep up the good work, and thanks again for adding your voice!!
Regards,
Joel