597

school for three months in the year, and acquired the means of partially supporting himself. In the fall of 1821, he removed to the county of Erie, and the next spring entered a law office in Buffalo. There he sustained himself by teaching, and continued his legal studies until the spring of 1823, when he was admitted to the Common Pleas, and being too diffident of his then untried powers to enter into competition with the older members of the bar in Buffalo, he removed to Aurora in that county, where he commenced the practice of law. In 1826, he was married to Abigail Powers, the youngest child of the Rev. Lemuel Powers, deceased, by whom he has two children, a son and a daughter. She is a lady of great worth, modest and unobtrusive in her deportment, and highly esteemed for her many virtues. Mrs. Fillmore is descended on the maternal side from Henry Leland, one of the early settlers of Massachusetts. In 1827, Mr. Fillmore was admitted as an attorney, and in 1829, as a Previous to this time his practice had counsellor, in the supreme court. been very limited, but his application to juridical studies had been constant and severe, and it is not to be doubted that during these few years of comparative seclusion he acquired that general knowledge of the fundamental principles of the law which has mainly contributed in after-life to give him an elevated rank among the members of that liberal profession. His legal acquirements and skill as an advocate, soon attracted the attention of his professional brethren in Buffalo, and he was offered a highly-advantageous connection with an elder member of the bar in that city, which he accepted, and removed there in the spring of 1830, in which place he continued to reside until his election as comptroller, and removal to Albany, in the winter of 1847.

His first entrance into public life was in January, 1829, when he took his seat as a member of the assembly, from Erie county, to which The democratic office he was re-elected the two following years.

party in those three sessions, as for many years before and after, held triumphant sway in both houses of the legislature, and but little opportunity was afforded a young member of the opposition to distinguish himself. But talent, integrity, and assiduous devotion to public business, will make a man felt and respected, even amid a body of opposing partisans; and Mr. Fillmore, although in a hopeless minority, so far as any question of a political or party bearing was involved, on all question of a general character soon won the confidence of the house in an unexampled degree. It was a common remark among the members, "If Fillmore says it is right, we will vote for it."

The most important measure of a general nature that came up during his service in the state legislature, was the bill to abolish imprisonment for debt. In behalf of that great and philanthropic measure, Mr. Fillmore took an active part, urging with unanswerable arguments its justice and expediency, and, as a member of the committee on the subject, aid

ing to perfect its details. That portion of the bill relating to the justices' courts was draughted by him, the remainder being the work of the Hon. John C. Spencer. The bill, which was introduced by Silas M. Stilwell, of New York, met with a fierce, unrelenting opposition at every step of its progress, and to Millard Fillmore, with his then coadjutors, are the people indebted for expunging from the statute-book that relic of a barbarous age-imprisonment for debt.

He was elected to Congress in the fall of 1832, and took his seat in the stormy session immediately succeeding the removal of the deposites from the United States bank. In those days, the business of the house, and debates, were led by old and experienced members-new ones, unless they enjoyed a wide-spread and almost national reputation—rarely taking an active and conspicuous part. Little chance, therefore, was afforded Mr. Fillmore, a member of the opposition, young and unassuming, of displaying those qualities that so eminently fitted him for legislative usefulness. But the school was one admirably qualified more fully to develop and cultivate those powers which, under more favorable circumstances, have enabled him to render such varied and important services to his country. As he has ever done in all the stations he has filled, he discharged his duty with scrupulous fidelity, never omitting, on all proper occasions, any effort to advance the interests of his constituents and the country, and winning the respect and confidence of all.

At the close of his term of service he resumed the practice of his profession, which he pursued with distinguished reputation and success, until, yielding to the public voice, he consented to become a candidate, and was re-elected to Congress in the fall of 1836. In the 25th Congress Mr. Fillmore took a more active part than he did during his first term, and on the assembling of the next Congress, to which he was re-elected by a largely-increased majority, he was assigned a prominent place on what, next to that of ways and means, it was justly anticipated would become the most important committee of the house-that on elections It was in this Congress that the famous contested New Jersey case came up. It would swell this biographical sketch to too great a length to enter upon the details of that case, and it is the less necessary to do so, inasmuch as the circumstances attending it are given in the history of the administration of Van Buren, in another part of this work.

The prominent part which Mr. Fillmore took in that case, his patient investigation of all its complicated, minute details, the clear, convincing manner in which he set forth the facts, the lofty and indignant eloquence. with which he denounced the meditated act, all strongly directed public attention to him as one of the ablest men of that Congress, distinguished as it was by the eminent ability and statesmanship of many of its members. The agitation in Congress of this New Jersey election case, and the currency measures adopted by the administration of Mr. Van Buren,

were among the causes which contributed to the overthrow of the demo. cratic party and the triumph of the whigs in the presidential election of 1840, and the majority obtained by them of members elected to both houses in the 27th Congress.

On the assembling of the 27th Congress, to which Mr. Fillmore was re-elected by a majority larger than was ever before given in his district, he was placed at the head of the committee of ways and means. The duties of that station, always arduous and responsible, were at that time peculiarly so. A new administration had come into power, and found public affairs in a state of the greatest derangement. Accounts had been wrongly kept; peculation of every kind abounded in almost every department of the government; the revenue was inadequate to meet the ordinary expenses; the already large existing debt was rapidly swelling in magnitude; commerce and manufactures were depressed; the currency was deranged; banks were embarrassed; and general distress pervaded the community. To bring order out of disorder; to replenish the national treasury; to provide means that would enable the government to meet the demands against it, and to pay off the debt; to revive the industry of the country and restore its wonted prosperity-these were the tasks devolved upon the committee of ways and means. To increase their difficulties, the minority, composed of the defeated party, instead of aiding to repair the existing evils, uniformly opposed almost every measure brought forward for relief, and often their unavailing efforts were successfully aided by the executitve, Mr. Tyler. But with an energy and devotion to the public weal, worthy of all admiration, Mr. Fillmore applied himself to the task, and, sustained by a majority in Congress whose industry and zeal in the public service under peculiar embarrassments, has seldom been equalled, and never surpassed, he succeeded in its accomplishment.

The measures he brought forward, and sustained with matchless ability, speedily relieved the government from its embarrassment, and have fully justified the most sanguine expectations of their benign influence upon the country at large. A new and more accurate system of keeping accounts, rendering them clear and intelligible, was introduced. The favoritism and peculation, which had so long disgraced the departments and plundered the treasury, were checked by the requisition of contracts. The credit of the government was restored, ample means were provided for the exigencies of the public service, and the payment of the national debt incurred by the preceding administration. Commerce and manufactures revived, and prosperity and hope once more smiled upon the land. The labor of devising, explaining, and defending measures productive of such happy results, was thrown chiefly on Mr. Fillmore. He was ably sustained by his political friends in Congress; but on him, nevertheless, the main responsibility rested.

After his long and severe labors in the committee-room-labors suffi

ciently arduous to break down any but one of an iron constitution sustained by a spirit that nothing could conquer, he was required to give his unremitting attention to the business of the house, to make any explanation that might be asked, and be ready with a complete and triumphant refutation of every cavil or objection that the ingenuity or sophistry of his opponents could devise. All this, too, was required to be done with promptness, clearness, dignity, and good temper. For the proper performance of these varied duties, few men are more happily qualified than Mr. Fillmore. At that fortunate age when the physical and intellectual powers are displayed in the highest perfection, and the hasty impulses of youth, without any loss of its vigor, are brought under control of large experience in public affairs, with a mind capable of descending to minute details, as well as conceiving a grand system of national policy, calm and deliberate in judgment, self-possessed and fluent in debate, of dignified presence, never unmindful of the courtesies becoming social and public intercourse, and of political integrity unimpeachable, he was admirably fitted for the post of leader of the majority in the 27th Congress.

Just before the close of the first session of this Congress, Mr. Fillmore, in a letter addressed to his constituents, signified his intention not to be a candidate for re-election. He acknowledged with gratitude and pride the cordial and generous support given him by his constituents, but the severe labor devolved upon him by his official duties demanded some relaxation, and private affairs, necessarily neglected in some degree during several years of public service, called for attention. Notwithstanding his declaration to withdraw from the station he filled with so much honor and usefulness, the convention of his district, unanimously, and by acclamation, renominated him, and urgently pressed upon him a compliance with their wishes. Mr. Fillmore was deeply affected by this last of many proofs of confidence and regard on the part of those who had known him longest and best; but he firmly adhered to the determination he had expressed, and at the close of the term for which he was elected, he returned to his home more gratified at his relief from the cares of official life, than he had ever been at the prospect of its highest rewards and honors. But though keenly enjoying the freedom from public responsibilities, and the pleasures of social intercourse in which he was now permitted to indulge, the qualities of mind and habits of systematic, close attention to business, that so eminently fitted him for a successful congressional career, were soon called into full exercise by the rapidly-increasing requirements of professional pursuits, never wholly given up. There is a fascination in the strife of politics, its keen excitements, and its occasional but always tempting, brilliant triumphs, that, when once felt, few men are able to resist so completely as to return with relish to the comparatively tame and dull occupations of private life. But to the calm and equable temperament of Mr. Fillmore, repose, after the stormy scenes in which he had been forced

to take a leading part, was most grateful. He had ever regarded his profession with affection and pride, and he coveted more the just, fairly-won fame of the jurist, than the highest political distinction. He welcomed the toil, therefore, which a large practice in the higher courts imposed upon him, and was as remarkable for the thoroughness with which he prepared his legal arguments, as he was for patient, minute investigation of the dry and difficult subjects it was so often his duty to elucidate and defend in the house of representatives.

In 1844, in obedience to a popular wish too strong to be resisted, he reluctantly accepted the whig nomination for governor of New York. The issue of that conflict in which he shared in the signal defeat of his party, has become history, and though deeply pained at the result, he was only so in view of the consequences to the nation, which he believed would follow the defeat of the whig presidential ticket, and the accession to power of the democratic party, pledged to measures which he deprecated. For his own defeat, Mr. Fillmore had no regrets. He had no aspirations for the high and honorable office for which he had been a candidate, and with the failure of his election, he trusted would end any further demand upon him to serve in public life.

In 1847, a popular call, similar to that of '44, was again made upon him, to which he yielded a reluctant assent, and was elected comptroller of the state, by a majority larger than had been given to any state officer at any former election in many years. There were some peculiar causes that contributed to swell his majority at that election, but, independent of them, there can be no doubt that the general conviction of his eminent fitness for the office, would, under any circumstances of the opposing party, have given him a great and triumphant vote. That such evidence of the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens was gratifying to his feelings, can not be doubted, but few can justly appreciate the sacrifices they imposed. The duties of that office could not be discharged without abandoning at once and for ever-for who ever regained a professional standing once lost? a lucrative business which he had been years in acquiring, nor without severing all those social ties, and breaking up all those domestic arrangements, which rendered home happy, and bound him to the city where the best portion of his life had been spent. Yet, feeling that the state had a right to command his services, he cheerfully submitted to its exactions, and on the first of January, 1848, removed to Albany, where he displayed, in the performance of the duties of his arduous and responsible office, the high ability and thorough attention which have always characterized the discharge of all his public trusts.

We now approach the period in the life of Mr. Fillmore, when the entire Union evinced its appreciation of his talents and worth, and a new theatre was presented to him for the exercise of matured judgment, consummate VOL. II-38