Millard Fillmore signed in as the 13th president of the United States of America and was known for more reasons than one.
He was the last person who wasn't a part of the Republican or Democratic parties to ever hold office as the president. He was also the last Whig to hold this prestigious office.
Millard Fillmore joined the office at the time of a crisis, after Zachary Taylor's death. He was a lawyer and his passion for the field was evident in his work as well.
At the same time, he was a passionate Whig. The only Whig to become a Supreme Court Justice was appointed by none other than Millard Fillmore. What is also interesting about him is that he was the only Whig who did not either get expelled from the party during his presidency or die while holding the chair.
He was a US representative from New York, wherein he also served as a lawyer for a good part of his life. He was the vice president of Zachary Taylor, who was the 12th US president. One of the measures that he took as a representative of the people was getting the 1850 Compromise sanctioned.
Keep reading to learn more about Millard Fillmore, his life as a president, and the legacy that he left behind through his words!
Millard Fillmore Quotes On Leadership
Since the president is the leader in the highest authority in the United States, let's start with some leadership quotes by Fillmore.
“These businessmen, however, desired more than the simple elimination of imprisonment for defaulting debtors."
"They wanted a bankruptcy law that would abolish the debt itself, as well as imprisonment."
"With such a law, old misjudgments would not plague their future; indeed, it might unleash creative, if risky, enterprise."
"God knows I detest slavery but it is an existing evil, and we must endure it and give it such protection as is guaranteed by the Constitution."
"The nourishment is palatable."
"The nourishment from barbecue is palatable."
"The law is the only sure protection of the weak, and the only efficient restraint upon the strong."
“England at present wields the destinies of the commercial world, and her power is concentrated in London; but if this country can maintain its union, there are those now within the hearing of my voice who will live to see New York what London is now.”
Millard Fillmore Quotes On Freedom
Millard had strong opinions on freedom, and this has resulted in some famous quotes on the subject.
“The man who can look upon a crisis without being willing to offer himself upon the altar of his country is not fit for public trust.”
“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,”
"Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, are equal and independent, possessing certain rights and owing certain duties to each other."
"The law is the only sure protection of the weak, and the only efficient restraint upon the strong."
"The ability to produce every necessity of life renders us independent in war as well as in peace."
"We make no wars to promote or to prevent successions to thrones, to maintain any theory of a balance of power, or to suppress the actual government which any country chooses to establish for itself."
"We instigate no revolutions, nor suffer any hostile military expeditions to be fitted out in the United States to invade the territory or provinces of a friendly nation."
"In our domestic policy the Constitution will be my guide, and in questions of doubt I shall look for its interpretation to the judicial decisions of that tribunal which was established to expound it and to the usage of the Government, sanctioned by the acquiescence of the country."
"Every power which it has granted is to be exercised for the public good; but no pretense of utility, no honest conviction, even, of what might be expedient, can justify the assumption of any power not granted."
Millard Fillmore Quotes On Politics
Here are some more quotes from Millard Fillmore who was a representative from New York.
“The American scene required harmonization of its discordant groups, and responsibility for the task belonged to the practitioners of politics.”
“Each eager contestant strove to embarrass the other. Webster opposed a special session of Congress as unnecessary, and Clay sought to influence the cabinet appointments.”
"It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostrate foe."
"The Masonic fraternity tramples upon our rights, defeats the administration of justice, and bids defiance to every government which it cannot control."
"Church and state should be separate, not only in form, but fact - religion and politics should not be mingled."
"I am tolerant of all creeds. Yet if any sect suffered itself to be used for political objects I would meet it by political opposition. In my view church and state should be separate, not only in form, but fact. Religion and politics should not be mingled."
"Among the acknowledged rights of nations is that which each possesses of establishing that form of government which it may deem most conducive to the happiness and prosperity of its own citizens, of changing that form as circumstances may require, and of managing its internal affairs according to its own will."
"We should act toward other nations as we wish them to act toward us, and justice and conscience should form the rule of conduct between governments, instead of mere power, self interest, or the desire of aggrandizement."
"To maintain a strict neutrality in foreign wars, to cultivate friendly relations, to reciprocate every noble and generous act, and to perform punctually and scrupulously every treaty obligation - these are the duties which we owe to other states, and by the performance of which we best entitle ourselves to like treatment from them; or, if that, in any case, be refused, we can enforce our own rights with justice and a clear conscience."
"The powers conferred upon the Government and their distribution to the several departments are as clearly expressed in that sacred instrument as the imperfection of human language will allow, and I deem it my first duty not to question its wisdom, add to its provisions, evade its requirements, or nullify its commands. "
Millard Fillmore Quotes On Life
Here are some words that Fillmore spoke during important events in his tenure.
“His scheme called for the Antimasonic conventions to endorse National Republican tickets made acceptable by including Antimasons."
"But so persuasively had Weed and his agents presented their charges against Masons that a strong and strange fanaticism gripped large numbers of the party."
"When the time came to endorse National Republican candidates, the fanatics among the Antimasons revolted."
"They accepted Adams but demanded and got an independent state ticket. Weed’s scheme collapsed.”
“May God save the country; for it is evident the people will not...”
"Upon you, fellow-citizens, as the representatives of the States and the people, is wisely devolved the legislative power."
"Let us remember that revolutions do not always establish freedom. Our own free institutions were not the offspring of our revolution. They existed before."
"My opinions will be frankly expressed upon the leading subjects of legislation; and if--which I do not anticipate--any act should pass the two Houses of Congress which should appear to be unconstitutional, or an encroachment on the just powers of other departments, or with provisions hastily adopted and likely to produce consequences injurious and unforeseen, I should not shrink from the duty of returning it to you, with my reasons, for your further consideration."
