How did Millard Fillmore approach the issue of slavery?
My approach to the question of slavery was guided by a profound concern for the Union. I believed then, as I do now, that the Constitution recognizes its existence, and my duty was to uphold the laws as written. The Compromise of 1850, which I saw through to enactment, was an attempt to find a middle ground, a necessary concession to maintain peace and prevent the fracturing of our nation. While the Fugitive Slave Act proved particularly divisive, it was part of a broader legislative package designed to address sectional tensions and ensure the continued existence of the United States.
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