The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-07-15

to adopt and circulate anything, ho W.
ever slanderous, which they think may
tend to lessen public confidence in
those principles Of integrity and that
chivalrous honor by which, as public
officer and a citizen, General Cass has
ever been actuated and governed, thro'
all the vicissitudes Of long and event.
ful life. Already has a story been set
on foot, the object Of which is 10 pro-
duce such an effect, but which is Who'll
ly without foundation.
It's alleged that General Cass prefer.
red large claims agains. the government
for extra services as superintendent Of
Indian affairs while 60 vernon Of Mich,
which were not allowed, but which,
when he became Secretary Of War, he
himself allowed, and caused TO be paid
thus pocketing the large sum OF about
S6000." With those at all acquainted
with the character of the man, this
barefaced calumny would excite only
contempt for the stupid and malignant
narro w-mindedness which spawned it;
and we think proper TO notice it only
for the purpose Of preventing any Of
our unsuspecling IeIIow-citizens from
being imposed upon, who are not well
acquainted with the strict integrity and
moral honesty of our candidate.
For some malicious or idle purpose,
a somewhat similar story was coneoct.
ed and circulated against General Cass
some time after he LETT his country as
minister to France--ihe theatre of his
great renown, as the bold, fearless, and
successful advocate Of the freedom Of
the seas and sailors rights-the defen-
der Of our honest tars from the ruthless
paw of the British lion. AlIusion be-
ing made to the matter in the House oil
Representatives, the Hon. Henry A.
Wise, actuated, il is presumed, by a
spirit of msgnanimisy and fairness to.
wards a man absent from his country
in her service, as well as by proper
desire to ascertain whether there was
any ground for the statement, submit.
ted a resolution, which was passed,
calling for a statement of tho final
settlement of the accounts Of Lewis
Cass, late superintendent Of Indian af.
fairs; Of the annual salary Of said su-
perintendent; and Of any extra com.
pensation, commissions, or other allow.
ances over and above his annual salary,
which have been credited or allowed 20
him at the Treasury department; and
at what time, and under what law or
rule of the department, said allowances
were made; together with any opinion
which may have been given by the At.
torney General in regard to said ac-
counts and allowances" The resolu.
ton was answered in full, on the 22d
OF January, 1889, as will be seen by
the printed document No. ll2 Of the
House Of Representatives, 81 session
25th Congress. This document afford
ed complete and triumphant reiuta.
ton of the calumny. Not single al
lusion was made to the subject after
the answer to the resolution had been
examined. As this document is not
accessible to the most Of our readers,
we append, with few preliminary re-
marks, a brief statement Of the facts
shown by it in regard to the matter IN
hand.
With an almost superhuman knowl.
edge OF character, and that noble ap-
probation Of moral worth, for which
General Jackson was so greatly distin.
guished, he, on the dissolution Of his
first cabinet, selected Gen. Cass, solely
on account of his own convictions Of
his ability, good judgment, and integri-
ty, to take charge Of the War Depart.
ment, and as one Of his advisers and
counsellors in administering the diff
cult and arduous duties OF the execu.
tive department Of the government.-
Well and safely was this responsible
trust reposed; and well satisfied was
Gen. Jackson with the choice he had
made, as is evinced in the beautiful and
friendly letter, which he wrote to Cen.
Cass in July, l843, and which is con.
tanned in the sketch of the life and SER
vices of the latter, which we recently
published. This sudden call to high
and distinguished position in the gov.
ernment of his country took General
Cass completely by surprise; but, ever
ready to meet the requirements OF pub
lie duty, whether in the field of battle
against his country's foes, in the cabi-
NorE.-This charge has already been made,
with more or less specification Nnr has IL ceas.