Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-06-29
GENERAL cAss ARD THE PRovIso.

We extract the following from the speech oil
Mr.. Miller, Of New jersey, delivered IN the
Senate, on the 22d inst. 1t seems that Gen.
Cass was then WiImot Proyiso man. What
guarantee have our Southern Democrats, that
the opinions Of their nominee viii not undergo
understandable change before twelve months
shall have passed away
Al the rst session Of the twenty ninth Congress the
Two million BILL il was called, came TO The Senate
from the House with the Wilmot proyao IN H. On
the last day Of the session. (l0ih Of August, io46,)
and about hall az hour before me Time hxed ior tie
adjournment Of Congress the bill came up for consd
Grafton. when the senator from Alabama (Mr. Lew
~ moved TO strike out the proylso. The Senator
from Massachusetts (Mr DAyIs) took the floor against
the amendment and favor OF The proYlso, and spoke
until few minutes before the adjournment Novoie
was taken upon the question, and the bill was lost Tor
want Of time to act upon u
i AS soon as MIR. DAVIS had taken his seat Gen. Cass
came 10 this side OF The Senate, and with much
earnestness sad in The presence OF Senators, thai ne
regretted much that Mr.. Davis had by his speech pre-
/ vented the vote from being taken; that he lGen
CASH and every Democratic Senator from ina free
States would have voted 10 sustain The proviso; that
Mr. Allen would bayc led off, and all The rest would
have followed lie was very sorry that they had been
deprived OF the opportunity OF voting upon u; that Il
would have settled the question. and Gov. DAVIS was
responsible for defeating the result.
These expressions made deep impression upon my
mind al the time, and that impression was lncreas
ed when, after lac adjournment Of Congress,
| saw in several newspapers published at the North
I Democratic and Wing unjust charges made against
/ my honorable friend from Massachusetts for having
defeated the proviso, when all knew mat the OBJ
iect Of his speech wds TO sustain that measure.
/ The next day, on his way home in the cars. Gen
Cass spoke Of the subject frequently and publicly. IN
the presence oil several gentlemen, TO the effect
aud expressed much disappointment al not having
been able record his vote IN favor OF the provlso.
/ He afterwards expressed the same opinions in New
1 Jersey, and also as have been informed IN New
Yor.; but Of this have no personal knowledge.
At the next session Of Congress. (March l947, }
the three million bill came before the Senate, but with
out the Wilmot proyiso in it, The Senator from Yer
mont lMr. UPHAM) moved 10 amend the bill by in
sertIng the proviso. when Mr.. Cass rose and, in a
speech Of some length, opposed the amendment
This speech reported and refer Senators &c IT,
Reeolectng what had taken place the previous ses
sion rose al once and expressed my aslonishment al
the course Of the Senator from Michigan, so directly
at variance with his sentiments declared at the ias
session. when the same measure was before the Sen
ate. also stated what had taken place OF that occa
sion, and repeated what understood Gen Cass 70
have said IN the Senate, as have before stated, and
then called upon him TO give the Senate and 10 the
country his for this sudden change in bis o.
pinons upon a subject oil so much importance
Gen Cass in reply 10 me, commenced by SAYING
Senator from New Jersey, in calling him to an account
for his opinions but said he prepared for it, and
then took from the drawer Of his desk a manuscript
speech, memoranda, which he read 10 the Senate
He did not deny the statement made by me but said
in substance. that he had changed his opinions ex-
pressed the session before Upon the subject Of the pro-
vso but that was not the occasion the bill in which
TO apply the proviso. That the object of the bill then
before the Senate TO enable the President 10 con
elude treaty Of peace with Mexico. That he did
not wish 10 do any thing which might delay peace
That il would be OF no TO attach the pTovso TO this
BILL but that the question should be reserved until we
acquired the territory 1t was question of time with
him. That this was not the time nor the OCCASION
He also spoke Of the resolutions Of instructions from
Michigan. which he had presented during the session
and to which had referred him, and said that he bad
examined them, together with the resolutions from
other non Saveholdng States, and that all these reso-
buttons looked TO some permanent provision or funda-
mental law he dno think they wereintended 10 ap-
ply to the bill then under consideration. Ihi, was
the position Of Gen, Cass in March, lS47.