Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-06-09
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 7. 49,
Gen. Cass' letter Of Acceptance.
The Uunker nominee for the Presidency.

The bunker nominee for the Presidency, has
written a long letter signifying his acceptance
of the Baltimore nomination. It is a tolerably
we'll writer document, but in the poorest posi-.
bic taste. What do our readers think, for in.
stance, of the following specimen of self-lauda-
ton -
"Rccciving my first appointment from that pure
patriot and great cxpoundcr of American democracy,
Mr.. jefferson, more than forty years ago, the inter-
vcning period of my life has been almost wholly pas
sed in the service OF my country, and has been mark
ed by many vicissitudes, and attended with many try
ing circumstances, both in peace and war"
This sounds very much like the glorifcation
of its candidate by a partisan paper, and was no
more coiied,tor under the circumstances, than
it would be in reply TO an invitation to dinner!
a ~tolerably modest man might infer that it was
with a full knowledge and appreciation of the
meritorious circumstances in his history that he
takes pains TO set forth himself, that the Con-
vention nominated him. If it were not on ac-
count of his supposed services to his country
that he was nominated, we should like to know
what else? We conclude the pointed %allusion
to the vicissitudes'' and "trying circumstance
es," in "peace," to which the Gen. alludcs,
must have reference to his late unfortunate en-
counter in the Senate with Mr.. WEBSTER. AT
all events, a very general sympatly was excited
by it in his behalf!
But, again, the letter says:
al have carefully read the resolutions of the Dem.
ocratic National Convention, laying down the plat.
form OF our political faith, and adhere to them a:
ilrmly, as | approve them cordially"
Now two of those resolutions (the mhole Of
which ought to have appeared in the Sentine
long ago. are as follows:
.. That the constitution does not confer upon Tho
general government the power to commence and car
ry on a general system OF internal improvements.
Z. That Congress has no power under the constltu
ton to interfere with or control the domestic institu
tons OF the several States, and that such States are thu
sole and proper Judges OF everything appertaining tt
their own affairs, not prohibited by the constitution
that all efforts of the abolitionists or Others made t
induce Congress TO INTERFERE WITH QUESTIONS o.
SLAVERY, OR TO TAKE INClPiENT STEPS IN RELATIo
THERETO, are calculated to lead to the most alarming
and dangerous consequences: and that all such ef
forts have an inevitable tendency to diminish the hap
piness of the people, and endanger the stability an
permanency OF the Union, and ought not to be coun
tenanced by any friend OF our political institutions.
If, therefore, the Gen. received his oppoin,
mem'' from JEFFERSON, so many years ago, b
certainly forgot to get his principles from tina
g great expounder of American Democracy.
JEFFERSON gave his sanction TO appropriation
by the General Government for works of Inter
nal Improvement; and was a potent advocate G
the ordinance Of 'S7, which interiercd wit
questions of Slavery, and took incipiem steps i
relation Hereto,'' in a tolerably ~eflectual man
ner, as the FREEDOM and PROSPERITY of tn
North West Territory nobly te%stifies! If JET
PERSON, a Stakeholder, felt impelled to oppos
the introduction of Slavery into the Territorie
of the Union, with what scorn would he loo
upon a citizen of a Free State who should pledg
himself to reto any act of Congress having ths
same humane and honorable object in view =
II he had conferred his principles instead of hi
appointments" on Northern doughfaces, NJ
$ Cass might have something to Drag of!
5 But once more:
n party, gentlemen, had ever higher motives f
., exertion. than has the great democratic party of Il
United States. Iilth an abiding confidence in ii
rcctltudc OF our principles, with an mistaken reliant
upon the energy and wisdom of public opinion, al
with the success which has crowned the administr'
ton OF the government, when nmit to its kecI
I lng, Nand 1t has been so committed during more tina
three tourths Of It's existence what has been done,
at once the reward OF past cxcrtion and the moti'
for future, and at the same time, a guarantee for Il
accomplishment of what we have to do"
That's it! Under the prostituted name
/" democracy says Mr.. Cass substantially, "
have about ~extinguished the nationality of or
neighboring Republic, and annexed a good
portinp of its tnrritoru fo onr ITpiop md 49,,
just elect me and we will swallow the remain
der, and take Yucatan, Cuba, Jamaica, &c. &c
l as g nuts and wine" ~alterour republican dinner
This will be "the accomplishment of mhat u
hare to d. Manifest destiny" has a MOI
strous appetite
The Gen. calls us Wings old Alexander Han
) ilton Jederaiists, according to the approved styI
! of modern democracy" and s%olemnly says
the Wing Party
"The doubt he LIIamiltonl entertained and taugl
| OF the capacity OF n man for clt-government,h has t,
crted n marked influence upon its action and opinion
Here Is the very starting point OF the difference b,
tween the two great parties which divide our coll
try.
; This is very imposing, and, coming from
: man who illustrates his confidence in the CT
t pacity of MAN for sclf-governnent' by rolu1
r tension Of Slarery, is, on the whole, rather sui
/ lime! We find nothing superior to this in tn
t whole letter, excepting, perhaps, the grave al
nouncement of its selfdenying author tina. h
will on no terms consent to serve his anxiou
country a Second Term.