The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-06-17
! From the Washington U6ion.
: SKE'T CHI y
THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES
sgs GENERAL LEWIS CASS.
fcoNeLupED.l

-NA<ANA/As4AA LIZ YIN O<1OO'
tcoNeLupED.
In 1841 arose the well.known ques
ton Of the quintupIe treaty, in which
General Cass acted a prominent and an
Efficient part. The British government
10 i,s scheme Of maritime superiority,
which it never abandons any more than
it,. plans OF territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
projectedIa plan, by which, under the
pretsnceiof abolisbing The slave trade,
her ships oflwar would have been ,ena.
bled to search and daexamine, and ul,i.
mately to- seize, the vessles Of other ma.
tions a, their pleasure. This plan was
toaform a'ltreaty, to which the five
great powers Of Europe should be par.
ties. By which means a new principle
IN the law Of nations would be estab.
ifshed, and our flag, among others, pros.
frated at the feet Of England. This
was negotiated and actually signed BY
the ministers Of the FIVE powers those
ofEngland, France, Russia, Prussia, and
A1stria--before the nature Of the trans.
action was fully understood by the
world. 1t became disclosed before the
ratifcations were exchanged with the
French government. Gen. Cass pub.
lished a pamphlet which entered deeply
into the whole matter, and which was
translated into French and German,
extensively circulated upon the cont.
nent. ltawakened the public attention,
and created great sensation even in
England. '?he London Times, in an.
nouncing It, said: .l... '...s e." X
'sIt is q shrewd performance written
with some spirit,much assertion OF fac,s,.
and a very sudacious unfairness ofargu,
ment, which is rather amusing. when
con,rasted with a certain tone OF gen.
tlemanIy candor, which is occasionally
adopted even in the very act Of per-
forming some Of his most glaring per-
versions bsll a. N ~ .,.,al ,,f ~ os5a
81 In addition, also, to the pamphlet, he
presented protest to the French gov,
ernment against the ratification of the
treaty. In doing this, he stated that
he had no Instructions 10 pursue such d
course, and adds; a.'' oia 'sa''i.p'a 3'F
VI have presumed, in the views !
have submitted to you. I'M. Guizot, the
French Minister, OF Foreign Affairs.
that 4 express the feelings Of the Amer.
ican government and people. lin this
l have deceived myself. the RESPONSE.
bility will be mine. As soon as can
receive dispatches from the United
States, in answer TO my communica.
lions, shall be enabled to declare n
you either that my conduct has been
by tha President, or that my
mission is terminated"
But he did not deceive himself. His
course was warmly applauded by the
American people, who are ever alive TO
interest and honor. and coldly
approved by the government.
The following short extract will ex.
bibit the spirit which pervaded this
paper: |
"But the subject assumes another as.
,ect, when they (the American people,
ire told by one Of The parties that their
,essels are to be forcibly entered and
examined, in order to carry into effect
hcse s,ipuIations. Certainly the Amer.
can government does not believe that
he high powers, contracting parties to
his treaty, have any wish TO compel
he United States, BY force, to adapt
heir measures to its provisions. or to a.
lopt its s,ipulations. They have too
n6ch confience in their sense ot Justice
b fear any such result; and they will
20 with pleasure The prompt disavowal
made BY yourself, sir, in the name OIL
rodr country, At the tribune Of the
Of Deputies, ofany intentions
Il this nature. But were itotherwise.
md were il possible they might be de-
.eived in this confident expectation, },
hat would not alter Ia one title their \
curse ofaction. Their duty would be
Iie same, and the same would be their
determination TO fulfil It. They would I
repare themselves, with apprehension H
,deed, but without dismay- with re-
ret, but with firmness for one Of those
'espefate struggles which Ravs some
INES occurred III the hisiUty Of the ,
torld, but where a just cause and the (
lvor Of Providencehave given strength