Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-06-09

Solo W Downs of La Thomas Martin, of Tenn.
l. aundcrs Of KY James Clarke, of Iowa, ] p
Helfenstein. of Wis, : B Davis. of Del. G
Howard, of Md, Ed Scott, of Va, w N Ed
wards of N. c., j VI Commander, of 2. c.
To Gen. LEWIS CAss, Washington City.
Reply of General Cdss.
WASHINGTON, May 80, l848.
GentIemen-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 2sth instant, an
nouncing to me that | had been nominated by the
convention Of the democratic party its candidate
for the office of Pr sident of the United States, at
! the approaching election.
While accept, with deep gratitude, this dis
tinguished honor-and distinguished indeed it is
i 30 SO with fearful apprehension of the re-
sponsibility it may eventually bring with 1t, and
with profound conviction that it is the kind conf
dence of nv fellow citizens far than any
| merit of my own, which has placed me thus prom
incntIy before the American people. And fortu
nate shall be if this confidence should find, in
the events of the future better Justification than
is furn shed by those of the past.
l have carefully read the resolutions of the Dem
ocratic National Convention. laying down the
platform of Our political faith. and adhere TO them
firmly as | approve them cordially. And while
thus adhering to them, shall do so with sacred
regard to " the principles and compromises of the
constitution" and with an earnest desire for their
maintenance in a spirit of moderation and bro
therly love- vitality essential to the perpetuity Of
the Union, and the prosperity and happiness of
our common country "a feeling which has
made US what are, and which in humble
lance upon Providence, may hope is but the
beginning of what are to he. If called upon
hereafter to render account OF nv Stewardship
in The great trust desire t. commit to me, should
| be able 10 show that | had truly rcdeen1: The
pledge thus publicly given. and had adhered TO the
! principles of the democratic party with as much
fidelity and success as have generally m irked the
administration of the eminent men to whom, that
party has hitherto confded the chief executive
authority of tn government, | could prefer 10
higher claim TO he favorable consideration of the
country, nor to the impartial commentator of his
! tory.
This letter. gentlemen, closes my profession of
| political faith. Receiving my first appointment
from that pure patriot and great expoundef of A
merican democracy, ;fr Jefferson more than forty
years ago. the intervening period Of my life has
been almost wholly passed in the service of my
country, and has Teen marked by many vicssi-
udPs and ed with many trying ccumstan-
ccs, both in peace and If my conduct in
these situations, and the opinions have be n call
! ed upon to form and express, from time to time,
IN relation to all the great party topics of the day,
do not furnish a clear exposition of my views re-
| spectng them. and at the same lime sufficient
pledge Of my faithful adherence to their practical
application, whenever and wherever | may be re-
qur"d to act, any thing further might now say
would be mere deluson. unworthy of myself, and
justly offensive to the great party in whose name
you are now acting.
My immediate predecessor in the nomination by
the democratic party, who has since established so
many claims to the regard and conf lence If his
country, when announcing, four years ago. his &C
| ceptance OF similar honor, announced also his
determination not to he candid tie for reelection.
| CoIncldmg with him in his views. well express
sed and so fhfulIy carried out, beg leave to say
that no circumstances possibly arise which
would induce me again to permit my name to be
brought forward in connection with the chief ma
gistracy of our country. My inclination and nv
sense of duty equally dictate this course.
| No party. gentlemen. had higher motives
for exer ion than has the great democratic party
Of the United States. With an abiding confidence
in the recl ude of our principles, with an nnsha-
ken reliance upon the energy and wisdom of pub
lie opinion, and Nth the which has
Ell the administration of the government, when
committed to its keeping, (and it has heen COM
miited during more than threefourihs of its exis-
tence.) what has been done, is at once the reward
Of past exertion and the motive for future and at
the same time, guarantee for the accomplishment
of what we have to do. We cannot conceal from
ourselves that there is powerful party in the
country, differing from in regard TO many of the
fundamental principles Of our government, and op-
posed 10 in their practical application, which
will strive as zealously as we snal to secure the
ascendancy OF their principles, by securing the
election of their candidate the coming contest
That party is composed of our feow-citizens as
deeply interested in the prosperity of our common
country as we can be, and seeking as earnestly as
we TO promote and pcrpetuate it. We shall
SOON present to the world the sublime spectacle OF
the election of a thief Magistrate by twenty mil
lions Of people, without single serious resistance
to the laws or the sacrifice of the life of one hu.
man being-and this. too. in the absence of all
force but the moral force of our institutions and
if We should add to all this, an example of mutual
respect for the motives of the contendng PartIes'
so that the contest might be carried on with that
frmness and energy which accompany deep con-
viction, and with little personal asPer'ty as Po-
litcaI divisions will permit, we should do more tor
the great canse of human freedom throu about the
world than by any other tribute we could render
to its value
We have a government founded by the will of
ALL responsible 10 the power of all, and admins.
tered for the good of all. The very first article in
the democratic creed teaches that the people are
competent to govern themselves: it is, indeed. ra.
Their an axiom than an article of political faith
From the days of Gen. Hamilton to our days. the
party opposed to us-of whose principles he was
the great exponent, if not the founder-while il
has changed its name, has preserved essentially
its identity of character; and the doubt he enter
tanned and taught of the capacity Of man for self
government, has exerted marked influence upon
its actions and opinions. Here Is the very start
ing point of the difference between the two great
parties which divide the country. All other diff
ferences ure but subordinate and auxiliary to this
and may, in fact, be resolved into It, Looking
with doubt upon the issue of se!fgovernmcnt. one
party is prone to think the public authority should
be strengthened, and TO fear any change lest that
change might weaken the necessary force of gov