Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-06-13
SKETCHES OF THE LIFE OF
GEN. LEWIS CASS.
(CoNTINUED.)

'oCnSou 10 tdko charge OF Inc war lie
partment. and his removal from Michigan
Territory was marked by universal ex-
preston of regret. His colleagues in the
Cabinet were MIR Livingston, Mr.. Nc
Lane, Mr.. Woodbury.. and Mr.. fancy
men who possessed the confidence of the
President. and soon acquired that of the
country. The characteristic traits of Gen.
Jackson's administration have now passed
into history. twas bold, prompt. honest,
and national. II sought no dangerous
constructive powers, and it endeavored
carefully to exercise those of which il was
the trustee. tor the American Confedera
ton. The great questions of the banks.
of the removal of the deposits. of nuIlifica.
ton. of the French indemnity, and of the
Creek and Cherokee difficulties-three of
which involved delicate points connected
with State rights--occupied IFS attention,
and were all happily disposed of. Few,
1t any, now call in question the wisdom of
Gen. Jackson's course upon these impor.
tant subjects, though il is now difficult to
realize the intense anxiety they excited,
and the momentous consequences which
hung upon their decision. So far as the
War Department necessarily took any
immediate course in these questions, it
was prompt and energetic. At the por
tentious period of notification, the militia
ry orders were firm, but discreet. and it
appeared by a message from the Presi.
dent, in answer TO a call upon that subject,
that no order had been at any time given
to ''resist the constituted authorities ofthe
State If South Carolina. within the char
tered limits Of said State.'' The orders
to Gen. Scott informed him, that, "sbOuId
unfortunately, a crisis arise, when the
ordinary power in the hands Of the civil
officers should not be sufficient for the
execution of the laws, the President VOID
determine the course to he taken, and the
measures to be adopted; till then he was
prohibited from acting :"
The same caution marked the order to
the troops when there seemed 10 be dan
ger of collision with the authorities of
A iabama arising out of occurrences upon
the lands OF the United States in that State.
In proof of this, we quote the following
extract Of letter from the War Depart
ment, written by Gen. Cass, to Maj Nc
iniosh, and dated Oct. 80, 1888,
SIR = Your letter of the 2Ist inst. to
Mai. Ge.l. Macomb, has been laid before
me. and in answer. have to inform you
that you will interpose no obstacle to the
service Of legal process upon any officer
or soldier under your command, whether
issuing from the Courts of the State of
Alabama. or of the United States. On
the contrary, you will give all necessary
facilities TO the execution of such process
any part ofthe military force Of the Unit
ed States ehouId be brought into collision
with the civil authority. In all questions
of jurisdiction, It Is the duty of the former
to submit to the latter, and no considera
tons must interfere with that duty. If,
therefore, an officer OF the State, or OF the
United States, come with legal process
against yourself, or an officer or soldier of
your garrison, you will freely admit him
within your post, and allow him to execute
his writ undisturbed.
In 1887, Gen. Cass was appointed min
lister to France. and Immediately resigned
his post as Secretary of War On retir
ing from the Department, he received a
letter from Gen, Jackson expressing warm
personal feelings towards him, and com
mending his whole official conduct. He
sailed from New York in the month OF
October. As diplomatic relations had not
beer fully re. established with France. he
was directed to proceed to England, and
there ascertain the views of the French
Government. He found that a French
minister had been appointed to this coun
try. and he Immediately repaired to Paris
and took up his residences there. After
his recognition, his first official duty was
to procure the interest due upon the TWEEN
| ~. five millions Of francs indemnity, which
had been retained when the principal was
paid. After some hesitation this was ef-
fected: and thus this great controversy,
which at one time threatened such grave
consequences. as happily closed.
| After his return TO Paris, Gen. Cass
resumed the duties of his mission and
continued in their regular execution till
its termination. He was proverbial for
bis kindness and hospitality to his coun-
trymen, none Of whom were denied his
attentions. and few of whom visited Paris
without being invited to his house. His
observations on the Government and PEG
pie ofFrance were given TO the public il
the pages ofthe Democratic Review, in al
article entitled "France, it's King, Cour
and GoveFBme nj, ]" which most Of our read
erswiil probably Fecollect. Among othei
i literary Papers'he published in this coun'
try. was one upon the French tribunals o
justice, which, contained much intorma
ton interesting to an American, and il
which the author expressed his decided
condemnation of,he English common law
looking upon l. as code originating il
feudal and almost semi .barbarous times