The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-18
WASHINGTON, Feb. l6, lS4S.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l6, lS4S.
You have seen that Michigan has instructed
her delegates to vote for Cass In convention -
You have also seen that the doctrine OF the Will
mot provso has been adopted by the lower house
of the Legislature of that State, by vote Of 81 to
2. 1t will also, in all probability, be adopted In
the Senate by a unanimous vote. These two
facts the nomination of Mr.. Cass, and the
avowal OF the doctrine Of the Wilmot proviso-
are apt TO strike one rather contradictory, when
1t is considered that Mr.. Cass goes farther than
some Of the Southern men on the slavery ques-
ton; but this discrepancy can be easily ex-
planned.
Michigan is strong Wilmot proviso State
When Mr.. CAss wrote his letter on the question
of slavery, he submitted il to the Michigan dele
CATION, and they unanimously dlsapproved it.
They advised against It's publication, but Mr.
Cass would not be persuaded, and the letter was
published The election of delegates Came
on, snd Van Buren, men were elected, but
were Instructed TO vote for Cas-; and TO
avoid the danger OF any member OF the
convention being influenced by Mr. Cass
chosen from Wayne county, where Mr.. Cass
resides. The convention had no cxpecta-
ton that Mr.. Cass would be the nominee,
aud scarcely any desire, 1t the truth were
known It was thought better not - reite-
rate openly the Wilmot proviso doctrine, bu,
20 remain quiet, and refrain the other
hand from any endorsement Of Mr.. 9 ,ss'e views
IL is we'll understood that the delegation will
vot- for the two third rule in the cow. ntion
The Michigan delegates ere wise in their ge
neration. They are not G ISIS men; but they will,
In acc ,rdance with th-ir instructions, vote for
Mr.. Cass the first ballot. Thus they will
WELD two fold strength 10 the convention
Instructed TO vote In favor ofMr. Cass, they are,
neverth l-ss, personally advocates of the Will
mot proviso. They do not expect, nor did their
Constituents expect, in electIng them, that their
votes for Cas- will be of any avail TO confer
hun the nomination /; but after performing their
duty In voting tor hum, they expect to carry the
strength they borrow from thrlr official vote, 10
the support of th-ir own Individual principles.
The struggle still goes on IN Illinois Mr..
Folk Is m king stupendous .fi,rts 10 break
down the former system of ,lecting delegates,
and by v,rtu. of his pttronag~, he VIII succeed.
Your correspondent, g ilvlensis, has stated this
10 be a Cass movement; out although MIR Cass's
friends may have the m st ag-ncy IN efiecting
II, AID may think they are working for Mr.. Gas,
alon-, they are greatly mistaken Tney are
working might and man to pull down system,
the Destruction ot which rs to enure not 10 their,
but Mr. Folks, benefit. The old story-Sic eos
robis edifcatis aces.
II IS surprlsiu that one has noticed the fe-
roclous assault made by Mr.. Clay, in the COM
mencement of hts argument ia the Supreme
Court, on John Sargent. Mr.. Sargent was for.
mery strong Clay IN m, but has recently advo-
Gated the election OF General Taylor. Whether
this fact had aught TO do with it, cannot say: