The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-06-10

th0UQn II Is dtmcu!t now 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, il
was prompt and energetic, and met
the appreciation Of the country. At
the portentous period Of notification,
the military orders were firm but dis
Greet, and it appeared by message
ffom the President, in answer to a call
upon that subject, that no order had
been at any time given to ssresist the con-
stituted authorities ofthe Stale o South
Carolina, within the chartered limits
Of said State" The orders to General
Scott informed him that, "should, un-
fortunately, a crisis arise ,ohen the or
]. dinary pomer in The hands of the ciuil
officers should not be sufficient for the
erscutioh Of the laDs, the President
spouH determine the course to be taken,
and the measures to be adopted; till then
he s0as prohibited from acting"
The same caution marked the order
to the troops when there seemed TO be
danger OF "a collision with the authori-
ties Of Alabama, arising out Of occur
rences upon the lands Of the United
States in that state. In proof of this.
We quote the following extract off let
ter from the War Department, written
5y Governor Cass to Major Mcintosh,
and dated October 20, 1888:
..Sir: Your letter Of the 2lst instant
to Major General Macomb has been
laid before me; and, in answer, have
to inform you that you will interpose
no obstacle to the service oflegal pro-
cess 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. 1t is not
the intention of the President that any
part Of the military force of the United
States shoud be brought into collision
with the civil authority. In all ques-
tions Of jurisdiction, it is the duty Of the
former to submit to the latter, and no
consideration 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 10 execute his writ
undisturbed."
In 1886, General Cass was appoint
ed minister to France, and Immediate
" resigned his post as Secretary Of
War. On retiring from the department,
he received letter from General Jack
son expressing warm personal feelings
towards him, and commenting his
whole official conduct. He sailed from
New York in the month Of October.
As diplomatic relations had not been
fully re.estabished with France, he
was directed to proceed to England,
and there ascertain the views of the
French government. He found that
French minister had been appointed to
this country, and he Immediately y re-
paired to Paris and took up his resi-.
dence there. After his recognition, his
first official duty was to procure the
interest due upon the twenty-five mil
lions of francs indemnity, which had
been retained when the principal was
paid. After some hesitation this was
effected; and thus this great controver-
sy, which at one time threatened such
grave consequences, was happily
closed.
In 1887, Gen. Cass made tour to
the east. He visited Italy, Sicily, NAL
ia, Greece, the islands Of the Archipe-
ago, Constantinople, and the Black Sea,
Egypt, Palestine and Syria. He was
at Florence, Rome, Palermo, Athens,
Corinth, Eleusis, Salamis, and the bat
tle.fields Of Platea, leuctra, Cheronea,
and Marathon-at the plains Of Troy,
at Alexandria, Cairo, and the Pyra.
mids; at Jaffa, jerusalem, Bethlehem.
the Dead Sea. Nazareth, the sea of I'll.
berias, Tyre, Sidon, Baalbec, and Da-
mascus. Memorable places these,
and calculated to excite strong emo.
tons in the mind of an American who
had passed large portion Of his life
amid the tolls and prlvations of a new
country.
After his return 10 Paris, Gen. Cass
resumed the duties OF his mission, and
continued in their regular execution till
its termination. He was proverbiaI for
is kindness and hospitality to his
tspnnt, ymen, none of whom were deni
81 his attentions, and few Of whom
usited Paris without being invited to
his house. His observations upon the
government and people Of France were
given TO the public in the pages of the
Democratic Review. in an article enti.
4 IL 80