Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-06-17
WHO GEN. CASS is.

has been connected with Gen. Cass, by per-
sonal and political association, for long
series of years, ought best to be able to des.
cribe who and what he is. Historians and
biographers who have sprung up in every
quarter of the Union, although few of them
have been able TO see any other than the
good points which mark his character. To
this, however, there is one exception. A
member Of the late Utica Convention in
New York, Mr. Rathbun, not having the
fear of the party before his eyes, and SEEM
ingly DESTROYS of acquanting the country
with the real character of man who might
by possibility, be placed in the position ola
candidate for the Presidency, spoke of Gen.
Cass in that Convention.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The venerable Senator from
Michigan, once an ardent advocate Of the Jeffer.
sonian Ordinance OF 1887, has discovered some
new light, and understand has recently written
letter TO Tennessee, in which he VOWS himself
the advocate Of slavery extension. This is sud>
den and radical change in the views Of that dis
Iinguished Senator on that question. and pro-
pose to enquire briefly into the reasons Of that
change. Mr.. President, know very well the
views and feelings OF that senator in the month
Of August, 1916. learned them from his own
lips On the day that Congress adjourned, and at
the time that Senator Davis, Of Massachusetts,,
spoke up 10 the adjournment OF the Senate on
the Wilmot Proviso, met the Senator at the
Railroad depot in Washington, and rode near to
him and conversed freely with him between that
place and Baltimore. The Senator appeared
somewhat excited, spoke freely and with good
deal Of energy on the subject OF the "Proviso."
He stated to me, that every northern democratic
Senator had agreed to vote for it, and but for Mr..
Davis speech would have voted for it. He said
repeatedly that "he regretted very much that he
could not have recorded his vote for it, before tho
adjournment. expressed as much regret as he
did, but not precisely for the same reason. ! de-,
sired The record-he the popular applause. He
said he never regretted any thing more than the
failure 10 record the votes OF Senators. Indeed,
sir, this was the principal topic Of conversation
at Baltimore. This, Mr.. President. continued
to be his language all the way to Michigan, as |
understand. When we met again at the capitol,
| thought discovered some symptoms OF that
change in the Senator's views on the subject Of
the Proviso. which he has since, by his vote and
letter, so clearly demonstrated. Mr.. Brinkerhoof,
ers Of the Proviso, an honest and sincere Demo.
crat, know was warm friend of the Michigan
Senator, and preferred him to all others as the
candidate for the Presidency in 1913. mems
toned to him my suspicious. told him the Sen.
alor was in the chrysalis state, and that in my
opinion, he was preparing TO desert, TO turn trail
Tor 10 the north, to freedom, and to become SOL.
dier under the black banner Of Aggressive Sla
very. Mr.. Brinkerhoof denied, dsbelieved. and
thought was doing I'M usce TO the Senator, in.
vited me to go with him and call on the Senator,
and | would be satisfied was mistaken. ex.
pressed my willingness to 60 with him at any
time, and assured him OF the great pleasure it
would afford me to find myself mistaken on this
point.
Mr.. President, at the suggestion OF Mr.. B..
we proceeded at once TO the room OF The Senator.
We found him somewhat busting and busy in his
preparation 10 go out. Mr.. B. led off in some
casual remarks about the Proviso and its pros.
pecls-the hustle increased little. The Sena.
tor Thought it premature better to give it the go
by this session, nothing 10 be gained by pressing
it now--sufficient for the day is the evil thereof"
| was anxious 10 bring the thing to some point,
and for that purpose remarked to the Senator that
there were important reasons for pressing that
question 10 vote in both branches, which prob.
ably had not occurred 10 him, and they were
these-the South had usually carried their points
against the north upon all questions; that when
necessary they had always found dishonest men
enough in both houses of Congress, who would
sell out and enable them 10 succeed; that the
same state OF things still existed, that there were
men enough in the market 10 defeat the Provso,
and that it would be defeated that we should be
betrayed as we always had been, but that the de.
fea, would be harmless; nothing would be settled
by it; the question would remain open, and the
people who had dishonest representatives here,
whose rights were TO be bsrtered and betrayed,
would have time to get rid OF the traitors and send
honest men in their places, before the final settle.
ment OF the question, and thus we were 10 be
saved. The Senator replied, "Oh, il it comes
10 the vote, am with you, you know" "O(
course you are" was the reply" and thus we
separated. This conversation was some three
weeks previous to the vote taken on the Provso.
But. Mr.. President, this is not all have to
say OF the Senator from Michigan. and his mar.
velous change. About two weeks previous TO the
vote which was taken on the Provso. met in
the streets Of Washington, gentleman OF dis
tinclion from one Of the slave States now Sens
ator in Congress, who enquired OF me what
though, of General Cass? My reply was. very
little. "Wil he do as he sgrees?" he asked.
answered him that, that depended in my opinion,
altogether upon the consideration. "WelI," said
he, ~ he should promise 10 vote against the Pro
viso upon the ground that the South are TO sup.
port him as a candidate for the Presidency, do
you believe he would do so?' | told him there
was no doubt about il: upon the consideration he