The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-10-07
ACass and the Early Settlers.

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which an emigrant has to undergo in
making for himself a home in the deep
forests Of the west, and none had q
heart to feel or hand more open to re-
ieve, than the candidate Of the dem.
ocracy Tor President. EIdg
But comparatively few Of the pres.
en-, settlers of Ohio know the tolls and
hardships incident to the settling Of a
new country, for mos. Of the old pio.
neers, whose brave hearts and strong
arms converted our noble states from
dense wilderness to waving fields and
pastures green, have passed from exis-
,ence. Gen. Cass knows these things
well, for his life has mostly been spent
in what was then the "Far West" and
i, was with vivid recollection OF the
suffetings and privations that he has
seen and felt, that made him declare
upon the floor of :he Senate, that il re.
ouired more of true courage to take n
family into the wilderness and TO pro.
vide for them there, than 10 face an en-.
emv in the fercest of battles. e.e
Placed MS Governor over the terrific.
nv of Michigan, at time when it en-
hraced a territory much larger than
n ow, Gen. Cass felt himself the rightful
protector Of the emigrant. His advice
aided ,hem--.his hand mnistered TO
their wants-his purse was ever open
to their appeals for assistance.
In the following, Mr.. Brown gives n
sketch of what fell under his own eye,
and hundreds Of others could testify to
similar facts. We ask The sons of the
old settlers to read il, and to remem-
Der that the man who aided those who
needed it. in the earl settlement OF the
wes,, is now the object of vindictive
federal spite and faIsehood.- .-Statesman.
ANN ARBoR,
Michigan, Sept. ,6, 1885
DEAR SIR: see that the whig press
has charged Gov. Cass with having
been engaged in land speculation, 10
the injury of the settlers in the west.
Now, sir, the frontier men are going
to stand no such charge. We know 1t
TO be false, and got up by party
whose very aliment is talsehood.
We remember right well, when we
were battling with the miasma of the
vest bearing the burden and heat OF
the day--enduring the privations Of a
frontier liie--converting our pralries
and woodlands into cultivated fields
adding millions TO the taxable property
and wealth of the nation, and making
the great western wilderness the
earth's s,orehouse--we were branded
by the wings with the beautiful epilhe'
Of "land pirates and ROBBERS" These
words sunk down into our souls. We
marked the men, and the party tc
which they belonged. Look at the
great west now, the galaxy Of the
union, and every star democratic.
But to the charge that "Gov. Cas-
has injured the early settlers of lh'
west" Why, sir, there are men il
this town whose farms We're purchased
from government with money, borrow
ed from Gov. Cass, without interest
upon the mere security of an emigrant'
! word, who had not cent in his pock
ct. and was rich only in the affections
af his wife and some half dozen chill
dren. And when by sickness or o,he
misfortune we were hard up--wher
the funds were gone from the purse
and the pork was gone from the barrel
!; we had only to state the case to III,
Governor, and our wants were suppl
Ell from his private stores. Many az
emigrant's wagon has been supple.
Tree OF cost with the substanliaIs o
life at the residence of the Governor
. while his excellent lady always tool
care that the cofee.sack, and medicn,
. chest for the ague, were full to tn,
, blim. These things were not mors
valuable to Us than the fact that, while
we were pushing into the wilderness II
to SO miles from any cabin, we knew
that under any misfortune we had ;
friend in the governor to fall back upon
If the friends of Gov. Cass choose tt
appeal to the young men Of the nation
the west is full of facts upon which te
base such an appeal.
Men are now enjoying a competenc.
, under their own vine and fg-tree, WIN
came TO the territory friendless boys
without lame or fortune, save will (,
do and hand to do it, who we're pu
! into business by the Governor, ant
backed all the way through until they
were able 10 sustain themselves.
Some rare legends are told of tn,
, commencement in business Of mer
who are now the leading men Of Mich
igan, which would be spicy were they
not too common here, and the actor,