Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-09-15

underwent ga great change - and as thi
is also corroborated by the undisputed tes'
timony of others, it is hoped that his friend:
will no longer dispute his word.
Having seen Mr.. Cass change from q
champion Of. freedom 10 a trucker 10 az
greSsaUe Siarery, it is quite natural and laud
able to look at the motives. reasons, causes
and circumstances attending and inducing
his desertion.
Was il from an honest conviction that he
was wrong! If so, while he NAV not de-
serve our reproach and censure, yet he is
| quite unfit to lead the hosts of freemen who
are battling for free territories. Certainly
Il deserter is unfit TO lead the rause he has
deserted. But the circumstances of this
case justities our asking another question:.
Has his change Effected by base and SCI
fish motires TO adrance has political TOR
fune? While we cannot look into his
heart and view his real motives, we will
examine some of the most prominent at
tending circumstances, and see if they
throw any light on the question. After the
North, with Silas Wright and Lewis Cass
at their head, commenced taking the neces-
sIry steps 10 maintain freedom in the i'll
coming territories, the south commenced
counter move, and through speeches in
Congress, Editorials, Conventions, and
State Legislatures, aIowcd theirdeterInma-
alton to vote for no man for President, un-
less he was avowedly opposed to the
Wilmot Proviso." The following unani-
II, a. L 81
gnia is fair sample olthe general voice of
the shareholders, expressed through The
channels above name /:
"ReSOired, That we pledge ourselves
not TO support, at the ensuing presidential
elections, any man for President or Vice
President, who is not avowedly opposed 10
the Wilmot Proviso!"
At this time The north were nearly unan-
imous in its favor. The following extract
from the Niagara Democrat, in January,
lSf7, is fair sample CT the northern feel,
ing at that time:
when the question Of an
neXing tcrritory-of making that which
shall be acquired part or portion of the u.
S., we hope to see it (lhe Wilmot Provi-
SOY adhered to and insisted on, by every
Democratic member from the North -
There is no plea of necessily-certainly
none of humanity, in favor of the extension
of slavery over one more foot of American
soil"
The North and South now stood antag-
onistc to each other. The one for liberty
the other slavery. Americans, which
should yield! The majority i'll favor of
liberty, or the minority for slavery. We
blush as we proceed to record the result.
The South were firm,-the time of cleo
ton was approaching when Southern votes
would be needed,-lhe north wavered-
Mr.. Cass changed his mind, and office hol-
ders, office seekers, and presses by tens
and scores changed with him. One year
after the south declared they must have a
candidate avowedIy opposed to the Wlmut
Proviso, Mr.. Cass aUotOed himself so OPP
posed! What reasons did he assign for
his change? On so vital a question as this,
we should naturally expect man of his
age, talents, and experience, meeting with
so "great change" would be able 10 give
his countrymen clear and substantial rea-
sons.
First, he gives the stereotypcd reason,
always at hand to serve the crooked poll
tician-" it is unconstitutional" General
Dix and others, who have recently given
this point a searching examination tells us
"here is not a shadOac Of doubt of its con-
stitutionaiity :" and that Congress, the
Executive and Judiciary. for period of
more than fifty years, have all concurred IN
the exercise of this power. without wills
per from any source that they were "vi1la-
ting the constitution" If this position was
sound, no other reason would be necess lrv,
for we would not violate the constitution in
freedoms favor. But Mr. Cass does not
rely on that; he adds several others. Its
here worthy of remark, that The only rea-
sons included in his category as the cause
of his change, which his friends ever dcign-
ed to repeat to justify him and themselves
for opposing the Wilmot Proviso, are now
imperative. TO wit: at may cmbarass
vigorous prosecution of the war-the
south will moi vote supplies TO carry on
war for free territory, nor vote TO raifv
treaty if we proclaim in advance the terri
tory is remain free. Wait till we get the
lCIll NIs W. IIiiJ t'Ilu GIlGNllSl1n-
ces have rendered all these obsoete-,he
war being closed, and the treaty, securing
territory, ratified. The Unconstitutional
banling is sister of invention, still born,
though the faculty at the south, and few
quacks at the North, are Tying 10 breathe
into it the breath of life"
Mr. Cass' friends have SO little confidence
in that reason, that they either do not bring
it forward at all, or when they do, treat it
as of no consequence. One fact shows
what they think Of it. They manifest a
willingness TO extend the so called
Missouri Compromise line, "-estaJHsh.
ing slavery on one side, and freedom on
on The other. AS the reasons" which our
Cass friends have heretofore used against
the Proviso, are now obsolete, | would
commend to their attention the Others with
which he has favored us, which, though not
quite as plausible, will not probably get out
of date so quick.
To wit:-Freedom would not be north
the cost Of confention,expressed in his own
words, as follows: as the object then Of
temporary exclusion for SO short a period
as it will remain a territory, worth the price
at which it would be purchased with the