Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-10-06
CEN. CASS At HOME

There was large meeting Of the friends Of Gen.
TATLoR in Detroit a few days since including
many prominent Denocrats,) which was called
to order by Hon. JoHS NoRyE1L Mr. Folks Dis
triet Attorney for Michigan, on whose motion
Hon. "M WooDBRIDeE, Ex-Governor, and late
u S. Senator, was called to preside Gov. wood
bridge thereupon addressed the meeting in an able
and patriotic speech, from which we make the
following extract, as reported for the ExpREss:
Passing by the social relations of Gen. Cass
and the character he sustains in France let us
glance at some of the leading traits which have
distinguished him as politicians as such. he has
long been before the public: his character as a
politician and public man is open to our inspec-
ton and his past history too furnishes the only
index we can have, in the event OF his election of
what his future course may be. Let us look
then, at parts of the picture il presents; fo
examine 1t mlnutely cannot take the time TO DO
what, then, for example have been his views
relative to the encouragement of Domestic Man
Giactures-aHd the Home Industry of the country !?
Now have known him an over-Zeaious advocate
Tor the Protection of Home Manufactures and A.
nencan industry. Not even Mr.. Jefferson who
desired that the Atlantic had been q sea OF fire.
that we might be thus utterly cut off from stthe
workshops and the pauper labor of Europe" was
a more ultra Protecnonist! But Democracy is
progressive, and / have since known him parti-
cIpahng in all the g anti-tarif'' notions of the
South! His Free Trade speeches previous to
the election of 1914, are not forgotten, and his
vote, with the aid of the Texas Senator's repealed
the Tariff of 1912.
| have known him in favor of National Roads
and Lake Harhors. He earnestly and ably sus-
tanned that policy in the Senate But his recent
demonstration, and especially his full and unqual-
| lied approval of the whole OF the policy of the
| Polk Administration. and of the Democratic
1 Platform Ip1Olv his +l,o
Lake Harbor policy. And his explicit adoption
OF the avcwed principles of the Baltimore Con
venhen, as the acknowledged articles of his pres
est political faith, seems to leave him no retreat
Again, there IS no proposition perhaps in re-
spect TO which the People of Michigan are in opin-
ION more united, than in this: that the Extension
OF Slavery and the increase of Slave Power. is adj
verse TO the prosperity of the Uuion; and in an
especial manner, adverse 10 the rights and iniri-
Gus to the Interests of The non-slavehodng States
! Whlie, as a body, they would be true to all the
stlpulations of the Constitution. and faithful to the
compromises" involved in it; they are and Tex
cept the eferescence of party ervor may for some
short space of time have overloaded their under
-tea,1 always f1dyr trrII decidedly opposed TO
the application of those peculiar stipulations to
newly acquired States or Counties, not originally
parties to those compromises
Now suppose it to be matter Of notoriefg here
Ia Detroit that In the beginning Gen Ctlss was
/ opposed to the Annexation of Texas-a,id in like
manner opposed to all farther extension of our
National limits in the Southwest
But shortly afterward he appears the decided
advocate Of that fatal measures and of the Next
can war, and of stripping that miserable Repub-
he of still more of her territory
/ Anticipating the probable acquisition of terri
/ tory in that direction, the Michigan Legislature
had passed resolutions nstructing It's Senators in
such an event, to require in the terms Of the Or
! dinance OF 1877, that Involuntary slavery-except
/ for crime connnitJed-should be forever prohib
! ted in 1t; and Cen. Cass was an earnest advocate
| OF the Nilmot Proviso. But new light burst
! upon him. Though the accredited agent of the
General Government for some eighteen or twenty
years OF has life, IN administering and enforcing
! the laws of Congress in and over the Territory
OF. Michigan, he suddenly discovers that Congress
has no right to legislate for the Territories: and
therefore though before tooth and naii in favor
! OF the WlmOt Proviso, he now comes out its
! open, undlsguised opponent; if the right to
acquire territory did not necessarily imply the
right to keep and to take care of ito legisIate
Tor and to regulate" it when acquired But the
sophlsry of his Nicholson ietter-even if it could
be supposed that he believed in it himself falls far
short OF justification for this change of opinion
That goes only to the alleged incompetency of
Congress to regulate the concerns of its own Ter
rItory by ordinary acts of Congressional egisa-
ton. Now every Treaty by which territory is
acquired, contains of necessity provisos and con
ulfioIs as Tor eXample-relative TO the rights re-
served to the original and resident inhabitants
thelr rights of property, of religious freedom &c
dc. The project of the Mexican Treaty. sent to
the Senate for It's opinion, contained many such !
Some were rejected, some varied, others were adj
ded Gen. Cass voted for that Treaty as amend |
ed. BY that vote lie affirmed the competency of |
tins government to acquire additional territory |
by treaty and TO acquire it subject to provisos |
and conditions
Mr.. Senator Baldwin of Conn. moved farther |
70. - L
10 amend 1t, by adding, as another proviso or con-
diuon, provision similar TO that contained in the
Ordinance of 1877, in accordance with the instr11c
uons OF the Michigan Legislature And why |
oid General Cass vote against that proposed amend
ments His Nicholson letter furnishes no ground |
OF apology for such vote; for the "treaty-ma-
KING power Is pienary-it is deduced from diff
ferent source in the Constitution. TO which tbe
reasoning OF the Nicholson letter does not apply
Now, the topics have alluded to, are OF deep
Importance. They involve conditions which are
lntertTlned with all our institutions and all our
interests. They enter into the very texture of
the national happiness and prosperity; and what
great IeadlhS measure OF national policy can be
named IN respect to which Gen. Cass is not to be
found on both sides of it2 And now, fellow-citi-
zens, can we be justified in voting for a man lam
liable though he may be in private lite) of such
Instability OF purpose, of so constant and capri
cious change, IN matters, too, of so grave impor-
lance Does he hold his principles OF so little
account as to shape them to suit every ftful
breeze that passes2 would he descend still low
er from his high estate, and casting his own good
sense, his Judgment, and his own self-respect, 10
the winds OF heaven, submit himself to be made
tool of for the fearful despotism Of party to do
Its will and odious work with?
need not comment farther upon theme so
painful and so huniliating. The American peo-
PIE require for their President a man who has
some clearness of view, as have said some stead
mess of character, some integrity of political
prime pies and hrmness and energy of purpose
which nothing can shake or dsarm! The cnndi
ton OF the country requires that the President of