Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-02
To General LEWIS CAss,
Washington City.

i b.,
J.P. HELFENsTEIN, q Wisconsin,
Vice Presidents.
To General LEWIS Cas-,
Washington City.
Gen. Cass's reply.
WASHINGTON, May 80, lS4S.
GENTLEMEN: | have The honor 10 acknowledge
the receip! of your letter OF The 18th instant, All
nouncing 10 me that have been nominated by
the convention OF the Democratic party lis candi-
date for The Office of President OF the United
Slales, a, The approaching election.
While accept, with deep gratitude, This disiin-
euished honor-and distinguished indeed il isl
do so, with fearful apprehension Of The respon-
sibily il may eventually bring with II, and with
a profound conviction That il is The kind confidence
OF my fellow citizens, far more than any merit OF
my own, which has placed me thus prominently
before the American people. And fortunate shall
| be, If this confidence should find, in The events
OF The future, better justification than is furnish.
ed by those OF The pas
have carefully read the resolutions OF The De-
mocraiic National Convention, laying down the
platform of our political faith, and | adhere TO
them as firmly, as approve them cordially
| And while thus adhcTins 10 them, shall do so
with sacred regard 10 "the principles and CON-
promises OF the constitution" and with an ear.
| nest desire for their maintenance "in spirit Of
moderation and brotherly love, SO vitality essen
,ial 10 the perpeluiy OF The Union, and The pros
| perity and happiness OF our common county,
feeling which has made US what we are and
which, in humble reliance upon Providence, we
| may hope is but the beg nning OF what we are TO
| be. II called upon hereafter 10 render an &C.
| count Of my stewardship, in the great trust you
desire TO commit 10 me, should be able TO show
| that had truly redeemed The pledge thus public
a. ....I, -
Democratic party with as much fidelity and sue.
cess as have generally marked The adminislra.
| ton OF the eminent men TO whom that party has
hitherto con6ded The chiel executive authority oil
the government, could prefer no higher claim
10 the favorable consideration OF The country, nor
| 10 The impartial commentator Of history.
| This letter, gentleman closes my profession OF
| political faith. Receiving my first appointment,
| from that pure patriot and great expounder oil
| American Democracy, Mr. Jefferson, more than
forty years ago, The intervening period OF my
life has been almost wholly passed in the service
of my country, and has been marked by many
vicissitudes and attended with many trying cir.
cumstances, both in peace and war II my con.
Duct in these situations, and The opinions have
been called upon 10 form and express, from time
10 time 10 relation 10 all the great party topics OF
the day, do not furnish clear exposition OF my
| views respecting them, and al The same lime a
sufficient pledge Of my faithful adherence TO their
practical application, whenever aud wherever
may be required to ACT, anything further ! might
| now say, would be mere delusion, unworthy OF
myself, and justly offensive to The great parry in
| whose name you are now aching.
| My immediate predecessor in the nomination
by the Democratic party, who has since csia
| blished so many claims 10 the regard and conf
dence o: his country, when announcing, four
| years ago, his acceptance OF similar honor, an.
| nounced also his determination not 10 be caudi.
| dale Tor reelection. Coincidins with him 10 his
views, so we'll expressed, and so faithfully car
| ried out, beg leave 10 say, that no circumslan-
| ces can possibly arise, which would induce me
again TO permit my name TO be brought forward
IN connexlon with the Chief Magisracy OF our
| country. My inclination and my sense of duty
equally dictate this course.
No party, gentlemen, had ever higher motives
for eIerlion, Than has the great Democratic party
of the Uniied States. With an abiding conf
dence in the reclitude Of our principles, with an
| mistaken reliance upon the energy and wisdom
OF public opinion, and with the success which
has crowned The administration of The govern.
ment, when commii,ed to is keeping, land i. has
been SO committed during more than three tourhs
OF lis eIistence,) what has been done is a, once
the reward OF past exerlion ami the motive for
future, and, a, he same time, guarantee for the
cannot conceal from ourselves that there is a
powerful party in the country differing from us
in regard to many Of the fundamental princi-
Piles Of our Government, and opposed to us in
their practical application, which will strive as
| zsaously as we shall to secure the ascendancy
of their principles BY securing the election OF
their candidate in the coming contest. That
party is composed Of our fellow citizens, as
deeply interested in the prosperity of our com.
mon country as We can be, and seeking as
earnestly as we are TO promote and perpetuate
it. We shall soon present TO the world the
sublime spectacle Of the election Of a Chief Ma.
gistratc by twenty millions Of people, without
a single serious resistance 10 the laws, or the
sacrifice of the life Of one human bcing-and
this, too, in the absence of all force, but the
moral force Of our inst utions; and if we should
add to all this an example Of mutual respect
for tho motives of the contending parties, so that
the contest might be carried on with that firm
ness and energy which accompany deep convic
ton, and with as little personal asperity as pc.
litical divisions permit, we should do more for
the great cause of human freedom throughout
the world, than by any other tribute we could
render to its value.
We have government founded by The will Of
ALL responsible 10 the power of all, and admins.
tered for The good OF all. The very first anlcle 10
the Democratic creed teaches that The people are
competent 10 govern themselves: il is, indeed, "a /.
lhtr an axiom Than an article OF political faith
From the days Of Gen. Hamilton 10 our DAYS, the
party opposed to us-ot whose principles be was
Inc great exponent, il moi The lountcr-whe /
has changed its name, has preserved essentially
lis dc nifty OF character; and The doubt he enter.
tanned and taught Of the capacity OF man for self.
government, has e1erled marked influence up.
on its action and opinions Here is The verv
| starting poin, OF the difference between the two
| great parties which divide our country. All 9TH
er differences are but subordinate and auxiliary
| 10 this, and may, in fact, be resolved into it,
Looking with doubt upon the issue OF selt-sovern.
menl, one party is prone TO think The public au.
Ihoriiy should be strengthened, and 10 fear any
change, lest that change might weaken The me-
cessary loIce OF the government; while The other,
strong 10 lis convictions OF the intelligence and
virtue oil The people, believes that original power
IS safer than delegated, and that The solution OF
the great problem OF good government consists in
governing with The least force and leaving indi.
vidual action as Tree from restraint as is compati-
BILE with the preservation OF the social system,
thereby securinglo each all The freedom which is
not essential IL the weilbeing OF the whole.
As aparty, we ought not 10 mistake the signs
OF the times; but should bear in mind, that this is
an age Of progressed advancement in all the
elements ofintelIectual power, and in the opin.
ions of the world. The general government
should assume no powers. 1t should exercise
none which have not been clearly granted BY the
parties to the federal compact. We ought to
construe the constitution strictly, according 10
the received and sound principles of The Jeffer.
son school. But while rash experiments should
be deprecated, if the government is stationary
in its principles of action, and refuses to accom-
modate its measures, within its constitutional
sphere-cautiously indeed, but wisely and cheer.
iully-to the advancing sentiments and necessi.
ties of the age, it will find its moral force i'm :.
paired, and the public will determined to do what
the public authority itself should readily do,
when the indications of popular sentiment are
clear and clearly expressed.
With great respect, gentlemen, have the hon.
or to be, your obedient servant,
IEJVJS