The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-06-10

Gen. Cass' Letter Of Aecepssnce.
The following Is Gen. Cass's letter accepting
the Democratic nomination for the Presidency
WASHINGTON, May 80, 1913.
GEsrLEnEs: have the honor to acknowl.
edge the receipt of your letter OF the 2eth inst.
announcing TO me that have been nominated
by the convention Of the Democratic party, ia
candidate for the office of President OF the Uni
ted States, at the approaching election.
While accept, with deep gratitude, this DIS
tinguished honor-and distinguished indeed II
ISL do so with fearful apprehension Of the
responsibility IL may eventually bring with 1t,
and with a profound conviction that 1t 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, II this confidence
should ind, in the events Of the future, better
justification than is furnished by those of the
past.
/ have carefully read the resolutions of the
Democratic National Convention, laying down
the platform of our political faith, and adhere
to them as firmly as | approve them cordially
And while thus adhering TO them, | shall do 10,
with a sacred regard TO "the principles and com
promises of the constitution" and with an eur
nest desire for their maintenance sin spirit Of
moderation and brotherly love, so vitality essen
tal to the perpetuity of the Union, and the PROS
perity and happiness Of our common country
Ia feeling which has made US what we are, and
which, in humble reliance upon Providence, we
may hope is but the beginning of what we are
to be. II called upon hereafter, to render an
account Of my stewardship, in the great trust
you desire to commit to me, should be able to
show that had truly redeemed the pledge thus
publicly given, and had adhered to the princi-
Il. a. 81
ity and success as have generally marked the
administration of the eminent men to whom
that party has hitherto con6ded the chief execu-
tive authority Of the government, could pre-
fer no higher claim 10 the favorable consioera-
ton Of the country, nor TO the impartial CON-
mendation OF history.
This letter. gentlemen, closes my profession
of political faith. Receiving my appointment
from that pure patriot and great expounder Of
American democracy, Mr.. jefferson, more than
forty years ago, the intervening period of my
life has been almost wholly passed in the ser
vice of my country, and has been marked by
many vIcissitudes, and attended with many
trying circumstances, both in peace and
war, If my conduct in these situations, and
the opinions have been called upon to form
and express, from time to time, in relation to
all the great party topics Of the day, do not fur
nish clear exposition of my views respecting
them, and at the same time sufficient pledge
Of my faithful adherence to their practical appli-
cation. whenever and wherever may be regal
red TO act, anything further | might now shy,
would be mere delusion, unworthy of myself.
and justly offensive to the great party in whose
name you are now acting.
My immediate predecessor in the nomination
by the Democratic party, who has since estab-
lished so many claims TO the regard and conf
dence of his country, when announcing, four
years ago, his acceptance of a similar honor, TN
nounced also his determination not to be a can
didate for reelection. Coinciding with him in
his views, so we'll expressed, and so faithfully
carried out, beg leave to say, that NO circum-
stances can possibly arise which would induce
me again to permit my name to be brought for
ward in connexion with the chief nagistracy of
our country. My inclination and my sense of
duty equally dictate this course.
We have "A government founded by the will Of
all responsible TO the power of all, and admins
tered for the good of all. The very first article
in the dsmocratice creed teaches that the people
are competent to govern themselves; it is, in
deed, rather an axiom than an article OF po-
litical faith. From the days Of Gen. Hamilton
to our days, the party opposed TO us-of whose
principles he was the great exponent, il not the
II has changed its name, has
preserved essentially its identity of character;
and the doubt he entertained and taught Of the
capacity of man for self-government, has exsr-
ted a marked influence upon its action and Opin-
ions. Here is the very starting point of the diff
ference between the two great parties which d.
vide our country. All other differences are but
subordinate and auxiliary TO this, and may, in
fact, be resolved into il. Looking with doubt
upon the issue Of enforcement, one party is
prone to think the public authority should be
strengthened, and TO fear any change, lest that
change might weaken the necessary force of the
government; while the other, strsng Ia its-con-
victions of the intelligence and virtue Of the
people, believes that original power Is safer than
delegated, and that the solution of the great
problem Of COOS government, consists in gov
erning with the least force, and leaving indvid-
ual action as free from restraint as Is compsti-
BILE with the preservation Of the social system,
thereby securing 10 each all the freedom which
is not essential To the we'll being Of the whole.
As party we ought not to mistake the signs
of the times; but should bear in mind that this
is an age Of progress, Of advancement in all the
elements of intellectual power, and in the opin-
ions Of the world. The General Government
should assume no powers. II should exercise
none which have not been clearly granted by the
parties TO the federal compact. We ought to
construe the constitution strictly, according to
the received and sound principles Of the Jefler-
son school. But while rash experiments should
be deprecated, II 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
fuliy-to the advancing sentiments and neces-
sites Of the age, 1t will find its moral force inn
paired, and the public will determined to do
what the public authority should do, when the
indications of popular sentiment are clear and
clearly expressed.
With great respect, gentlemen, have the
honor to be your obedient servant,
LEWIS CAss
Hon. A. STEVENSON,
President Of the Democratic convention, and
The Vice Presidents of the same.