Indiana State sentinel., 1849-09-06
An Important L. tier from gen. Cass.

In the Washington Union of the 7th instant, will
be found most interesting and important letter from
Gen CAss addressed to Thomas RITcHIE, Esq, of
the editors of that paper Looking TO the fact that
Gen. CaSs the defeated candidate of the Demuc-
racy of the nation for the Presidency, the last
test, and that he has recently been elected to the
United States Senate from Michigan, one of the free
States growing out of the Northwest Territory this let
ter is really the most surprising political document ex
ton 1t surprising, because II is letter from United
States Senator, representing free-soi, Democratic
State, and advocating most ultra southern principles
the subject of slavery 1t denies the right Of Con-
gress to egisaie all for the territories this sub
ject-proclaimng ali such legislation unconstitutional
and unjust to the SOUTH The precedents of egisla-
ton already had, at different times in the history of
our country, beginning at the Ordinance ofl7S7, and
coming up 10 the admission OF Oregon. in lS47, are
declared be precedenis that have gone on slentand
unquestoned to the present day." We cannot mis-
take the meaning Of Gen. CAss. He says, in one
sentence: 'lf Congress have not the power, ] be-
eve they have not, in common, with large portion
of the people, II becomes than useless, by be-
coming unconstitutional" Now the so-called Mich
olson letter went great way for the Soulhbut not
so far ths-as il only advocated non-interference,
account of justice and policy, without touching up
on the constitutionaty of the matter. The present
avowal places Gen. CAss at no halfway house, but
throws fl al once among the ultra southern polit-
clans, aud except that he viii go for dsunion
which be treated by the south, at the last Pres
dental contest. we bound to say that lost
in wonder between his of zeal in their behalf
and their callous ngratitude, that set it all at nought
by rejecting and spurning him Indignantly, a cam
ddate for the presidency. Surely, if the south
found northern with southern principles, it
in this instance, and yet they spurned him an
enemy.
Our wonder on this head is only exceeded by anoth-
er wonder, which is how he, above all others, enter
tained such sentiments happened to be elected U. s.
Senator from free-soil State! But not only is lie
elected by feesoil State, and by ee-soil democrat
c votes, but he is positively instructed support their
| principles in the u S. Senate when he shall take his
seat Will he, under the circumstances, do it! We
do how it is possible, after his declaration in
this letter to his friend RITcHIE. When we thus sec
Senator from freesoil State, like CAss supporting
ultra southern doctrines about slavery, in defiance OF
his constituents and at the same time, in our owT
State, neighborng one, with slave institutions es
tablished find Senator blamed by of his con
sttucnts for leaning towards free soilism, hardly
know how to reconcile such inconsistencies. WheI
CAss, from free Michigan, goes for slavery, and Ben
ToN from the slave Slate of Missouri goes for fre
soil in territories, we find known rule in politic
whereby recoaeie such singular differences between
these States and their Senators.-'H Louis Union.