Democratic banner., 1849-12-10

W. ehS
~verely criticised and denounced by those in the
body who are recognised as leading Wings.
"To refer again TO the emancipation question.
IL has been The milestone which for The present
lat any rate, have sunk most Of the leading men
lin the State. Besides Mr.. Clay, Judge Under
wood late United States Senator, and a number
Of others almost as prominent and distinguished,
rave advocated the emancipation theories, and all
counter to the views of the people"
The following letter Of Gen. Cass, writ
item in answer to a warm and pressing in
vitation by the citizens of New York, to
partake of a public dinner in that city, is
an eloquent and beautiful piece Of compo-
sition. 1t speaks the language Of the patri-
lot, who knows the value of our institutions
and the necessity'of preserving the Union,
by reason, argument, and conciliation.-
Some have charged Gen. Cass as they
charge others, with entertaining the spirit
of Qualification" and "treason,' because
he thought proper to oppose manfully and
fearlesslly the passage Of the "Wilmot Pro-
~viso," -.
He here shows that the statesman may
be independent, and love his country the
better. Col. Benton thinks that his views
upon the "proviso" defeated his election to
the Presidency-then "freesoilers'' mus,
bear the blame Of depriving the country of
the services and wisdom Of an able states
man and q sincere patriot:
New YoRx, Nov. pc, Is49.
GEsrLEMEN:-I thank you for the honor
you have conferred upon me. by the offer Of
a public dinner; and while ] decline the in
vitation, which ! trust you will excuse inc
for doing, | cannot withhold the expression
Of my feelings for such a testimonial Of re-
gard from the democracy of this great city.
| shall cherish it with grateful RI recollection
during life.
l thank you, also, for the favorable terms
in which you have been pleased to allude
to my position and services. These, | am
very sensible, have few claims to cousidera-
Ition but such as are derivhd from your kind
partiality. An emigrant to the West in
early youth, the better portion of my life
has been passed in that great contest with
mature in which the forest has given way
and an empire has arisen-already among
the most magnificent creations of human in
dusty and enterprise. Placed in a geo.
graphical position TO exerta powerful infiu-
ence upon the duration of this confederacy
Of republics, attached 10 the Union and to-
the whole Union, and attached equally TO
the principles offreedom and 10 the %consti-
tuition by which these are guarded and
secured, should the time ever come-as !
trust it will not-and come whence and
why it may, when dissolution shall find ad-
vocates, and the hand of violence shall at
tempt to sever the bond that holds us to-
lgether, the West will rise up as one man to
stay a deed so fatal to the cause Of liberty
here and throughout the world-ay, and 1t
will be stayed. Success can never hallow
1.-THE effort. If we are not struck by judicial
blindness, we shall hold on to the constitu-
ton with a t%enacity defying time and acct
dent, thanking the God Of our fathers and
our own God for political institutions which
have secured TO us agreater measure Of ma
%tional prosperity than it has ever been the
lot of any people before us to enjoy.
We have bu! one danger to fear. AS to
military power and the general corruption
of manners and morals-causes 10 which
history attributes the fall of many repub-
lies in ancient and in modern days--I be-
L. -