Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-12-08
NV YoRK. NV. 26. Is4a.


CITY Of New York
NEw YoRK, Nov. 90. ls49.
GENTLEMEN: ] thank you for the honor YOU
have conferred on me, by the offer of public
dinner; and while decline the invitation, which
trust you will excuse me i1g doing, cannot
withhold the expression OF my feelings for such
Testimonial Of regard from the democracy OF this
great city. | shall cherish il with grateful reco.
lection during lite
! thank YOU, also for the favorable terms in
which you have been pleased to allude to my po>
siion and services. These, ! am very sensible.
have few claims TO consideration but such as are
derived from your kind Partially. An emgrant
to the West in early youth, tie better portion Of
my lie has been passed in that great contest with
nature in which the forest has given way and an
empire has alisen--aread, among The most mag.
niiiceut creations Of human industry aud enter
Prise. Placed in a geographical position to ex.
erl u powerful influence upon the duration orthis
conIcderacy Of republics, attached 10 the Union
and to the whole Union, aud attached equally to
the principles OF freedom and to the constitution
by which these are guarded and secured. should
the lime ever comets trust il will no-an
come whence and why il may, when dissolution
shall find advocates, and the hand Of violence
shall attempt to sever tie bond that hold, us to-
I geiher, the west will rise zap as one man TO STAY
deed so fatal TO the cause Of liberty here and
| throughout the World--ay, and il will be STAYED.
Success can never haow the eilot. five are
not struck by judicial blindness, we shall hold on
+ to The constitution With a tenacity deiing time
and accident, thanking the God OF our fathers and
our own God for political institutions which have
secured to Us greater measure ofDaIjonaI pros
peiity than il has ever been the lot OF any people
! before Us 70 enjoy.
! We have iul onC danger 20 Fear Ast5 Mill
lary power and tie general corruption Of manners
aud mora's~caHscs 70 which history altibmes
the fall Of many repul lies in ancient and in mod
ern days--t BEIGE, i laey are not The last, they
are among the last ot the evils we ave to appre.
bend. Our future wouId be all tie patriot cou d
desire, it that future coGtained 10 other seeds OIL
danger than these. The prophet sagacity Of
Washington loresaw and iorood the true dan
ger which threatens Us; the danger Of sectional
interests and passions arraying one portion ottte
Union against another. a spirit Of compromise
was necessary to create this confederation, ant
il is equally necessary 10 preserve il in lis ncg
rlty and efficiency. When questions come deep
y affecting the country, and dividing it by geo
grapelca lines. then comes the time Of trial
which no true American can contemplate with
out anxiety. Ii is seldom thai such issues cal
be presented VIXEN mutual io,bearanee is no
dictated alike by duty and BY wisdom. If one
half ola great cuuutry, abandoning all other dit
: ierences olopnon,, unanimous in lis sentiments
; upon any measure Of internal policy locally al
tecting ITSELF its citizens should meet from lhci
countpmen Of he.other section kindness and no
denunciaon: argument and not reciimiuaIion
9 and desire to reconcile conflicting opinions, a
u harmoniously as is compatible with the nature c
$ the controversy. No such views RESPECTING
their rights or their position can be so held by a
extensive community without the existence
y torcible considerations, which call fer careful in
J qury ana for Wise as well as kind decision
+ In this spirit should sectional questions be dis
l. cussed; and it they are so, they will bring wit
J them no danger, but will furnish additional mo
{ lives for union aud will contribute powerfully L
II our strength and prosperity.
: am, gentlemen, with great regard, you
J. 0bedient servant, LEWIS CASS.
: C.P. White, II NJ. Western, ]. S. Stoneal
c Esquires, and others.