Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-12-07
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
Letter from General Cass.

When Gen CAss passed through New York lately,
on his way to Washington City, number of his po-
litcal and personal friends, rendered him the COM
pliment of public dinner. In to the invita-
ton, he wrote the following letter. to the concluding
paragraph of which we call attention. 1t breathesa
broad American spirit, about which there is neither
sectional bitterness nor personal luminosity. Such
spirit pervadng the leading minds of the country af
fords the best guarantee for the perpctuy of our in
sttutions, and the impartial administration of the
powers arising under them:
New YORK Nov 26, 1S49
Gentlemcn-I thank you for the honor you have
conferred upon me- by the offer OF public dinner
and while decline heinvitation which trust you
will excuse for doing, cannot withhold the ex-
preston of my feelings for such testimonial of re-
gard from the Democracy of this great city, shall
cherish it with grateful recollection during my life
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 consideration, but such derived from your
kind partiality. An emigrant to the West in early
YOUTH the better portion of my life has been pass
ed in that great contest with nature. IN which the
forest has given way, and Empire has arisen al
ready among the most magnificent creations OF hui
man industry and enterprise Placed IN geoSrapll-
ical position to exert powerful influence upon the
duration of this Confederacy Of Republics; attached
to the Union, and to the whole Union and attached
equally to the principles of freedom, and to the con-
stitution by which these guarded and secured.
should the time ever come,-as | trust 1t will not
and come whence and why it may. when dissolution
shall find advocates and the hand of violence shall
attempt to the bond that holds us together the
West will rise up one man. to stay deed so fatal
to the cause of liberty here and throughout the
word-aye and it will be stayed Success can new
or hallow the effort If we not struck by judicial
blindness we shall hold on to the constitution with a
tenacity defying time and accident thanking the God
of fathers and own God for political lnstltu-
tons which have secured to greater measure OF
national prosperity than it has ever been the lot OF
any people before to enjoy
We have but one danger to fear. AS to military
power and the general corruption OF manners and
morals causes to which history attributes the fall OF
many republics in ancient and modern days. be-
ieve if they arc not the last, they are among the
last of the evils We have to apprehcnd Our future
would be all the patriot could DESIRE II that 1uture
contained other seeds OF danger than these. The
prophetic sagacity of Washington foresaw and fore
told the true danger which threatens the danger
of sectional interests and passions arraying one por-
ton of the Union against another. A spirit of com
promise was necessary to create this confederation,
and it equally necessary to preserve 1t IN It's lnteg-
rity and efficiency. When questions come deeply at
fecting the country, and dividing it by geographical
lines then the time of trial. which no true A
mercan contemplate without anxiety. 1t is sell
dom that such issues can be presented when mutual
forbearance not dictated alike by duty and wisdom
If one half of great country, abandoning all 9th
differences of opinion is unanimous in its senti-
ments upon any measure of internal policy locally
affecting ITSELF its citizens should meet from their
cOuntrymen of the other section Kindness and not
denunciation; argument, and not recrimination and
desire to reconcile conflicting opinions, as harmo-
niousy as is compatible with the nature of the con-
troversy. No such views respecting their rights or
their position can be so held by an extensive commu-
nifty without the existence of forcbe considerations
which call for careful inquiry and for wise, as
well kind, decision. In this spirit should Sec
tiona questions be discussed, and if they they
T bring with them no d"ns1r bat viii furnish ad
erfully to strength and prosperity.
am, gentlemen, with great regard. your obedient
servant LEWIS CASS.
others