Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-10
LETTER FROM GEN. CAss.

Senator Cass was invited to partake of pub
lie dinner while in the city of New York, by
number of political friends. He excused himself
at length, and in his reply gives utterance to tho
following sentiments, which VIC must heartily
approve:
Placed in geographical position to exert a
powerful influence upon the duration of this con-
federacy of republics; attached to the Union,
and to the whole Uuion and attached equally
to the principles of freedom, and to the constitu-
ton 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 advocates & the hand of vio-
lence shall attempt to sever the bond that holdsus
together, the West will rise up as one man, to
stay decd SO fatal to the cause of liberty here
and throughout the world--aye, and it will be
stayed. Success can never hallow the effort. If
we are not struck by judicial blindness, we shall
hold on to the constitution wtha tenacity defy
ing time and accident, thanking the God of our
fathers and our own God, for political lnstitu-
tons which have secured to us greater mea-
sure of rational prosperity than it has ever been
the lot of any people before us to enjoy.
We have but one danger to fear As TO mill
tnry power and the general corruption of man.
ners and inconsistencies to which history atri-
butes the fall of many republics in ancient and
in modern days. believe, if they are not like
the least, they are among the last her evils we
have 10 apprehend. Our future would be AL the
patriot could DESIRE if that future contained no
other seeds ofdanger than these. The prophetic
sagacity of Washington foresaw and foretold the
true danger which threatens us; the danger of
sectional interests and passions arraying one
portion of the Union against another.
A spirit of compromise was necessary to Gre
ate this confederation and it sequally necessary
to preserve it in its integrity and efficiency
when questions arise deeply affecting the coun-
try, and dividing it by geographical lines, then
comes the time of trial which TO true American
can contemplate without anxiety It is seldom
that such issues are presented, when mutual for
bearance is not dedicated alike by duty and by
wisdom If one half of a great country, aban-
doning all other differences of opinion is IT,
unanimous in its sentiments upon any measure Of
Internal policy, locally affecting itself, its citi-
zens should meet from their countrymen of the
other section kindness, and not denunciation;
and desire to reconcile conflicting opinions, as
.harmoniousy as is compatible with nature OF
the controversy. No such views respecting
their rights or their position can be so held by
an extensive community without the existence
of forcible considerations, which call for careful
inquiry, and fora wise, as well as kind, decision
In this spirit should sectional questions be dis
cussed, and if they are SO, they will bring with
them no danger but will furnish additional mo-
tives for union, and will contribute powerfully
40 our strength and prosperity. am, gentlemen,
with great regard, your obdt servant,
LEWIS CASS.