The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-18
LETTER FROM GENERAL CASS,
RELATIVE TO
The WilmOt PrOyiSo, Internal improvements
A Protective Tariff, &c.
[yrom the Washington Union July III


you have sent me. aud tor calling attention TO the
remarks Of some Of the whig upon Litter from
the editor OF the New York Courier aud Enquirer pub
lshed in that journal short time since and in which
an effort is made by those papers to convict of in
sincerity. am sure you will bear me witness that |
have been heretofore pretty patient under similar
tacks some Of them remarkable for their virul.nce
for their alsthood remarkable in this country
where political Investigations are so prove t" d-gener
ate into persona abuse: aud bad supposed. rs the
motive had pa sed away with the lion that should
be allowed unreasonable of tice by uppon-
ents, even II my opinions or course should BIZ deemed
worthy OF examination But the result shows that
have been deceived; and considerations of pro-
priety connected with my position orh!d me from
defending my consistency chonse to d. 20 In the
sent instance not only because the charge speciousy
preferred but because il Ia Gale ula ed place
talse position before the public.
have DELAYED writing TO you for some days awaiting
the return of Col Webb who has gone excursion
to the Upper L ak n did not wish tn refer to him
b thms Put b o n npo~ w Ten
he will, and as az un9iling to be subject to such
mputstiors without applying the propef corrective,
have determined To delay this no longer have
known Col webb from his boy hood, and have never
ceased to esteem him Our personal relations have al
ways been kind. Divided in politics we have not
ceased to be fiierds; and he will DO much surprised
was ut the dsiugenuous efforts to convert his let
ter into the proof Of my Inconsistency al itea am
sure that never occurred to him Nothing state IN
this letter will be called in question by Colonel Webb;
and may add that Mr. Greeley IS remarks are written
in no uni Just spirit and though cannpt commend his
care to ascertain the truth do not condemn the
spirit Of his article Whatever his brethren of the
wing may do, believe ne Is disposed to do me
justice.
am accused Of Inconsistency. amounting to disho-
nesty in my opinions concerning u protective tariff,
internal mproytmCpts aud the extent n If slavery
The first shall dismiss very briefly but very explicitly.
The Baltimore resolutions contain my sentiments on
the subject OF tariff; aud neither to oil webb nor
to any other have uttered a word inc IN sistent
with them. l voted for the tariff II $40 aud though
there some things should have hern glad tn
otherwise (apd where there not in such com pill
Gated questioIsD yet gave It my hearty support.
never cxch, pgcd n word WITH OIL webb ou the subject
of protective tariff in my Ifs Nor does he say
did Why be supposed favored it. know nat 1t Is
enough to say lie is In all are who form SINH
lar opinion.
In the course of conversation between Col Webb
and myself referred 10 the last Presidential contest;
and to the palpsble injustice which hal been
by the whg press and politicians in holding letter
TO the Chicago convention as au evidences of my hos
tility to all improvements however g-ner and neces-
ssry by Congress and 10 my letter to MIR Nicholson,
evidence VI ny desire that slavery should he estab
shed in the territories by Mexico To the United
States GALE these efforts the humbugs f the day,
they and must be confessed TO have been
by every candid man In ne'the, OF these LETTERS is
there TO be found 81 liable favorable TO ths
structions thus put upon them me letter TO the
Chicago convention. makes not the most distant
nllusion to the question Of Internal improvements
person may b. the greatest lattndinariau or the
strictGst constrnctisDist, and yet Lave written
that letter with perfect consistency, simply because
all does Is to secine being present On that occasion
The letter TO Mr. NIcholson exapines and denies the
power OF Congress to the wimot Provso aud en-
eavos TO show that the soud o. inexpedient
and unnecessary II IL were cons itutiouat rms IL
its extent There is not in It, from beginning to end
one word going To show my opinion thai slavery
would he established there my wish that 1t should
be establis he'd there All this will SURPRISE many good
men who the i'm they
a period Of excitement and which they gained from tbs
press too often pursuing Its object Without regard to
the higher considerations OF justice Let him Who
doubts what say the subject of these letters turn
to them and read for himself To the Law and to tho
testimony.
what has my letter to gentleman Who invited me to
attend the Chicago convention 10 do with my opinions
upon tho subject Of Internal improv.ments' vas
asked to attend that convention and that Was all was
asked. answered should not atiend aud hat vas
was circulated from cod of hs mon TO tue her.
during the late presidential contest a. inclusive evil
dence Of my hostility to any improvement b, the gene
raj government he the character u the ID set what
might. l had supposed that the device had served
its purpose and was Among the thing tlN have
been Little did sbtici ;atu that man Of VT Gree
Iey,s intelligence aud reputation for integrity would
revive this exploded chaCge and would refer to that
letter Is furnishing any index to my sentiment.
on this subject. or any ground 10 convict Of
Inconsistency In my acts on opinions did not
go to tho Chicago convention bcsau.e did not
think any good would result fIoa it lssors did
rot believe, do now believe tha, sucn bodies, In
periods Of political indeed 1t aay
period-either by the concentration a. public opinion
or by the diusios information lead to aoy
full plan Of action. Invited - the members VI that
sphrre Of operation was far too extensive for .iss and
cautious celebration and decision There were too
many interests involved u general propositions only
to be laid down IN such convention the object 10
not worth the effort for In the divided state IL the
public mind upon the question, ~ha'oser platform
might be adopted the opinion 81 parties, and generally
Of individuals. would remain the ssms
general plan Of operations Il TO BIZ proposed and
pressed upon Congress the obi ctiobr paipsbe and
grave The members are under Iittls responsibility;
and each section Sf the country ~ have It's ob
jects to attain these NUT be stab-d by concessons
TO the Of oth-r and bs result viii furnish eyi
depce OF mutual spirit II accommodation rather than
cautious regard for the general interest Such an as
feubsge Is very different thing from the attempt to
nitrate opinion ana action IN fssor OF any I'm
prov,msnt affecting particular PARTON Of the Union,
where ther. IL community of ibform,tieu and In
terest and where there 10 weighing of ou. project
against another nor sacrifices to insure the desired
resut
Ard ! am fully con armsd In my previous an,icpa-
tions concerning the bicago conv'oti"u imagine
the first nan L. yet 20 be found who w 'satoe 'ss~y
that any sdysutsg. bss resulted "a ap Its isbors
But had yet another resson for declining 90 attend
that convention. I did not like ats origin che -sr-
lest notice 81 IL which 'as "a, o"Hr -cted ~ith the
names of some we'll. knowp ubigs pr''uiinsut poii-
ticians Of the city OF New ork. aud b's'ed and
have yet doubt thst IN. gsest obj VAS
TO ipjure the druoeac party by issns advantage of
the excitement which prevailed ~ ccr'au p'r.lons OF
<he country in ~ the f. lurr ~ t~O $40
cessive ini, rpsl i'm bills aud have since
Understood though csnnot v"uch TOR TIE Tact thas
such was the actual Intention srd 'has the "roca.a
ings of the CONVENTION would nave assumed party
character and been directed 10 tbs 'bj-ct bsi uot
the design hsen frustrated by the hrmb-s- OF the de-
Nov Mr. Greeley will understand oh, I did not
attend this convention But e~uuot nnd rstsod WY
which ia wRo'y mt on III. snblvct sud MOI 10 my
speeches and votes IN the senate ~ the nu-d sates
einspt shis poheisn. sn@ Tou,u "sI's :, s
tend thu Cbicsgo convention hut peir sn-~er-d nor
attended. thought ~ due to tne g'ut~"an Nuo ih-
vited me 20 ackbowicdgl his attention and ava 80
And this act ~ courtesy which institutes ne ooy
difference between mys.f aud otn'r- hs, ben nAas
tn. text book whbr. NY "pinios arr 20 he 10 auc-o
and by which my incnu-istsucy y 20 o. prVrn On
the queston Of the power ~ the h',-u Sa. oYs.
the sshj.ct 81 int'rtnl imp ov.in~nt- my 'uumrnu
are in accordance With those nf the eat d"n crsio
party and fully expressed ia tue 'os 81 s
baltimore convention In IN. words = -o~ ii THESE re-
solutions believe that the constitution a-- n"tc'o-
fer the general government tns po w. toeote.os
and carry IN q general system 81 inf~rhai hmPrp'e
n.pt aud no living has tn" risht '" gAhsS
This assertion But at the time hsr" Deser us
pnt.d the right of congress &C. fmprO'e 30 ne OF tns
ar,at hsrbors and rivers md sk's OF the MN M
topsl In their character, aud imPnft~nt 70 th- cpm
mcrcs aud OF them - the defence OF our c"on-
trv While the democratic parry d'uy the poser 10
devise and carry vast syr.m uf operations ~nose
,seuniary extent tseste. anu what " stu
wor,e vbose corruptpr inf. vel IA the irKi-
lature out of " cannot be vswrd bus "uh tne most
serious sppr hensi2n- ,negr.s, usJ y - WV,