The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-11
SENATE SPECIAL SESSION.
MONDAY, MARCH 10. 1851.


Mr~CASS. There is a personal explanation connected
with myself which wish 10 make tins morning nave
not often troubled The Senate In that way-neve indeed
belieye-but must tIespass lie indulgence al this
lime Before doing 30, will read an edoyalfrom the
" Republic" Of this morning. headed Cen. Cass on The
River and HsTboI Bill :"
Gen Cas in the Senate whether not he is Il favor OF
eci the following letter, addressed the editor
Of the Ahegan Record which appears in the western
papers,
"'WAsHlSoros. January %, 1851.
"'MY DEAR sra have just received your letter, and
hasten 10 reply to ~ h'ak Tue appropriation 1lil lor me
does, the appropriation for friends, the Hoanders, viii
certainly succeed there is no doubt OF that OF course 4
will receive my and support heartily, Chicago
stsr 70 The eo"t'ary notwithstanding know Of no im,
provoment Just and necessary and you depend
upon that It will receive the entire support OF our dele
gaton
! am dear ''' truly yours LEwIs oAss.
"'JoHS X KELLOGG, esq
"Ths letter, be it remembered. intended for the
esra,on IA favor Of the bill a, The General thought il
entirely safe 30. II might fairly enough be considered as
pledge support the bill aud yet there is al ambiguity
about which, alter the exhibition OF senatorial lodging
which the General has recently given US, IS easy 10 DO
1.-THE noise and confusion which prevented General
Cass from being heard at Cleveland the circumstances
which prevented him from attending the Chicago Conyen-
ton, the religious scrupes which prevented him from
voting at one ,'me the constitutional scrupss which pre-
Of perspicuy which charactzes all that he has said or
The country IN glorious state OF uncertainty as 10 his
opinions ON this subject from which we nope mat WIN
some day be relieved"
Mr. President the late senator from Ohio, Mr.. Ew-
ING i whom have in my eye at this moment, Is some
what in the same situation myself. He has almost
sanctioned classical the word 'solitude. and have
almost sanctioned classical the words noise and con-
fusion" daughter i received private letter from
a respectable citizen OF Michigan inqnring about GER
tain Improvement in Black river, on Lake Michigan; to
which sat down at my desk and wrote hasty answer,
md kich haah hlishpl tbp npNg
il; have objection to it. This paper quotes that
letter OF mine to show my Inconsistency, IN which
say that will vote for the Improvement OF Black rlver
Notwithstanding my Chicago letter; and these words are
underscored, apparently to call pubic attention especially
their Importance, though the writer did not know
it but sporive alusion OF mlne-a mere Joke
These words are underscoed and thus out 10 the
world, though my Chicago letter, which never SAID
word the subject OF internal improvements. was dec
laration my part that would never support Dill lor
the improvement oil rivers and harbors.
The writer OF this article says that was pledged to
support the bill which was before us lew days ago
Why, he knew very well that the bill which came here
was not in existence when wrote this letter OF January
25th The writer Of that article knows and every sena-
knows perfectly well. that the bill we had before us
was substituted for that in the House of Representatives
the very OF its passage, within three or tour days
believe, OF the action of the House hall million OF
dollars, including seven or eight opecs was aaaeu 70
the originally proposed TO be appropriated and
without one word from the department on The subject.
If was pledged to support the original bill which | Ut
tery deny was pledged to support this oi which con-
tanned many appropriations unknown IN their
mode OF introduction without saying anything OF Their
principle suppose the writer would contend that 1t
appropriated all the oil the government, would
be likewise pledged to support IT. There was not The
slightest pledge the SUBJECT What said IN this lei
ter that would vote tor the Improvement OF Black
river, and that the delegation from Michigan would do
the same No with particle OF candor and fairness
can doubt that that is the whole purport OF the letter
Certainly | believed moderate bill would have ,,,
passed | hoped it would. Like nay friend from llli'
nois MIR DOUGLAS if kept within reasonable bounds
if kept he says within the estimates OF the depart
mentsl should have been willing to take H. unless there
are Objectionable items. which have not accurately ex-
ahmed But S3b0000 added Tor old improvements
and $500 900 Tor new Improvements speak IRON reco
lection. and therefore not accurately , half million
was also added for which the department never est
mated--which they Who is TO be RESPONSE
bic for this The Executive, knowing what the probable
receipts will be- make estimates that can afford so
much for forcaton much for this, SO much for that
SC But if you go doubling and trebng these appro-
prations, what security have you that you will not
throw the country in debt SO much for my pledges.
Mr. President said the other day that IL hard to
overtake fasehood II travels faster and further than
lis refutaton Mr.. Jefferson said was better TO live 4
down than write 1t down Perhaps IL IS Here is the
old charge, that sheltered myself behind noise and
confusion"and, by the by, canno, the words with
out laughing notwithstanding my solemn contradiction
in my place the solemn contIadic
ton OF Governor Wood who WAS the chairman who
put the question to out OF which this story arose
here prominent administration paper comes cut. and IL
the face of these facts repeats this old story with
other view in the world but 10 inlure me. Here let mt
do justice to distinguished mao who not IN his sea
to-day, and whose name Will go down WIN honoT upOi
the page OF history, [Mr CLAYl After had conc udec
my speech this subject he came up TO ne aad said
with that spirit which belongs to him. Well you have
cleared yourself from the charge OF inconsistency
Now ask any this floor If be believes eve
sheltered myself under the words noise and confusion
TO prevent giving my opinions al Cleveland or he see
any Inconsistency between my declarations and woes OF
this subject II he does he will obge by stating II
that NAV remove the impression pause for arepy.-
No reply being made take u for granted that, IN I'M
opinion OF the Senate these charges uniounded enc
hereafter shall leave them to their fate TO be believes
or not, as falsebood or truth may prevail.
This writer alludes TO having religious and con
stuiona srrupes and he does so sseerlngiy as though
there were such thing, though could not pos
sess the feeling Let him speak for himself. For my
self have some OF both ! make no professions o
moral obligation have no exclusive claim 10 be bette
may have religious and constitutional scuples witbou
subjecng myself to such attacks these from ever,
party paper. little or big, in the Union
u am a believer in the divine institution OF the Sabbath
and believe II wise civil in religious pom
OF view lnever WILL in time OF peace, sit IN the Sen
ate on that day. The State legislatures, and perhap
ourselves the District OF Columbia, are passing law
whenever necessary for the strict observance OF the Sab
bath. What kind OF an example are we sitting IN tbi
high place in desecratng Gods holy day. by this worl
brought by ourselves IN consequence OF talking IN
stead Of acting during long session. We desecrae tb
Lords day by unnecessary secular business and IN tn
most public and authoritative manner This a throwing
Il contempt that holy day IRON one extremity OF N
Union TO the other, so Tar our example can go W.
ought to furnish better example, and Tor one, will
never sit on that day in time OF peace do not say
will never do il in time of war necessary; but will
never do il in time OF peace. nor willingly AT any time
That is my view OF the subject and the organ OF the ad
inistraton the last agent that should throw conlemp
/ upon this sacred matter 800. ...# ..#
j Blu, have constitutional scrupes on another point
Il. q ..tt .xaNtn thu