The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-28

son OF slavery into the free Territories Of the Uni
ted States, to which his attention had been espe-
cially invited, not made Ivy him ~ tkat conner
ion At all.
His remarks were very able, eloquent, and appro-
PIRATE, for an effort OF the kind. He commenced
by saying he was fa6gued with several days ira,
vel; that his health feeble. his voice bat weak
and he was doubtful whether. amid the noise and
confusion that prevailed, he could be distinctly
heard by all in that vast assembly.
General Cass then gave brief history of his emf
grafton to Ohio when youth--his residence in the
State of his adoption He spoke Of tho condition Of
Ohio when he first settled at Zanesville-of her
rapid advance in intelligence, population, and
wealth, and of the interest he had always felt in
her institutions and prosperity, &C., &c.
General Cass then, in order, alluded to the
cent events in Europe, and drew q comparison be-
tween the governments of England, France. aud
Germany, and the American Republic, &C.. &c..
which occupied him fifteen or twenty minutes;
and then, turning from the assembly directly TO
me, no observed that the particular subjects to
which had called his attention were those upon
which he had hoped his sentiments were well
known and understood. For . knowledge Of his
opinions those subjects he could only refer to his
votes and action in the Senate Of the United Saes
for several years-to his letter TO Mr.. Nicholson,
|
serve; and hs thought they would afford more salts
factory evidence Of his sentiments than any assur-
anees he could then give, under the circumstances
by which he was surrounded. Besides, (said he,)
in my letter accepting the nomination for Prcsi-
dent, have stated that it must close my profess
sions of political faith and to this declaration
think / ought to adhere"
This was the substance of the speech, accord
ing to my recollection of it, and the order in
which il was delivered The report Of it in the
Cleveland Herald, and which put into my
hands but short time after General Cass left tho
stand, was doubtless an artftJ and designed mis-
representation of the whole affair.
i am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Messrs. GRAr and wILLses, esqs., Cleveland,
&c, SC. sF
The Union stated some days since that there
was no noise and confusion" to prevent
hearing both question and answer; that " these
eristed only in the SANDER got up for the oc-
casion"-and that the story was estate SLAM
der" and "got up out of the whole CLOTH"
This part Of the Unions statement is now
abandoned. 1t is proved by the Generals own
witness either that 'snoise and confusion" did
prevail in the assembly, or that General CAss
assumed that they were prevailing when such
was not the fact. 1t seems too that the Gene
| rol's attention was specially called to g the
particular subjects Of harbor and river inn
prOvements and the extension of slavery into
the free territories of the United States" and
| that he pleaded weak voice, noise, and con-
fusion generally, and did not give his views on
the subjects whereto he had been particularly
Intercepted. To be sure he also said that his
professions of political faith" were closed,
and that to his declaration to that effect in his
letter to the Baltimore Convention, he thought
he g ought to adhere"
| The letter of Governor WooD, so far from
showing this story to be a estate SANDER" Of
the WHIGs, distinctly proves every substantial
allegation made by the Cleveland Herald.
The main point in the affair is, of course,
that General CAss was not responsive to the in
quiry. He stood mute, as Mr.. RITcHIr-ad-
vised his friend and copatriot VIM. J. BRowN
| to stand. Like the immortal BRowN, he
ssfolded his arms and pointed at the record" but
whether OF not it was after "a full and free
conversation" with Mr.. Richie, of which Mr..
RICHIE els not ashamed, )" we will not nnder-
take to say.
The discourteous language of the Union
shall not prevent us from doing justice to Gen
eral CAss. 1t is in the Generals power, in a
place where he will be interrupted by no
''noise and confusion" to give the country his
views on one of the subjects to which his at
sention was SO specially directed at Cleveland.
A bill is now before the Senate which brings
| up the whole subject-and if the Generals
views upon it are misrepresented or misunder-
stood, "now's the day and now's the hour" for
him to vindicate the truth of history
We will SO far deviate from our ordinary plan Of
furnishing mere sketches of the debates, as to
give the Generals speech on this subject at
length, and with his own corrections. We
| wish to see which side of the sapling he pro-
poses to ride. 1.-The speaks one way, and votes
another, we shall be,inclined to think that there
was some cause besides the weakness of his
voice, and the noise and confusion, that pre-
vented him from being as explicit as he might
have been in his speech at Cleveland.