Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-28
GEN. CASS AND THE VIRGINIA DEM
OCRATS

OCRATS.
1t is quite evident that Gen. Cass, the specia'
favorite of the Virginia Democracy in l648, is
destined toreceive very little aid and comfort from
the same quarter in I652. The high wrought
eulosies, which were formerly lavished on his
public and private character, on his services in
the field, in the cabinet, and In diplomacy, no
longer fall upon our ears. The Democratic
presses of this State are, for the most part dumb
in his praise, and some even go so TAR as to IN
dulge in an occasional sheer at the expense OF
him, who three short years ago, was their po-
litical idol We cannot undertake to say, with
certainty why the Michigan Senator has lost
favor with his political associates in this region
inasmuch as the latter, so far as we have observ-
ed, have neverassigned any reason for the change
that has come over the spirit OF their dream =
We incline to the opinion, however, that an ex-
PLANTATION of the fact may be found partly In the
Interpretation, by Gen. Cass, since the Presi-
dental election, of a much controverted passage
in his Nicholson letter. The Generals exposi-
ton of the true meaning of that passage was
certainly we'll calculated to place the Democra-
CIV of Virginia in an unenviable and uncomforta-
able predicament, and very naturally aroused
their resentment.
It will be recollected that in the year 1917
the Democratic State Convention at Richmond,
laid down platform of principles in which 1t
was declared in substance, that the people of the
Territories of the United States had no shadow
of right to NEEDLE with the subject of slavery
within those Territories. 1t was further de-
clared that the Democracy of Virginia would,
under no political necessity whatever, support
for the Presidency any individual who was not
the firm and avowed opponent OF the doctrine,
that the people of Territory could, before
their organization as State, prohibit the es
adjustment of slavery in such Territory. Gen
Cass' Nicholson letter soon after appeared in
which this question was discussed, but such was
the ambiguity of its phraseology thatth Wings
and Democrats put exactly opposite constfuc-
tions on the authors meaning. The latter contend
ed strenuously that he stood upon the Virginia
platform, whilst the former argued with equal
pertinacity that he did not, and that the De-
mocracy could not, without violating their So
lemn pledges support his claims to the Presl-
dency. Gen. Cass himself was appealed to on
more than one occasion to put an end to the con-
troversy by calculating this disputed passage in
his Nicholson epistle, but the only answer that
his interrogators could ever obtain from him
was in the shape of fresh copy OF that valua-
BILE document, unaccompanied with syllable OF
explanation When the Presidential election
was over, however, the defeated candidate OF the
Democracy took occasion to define his position
fully on this subject. On the floor of the United
States Senate he sustained in the clearest and
most emphatic manner, the construction which
the Wings of the South had placed upon his
language, and expressed wonder and surprise
that his words should ever have been deemed
susceptible of the Interpretation which his sup
porters in Virginia had sought to fix upon them.
We do not pretend to give his precise language,
but only the substance of his remaks. This, it
must be confessed, was heavy blow to the
architects of the Virginia platform. They were
placed under the Notifying necessity of ac-
knowledging that they had been deceived in
regard to the views of their candidate, and had
been instrumental in inducing the people of
Virginia to vote for an individual who was the
jealous advocate of doctrine which they had
denounced as dangerous to Southern institu-
lions.
When we bear this small piece of political
history in mind, we may cease to wonder at the
GOODNESS towards Gen. Cass, displayed by the
Virginia Democracy, and their evident desire to
see him laid on the shelf. His nomination by
the Baltimore Convention would place these
gentlemen in an awkward and unpleasant pre-
dicament. In such contingency, they would
be compelled to either abandon the candidate
of their party or to sacrifice the principles which
they proclaimed in 1e47. We should be pleas
ed to learn which alternative it is their purpose
to embrace, in case the name of Gen. Cass shall
again be presented to the people for the Presi-
dency.