Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-01-23
! Corrected Remarks OF e;en. cass tfhc Dinner
the Jackson Democratic Association, january 9,
The following toast having been proposed


The following toast having been proposed
Hon Lewis Cass A distinguished statesman and
patriot-the man who frustrated the Quntuple
treaty His name is intimately associated with
the history of his country and the democratic party
honor the man
Mr. Cass, on rising to respond, was received with
loud and long-continucd cheering. He said: Fell
low citizens, it is task imposed upon any one to
follow after the splendid address which you have
Just heard from our noble guest. equally marked by
the best characteristics of the head and of the heart
shall therefore impose upon your patience but for
few moments.
In the first place. fellow citizens, thank you for
this testimonial of your appreciation. l have long
been a laborer in the democratic party. | have
served in it during the better portion of long life
and mean to serve in it eheerfully and zealously
until nv days earth are ended Great Cheer
ing / am one of the very few now surviving who
were appointed to office by that patriarch of cur po
litical faith. Thomas Jefferson. [Cheers. His
word. his appreciation, is warrant enough for any
mans democracy. [Grcat cheering And | feel
my felow-ctizeps, that it is warrant enough for
mine. lRenewed cheering. But I did not come
here to talk about myself. You did rot come here
to listen to any such topic You here for high
considerations, connected with the interests feel
ings, policy, and progress of the democratic party.
1t is about that party that We want to talk
Now, my felow-citizens, the principles of our
party lie within very narrow compass. He who
runs may read them, and he who reads may compre-
bend them. The ability of man to govern himself,
the right to govern himself and the duty of submit
ting the opinion of the
maiority--these are the fundamental principles of
our faith. Cheers. In these is the whole Of the
law and the prophets, [Cheers] Yes, my fellow
citizens the right of and the capacity of man to
govern himself lie at the very foundation of the glo-
rious institutions of our country renewed cheer
ing and there some, trust, who now hear me
VINO are young enough to live to see this doctrine
practically prevail throughout the world TGreat
cheering
1t has been we'll asked, if man cannot govern him
SELF who can govern him Or, in the emphatic Ian
guage of Mr. Jefferson, g have we found angels in
the shape of men to govern q We don't believe
that God has anointed any to rule over his fell
lows, LGreat cheering That is question of in
ternal policy and not of religious faith. Still we
are propagandsts We maintain that every coun-
try in the world has the right to establish and to
change its own institutions at its pleasure. We
all of US aware that all the nations of the world
are not yet prepared for such institutions as ours
But all of them prepared for better ones than
they erjoy
1t has been well remarked by illustrious guest
that Incy precedes youth. and youth precedes n,an
hood No should expect that the SEVERITY Of the
dcspotism of centuries give way at once to the
freedom we enjoy. But the path of man is onward
The road may through trial and sue ring but every
trial and suffering furnishes lesson the more and
the hour will come in Gods good time when all will
be free.
Fellow citizens, though we are no propaeandists
though we allow every nation and wish every nation
to determine Its own government for itself, do
wish-and as far as We with propriety we mean
to insist-that every nation shall be permitted to
exercise its own pleasure in its internal concerns
Great cheering We do not care if it is the Rus
sian Gar who it is that stands in the way; but
we say let every people determine that question for
themselves, and keep your hands off Renewed
cheering believe that to be the almost universal
sentiment of the American people. Loud and con-
tinued cheering
Now, my fellow citizens, to return to the condition
of our own country: For almost four-ffths of the
time that this constitution and government have
been in operation, it has been administered by the
democratic party; and what has that party done
We began with three millions of people, little strip
of territory along the Atlantic coast, and few set
we have got a world within our boundaries. need
not tell you of our increase in numbers in territory.
in power: and all the elements of prosperity for it
is written upon the heart of every American. We
have added territory to country and who has
done ite Every one of the annexatons made to this
republic has been made by the and the mea-
sures of the democratic party. Cheers. Ay. my
friends. party have carried this country from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, and have made it pow
er that | will not say governs the world, but
power that will have controlling influence over the
destinies of the world. And than that
have not only made every one of these annexatons,
but every one of them has been opposed by our po-
litical opponents. [Cheers
The democratic party needs no eulogis: and least
of all so feeble as am. It's deeds constitute
its best euogium. And believe that such is now
very general sentiment with the American people
believe that from end of the country to the
other the conviction is nearly unanimous that
may expect the next year change in the admins
tration of the government. Great Cheering |
believe shall vote for it myself Renewed cheer
ing And IN this state of things, with motive and
necessity for union and exeron it is the duty of all
to labor zealously and efficiently for the good of the
party and especially is it the duty of every to
submit with cheerfuness to its will when once ex-
pressed Whoever has aspirations for any place
high or low or whoever has friends that urge his
pretenSiOns-and such hopes make part of our
ture and are liable to censure-l repeat. whoever
entertains them should bow with submission to the
will of the majority, and; if he succeeds should
evince his gratitude by faithful discharge of his
duty and if he fail, he should then enter the demo-
cratic vineyard as faithful laborer, and work in
the good till the end-[ great cheering work
zeaously, and with earnest will-proving there
by that if he does not deserve the Office he deser>
the appreciation of every true democrat for his adhe
sion to the prncip pies of the party Such have been
nv creed and my course, and such they will contin
ue to be, so long am able to go forth with you
to our party contests. Cheers And am sure
that shall be Joined in this sentiment by the hearty
appreciation of the whole democratic party Loud
cheers.
1t is good for us to be here. The Eighth of Jam
uary is good time. and Jackson Hall good place,
for the democracy to meet to interchange congratu
latons upon the condition of the party and to
their feaity to its principles and its faith Cheers
1t is good day. for it is the anniversary of OF
tho most snpndid victories recorded in the annals OF