Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-05-07
From the Mobile Daily Register. April 20.
General Cass.

Tho democratic committees in the city of New York,
and of a meeting just held at Albany, evinces that
he has much greater popularity in the Empire
State than believed to exist and although
majority of her delegation to the National Convcn-
ton is thought to be in favor of Governor Marcy,
vet it would seem General Cass has more popularity
with her people than any other prominent democrat
Throughout the West he is unquestionably the most
general favorte, and will receive the conventional
Sutfrages of all the States except, perhaps IN the
first instance, Kentucky, which will vote for General
Butler and Illinois, which will support Judge Dou-
rlas The New England States with but one or
two EXCEPTIONS will also most probably vote tor Cen
eral Cass: and in the South, Maryland and Lou
isana have positively indicated him as their first
choice.
It is we'll known that our own preferences are Tor
Mr. Buchanan and still think that his nominal
ton would be the most fortunate and judlclous that
could be made-that it would dsembarrass the de-
mocracy of some old and unpropitious prejudces,
and restore harmony of feeling and concert OF action
throughout the party, especially in the South But
we have hostility to the great statesman OF the
West We regard him now, as we did In 1915 as
true patriot, an enlightened statesman firm and
conscientious devotee to the constitution, and one OF
the most gifted and highly cultured intelects OF our
country. His in the Senate has placed HIM
more nearly in that lofty category OF phllosophlc
and oratorical craftsmanship so long held without
neer by Calhoun. Webster, and Clay, than any 9TH
er member of that assemblage. Wright, Benton,
Buchanan Woodbury., and Walker were emlnently
conspicuous there for abilities and elOquence, but
they met not such wide and unquestioned recognl-
ton of superiority has been awarded to General
Cass No others compete the palm of dstinc-
ton with him and this reputation is European as
we'll as American. The politicians Of the Old World
regard him most sagacious and formidable
dplomatist.
The principal objection to General Cass at the
South is based upon his Nicholson letter His views
as to what was called derisively squatter sover-
eighty" met with but little approval. They were,
however, temporary and transient in their nature,
and regarded abstract questions rather OF judicial
than legislative or executive character. To these
views General Cass was led by the very tendencies
of his Jeersonism- the strictness of his construc
ton of the constitution. He would not admit feder-
al authority over the Territories further than is
specifically granted in the national charter, and
therefore he left vast residuum OF powers to be
ercised someuchere-and this he took to be by the
people, done first in Oregon, and subsequent
tly in California.
The question is difficult one, and need not be
discussed. 1t is now, in the positions of things and
must henceforth be, purely historic one. No re-
Election. certainly, can be made upon the patriotism
republican orthodoxy of General Cass Tor the
opinions he held and which he has recently explain
ed and indicated very ably in his speech, in the
Senate, in reply to Il letter of Colonel Jefferson
Davis.
In the long continued and bitter anti-savery and
freesoil controversies Of country, We much pre-
fer the which has been followed by MIR. Bu-
chanan to that of General Cass indeed of any 9TH
eminent northern politician. The former has
steadily adhered to the Missouri line of 36 30 as the
meridian of his faith without swerving under any
of the demaGogue influences which have been
brought to bear. General Cass has been equally
sound to the constitutional rig hts of the South,
and the crimnality of antslavery agitations in Con-
gress but his participation in the passage of the
compromise measures of 1850 withdrew from him,
to considerable degree the partalites of the south
ern-rights party. Those measures have now, by
general consent in the South, been left to be " fl
naty," and an amnesty of political hostilities and
discussions about them has been declared. The ia
natics of the North-the Stewards and Greeleys. and
Gddingses-will not accede to this; but we believe
that the people of the South of all parties, WILL for
that very reason, adhere to this adj usment-not
that they approve it, but that It's faults now ir-
rerievable, and it's great virtue, the fugitive
slave law, of the most vital Importance.
So far these questions extend then, Gen. Cass
cannot be obnoxious to proper feeling in tho
South and the memory of some of his prior services
the angry issue of the Wilmot prOviso when that
1! sat squat like q toad " in the national councils
will endear him to the people of the South. Upor
this point we would quote excellent views anC
true statements, made by the New Orleans True
Delta, with an extract of speech of his, showing
heroic devotion, to the extent of sefsacrifee to hi
principle. Says the True Delta:
C He was the first senator from a Northern STATE
to declare himself against the Wilmot proviso. HI
was instructed by the legislature of his State to vo
in favor of that Yet, in speech delivered
in the Senate by him in the month of January, 1850
which covered the whole ground of controversy, hi
concluded by declaring that he considered the viii
mot proViso unconstitutional, and would not vote fo
it; and that it became necessary for hin
to vote he would resign his seat. 1t is thar
Just to admit that Gen Cass in declaring his deter
mnation to resign than vote for the proviso
firmly believed that he would be compelled to re
sign. 1t is highly probable that his designations
der such circumstances, would have terminated hi
political career. He was not, however, called upo
of nd n
right, for such the influence which the speed
that that body rescnded the instructions and, a
against the proviso
Facts like these, it appears to u.s. are not of tn
nature from which opinions unfavorable to the South
or to its ghts interests conid logically be inferred
Nor we recollect any act of General Cass's O.
which could be founded charges against him as vagu
and general as those to which we arc ohjecting.
'The concluding sentences of his speech on tn
proviso referred to emphatic in their expires
sons of hostility to esosm that their insertio
will be an appropriate close to this article. The
are as follows:
1.-THE Wilmot proviso is urged upon the groun
of its expedency. 1t is opposed upon the ground
its unconsttutionality. Those who urge it may we
abandon it, when circumstances show that the meG
sure is dangerous in ITSELF proftless in its result
Those who oppose it cannot change their conviction
of right and that portion of the Union which COZ
sders itself peculiarly affected by it will not chang
the conviction that its feelings and interests will
sacrificed in violation of the great compact whic
mkaes us one political family.