The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-09

day evening last, on which occasion a large
number of letters were read from gentlemen
who found it inconvenient to attend, from which
we have selected the following:
From Hon. Lstpis Cass.
... WAsHIsGroS, July s, 1852
| GENTLEMEN: have but this moment received
your invitation to attend the celebration on this
day of the anniversary of our National Indepen-
dence by the Tammany Society, and must answer
you hastily. By some accident, know not what,
the preceding invitation, to which you refer, did
not reach me-
II would afford me great pleasure to meet the
society upon this interesting occasion were cir
| cumstances such as to permit it, But they are
not; and it only remains for me to thank you for
your kind recollection and to express my cordial
concurrence in your sentiments, which should find
| a response in the heart Of every Democrat Let
the contest among be. not who has done best in
the time that has passed, but who will do best in
the time that is coming, that has come indeed, and
| that demands our united, vigorous, centering &C
ton. With that shall succeed, and that we
| shall have. Everywhere in the ranks of our party
the cry ia heard-the good of all demands the ex
ertion Of all-and well may old Tammapy-pa-
trotio, Democratic old Tammany-set US the
ample Of a sacrifice of individual preferences upon
the altar Of our party, and urge oil to come to
society has always adhered to the cause Of the
country, in peace and war, with as true patriotic
ardor the love of country called forth; and
well may We say that we can never be defeated
when united, for victory ia sure so long fol-
low your example. Our principles are founded in
free institutions. and are hallowed by time and by
the blessings they since brought with them; and
our nominees are worthy Of the party; and thus
we have motives for exerton powerful and en-
couraging ever called the Democracy of the
country to the support of their principles and of
men, by whose judicious selection alone can prin
ciples be practically maintained
am, gentlemen, with great regard. truly yours,
LEWIS CASS.
To Messrs. E. E. Camp, A. H. Mickle, Thomas
Dunlap, George S. Messeroe, Richard Adams
Locke, U. D. French, Elijah Il. Purdy, Henry
Storms, Stephen H. Feeks, w. J. Brown, James
Common, Edward e. West, and J. V. Fowler,
Committee of Arrangements.
From En- President Martin Van Buren,.
LINpENwALD, July l, 1852.
GENTHeEN beg you to accept my thanks for
the invitation to meet the Tammany Society on
the 9Th instant, with which you have honored Inc.
1t revives recollections, reaching to far distant
day, of similar meetings, at which had the plea
of acting, in the promotion of cause, with
a long array of disintercsted and patriotic men,
many Of whom have been forever removed from
such scenes, whilst some yet amongst you, hon.
ored members of your society, lingering, like my
self, on the verge of life. summons from the
survivors of such band and their younger asso.
cates together, for the support of principles which
we imbibed in boyhood, and to which we have
since dcvotedly adhered, cannot regard with
other feelings than those OF deep interest, mingled
with regret, that the qualification of thus meeting
them is denied to me.
In public letter some years since addressed by
me to the Democracy of the city of New York-of
which your society constitutes a highly respect
able and influential part-I stated that had, since
the expiration of the Presidential term, deemed it
due to that high office, and to those whose friend
ship and confidence raised me to it, to abstain as
far possible from an active participation in
party politics This opinion to the proprieties
Of my position, coinciding with my preferences
and views in other respects, has remained un-
changed, and nothing can be further from my
wishes or Intentions than to pursue a different
course at this advanced period Of my life. ! am
therefore constrained to throw myself upon the in
diligence of your society in declining their invi-
tation.
But cannot, gentlemen, allow the opportunity
you have presented to pass without renewing the
which were given in the letter referred
to, of my deep sense of the vigorous and effective
support that for 80 long a period and through so
many and such trying vicisstudes. in my public
career, l received from the Democracy Of your
great city Differences Of opinion have, it ia true,
since arisen between largo and respectable por-
tons Of your associates and myself, upon points
which your invitation we'll describes "a "foregn
to the objects and political relations of your 30
ciety." In regard to these We have each pursued
the course that we deemed right, and that our
Judgments approved; and am, hope, too just to
extend grudgngly to others, as we'll entitled, the
exercise of right claim for myself, or to allow
the personal asperites which, unhappily, seem to
be inseparabe from collisions of opinion upon most |
public questions, and against an indulgence in !
which men beat disposed cannot always guard |
themselves, to weigh against, much less to cancel
claims upon my gratitude and esteem that can |
never either forget or disown. can, therefore.
with truth, say that the sentiments towards your
society, and their political brethren of the city
long and cordially entertained by me whilst the
laton of constituent and representative existed |
between US, are not less kind or less sincere now
when that tie has ceased, and be restored
There is every probability, gentlemen, that what |
ia 80 earnestly desired by all sincere Democrat
q fair field for the discussion before the people of
the conflicting principles Of the respective parties
of the administration of the Federal Government |
will be once afforded. At too many Of our |
Presidential elections circumstances in the actual |
of the country considerations personal
to one or the other of the candidates, have by the
address of politicians, been used TO prevent pro-
per attention TO that great issue by the people In
the coming contest there lie, think. great reason
to expect that such obstacles cam to any seri-
Gus extent, be brought into successful operation.
The disturbing subject of slavery has, by the ac-
ton Of both the great parties of the country, been
withdrawn from the canvass between them, and
the no less exciting questions in regard to Ma
tional Bank and the and deposit ofthe moneys
of the people, which 30 convulsed the whole coun
try by appeals to individual interest and cupidity,
have been finally settled by the adoption of the
Democratic policy.
In regard to the personal characters Of the re-
spective candidates. the prospects not less pro-
ptious. Tho Wbig nominee, in that chivalrous
spirit which belongs to hs character, has COM
menced his first political campaign with a frank
admission Of the private worth and claims pub