The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-21


scarcely do You greater harm than to pray that you
might publish many such documents. Do be careful
In what you attempt to say In reply to the veteran
General. And now must terminate this little epis-
tie, which do with many wishes for your Grace's
best happiness SIMON PETER.
Letter from Archbishoy Hughes.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE COURIER AND ENQUIRER.
When the unexpected distinction was conferred
on the undersigned of having his humble name and
supposed principles introduced by Gen. Cass into
the deliberations Of the Senate Of the unied STATES
and there discussed, and to some extent denounced
in manner prejudicial TO the sentiments and char
acter Of that humble individual, he begs leave to
claim il the privilege Of citizen TO appeal from
hasty Judgment even of that distinguished assembly
which ranks in his mind, and as he thinks ought
TO rank in the mind of the world, as the most ho-
norable and dignifed deliberative assembly on the
earth--to the common sense and common justice OF
its individual members and of his citizens,
without the slightest intention on his part to bias
impartial Judgments one way or the other.
The undersigned begs leave to say that it is his
intention TO reply, through the medium of the pub
lie press to the great speech, so called Of the dis
tnguished Senator from Michigan-the Hon. Mr..
Cass.
Mr.. Cass enumerates several cases which appeal
directly to the most sacred feelings of the human
heart. He is, as might naturally be expected in
these particulars, on the side of human rights and
human feelings. But the whole tone Of his speech
is calculated to leave the impression in the minds
Of his hearers when he spoke, and of his readers
when he published, that the humble individual who
has SO unworthily been the occasion Of waste Of
precious public time, is opposed to the humane
views Of General Cas-.
This would be an inference unwarranted by truth,
and against which the undersigned begs leave to
enter beforehand an humble but firm protest.
There is only one question connected with this
great speech of the honorable Senator from Michi-
gan which has given the undersigned the slightest
pain. This is, that in reading the Senator's speech
it has occurred to the mind Of this writer that
General Cass deservedly honored by his country,
and highly esteemed, as well for his patriotic
virtues for reasons Of private courtesy extended
to the undersigned when the General was our dis
tinguished representative at Paris, may have
imagined that certain expressions in the letter on
which he animadverts may have been intended for
personal application to himself.
would beg leave to say now, that in the sacred
presence Of that conscience for which he has elo
quently pleaded, must assure him that when the
letter was written, or before or since 1t would be,
and has been, and trust ever will be, impossible
for the undersigned to speak or write one syllable
disparagng to the high character, honor, public or
private integrity OF General Cass.
At the same time, a mark Of the confidence of
the undersigned in Senator Cass's impartial justice,
and, indeed, in imitation of the Generals own free
course in the great speech to which reference has
already been made, the undersigned begs leave to
say that as far as God, and nature, and history and
philosophy and the rights Of nations, and the ex-
periencee OF human life may have enabled him to
Judge and furnished him with means for anaIvzing
the speech Of our distinguished Senator, he shall
claim the liberty of applying the tests rigidly, but
most respectfully.
The undersigned, in addition, begs leave to say
that he hopes, Notwithstanding his numerous ofical
engagements and duties to be able to publish his re-
marks on Gen. Casss speech within ten, OF u most
fifteen, days from this date.
The undersigned feels most deeply the sadvan-
tages under which he must necessarily a. pear in
venturng to review the dicta of eminent states
man as General Cass. General cass is regarded and
have no doubt desevedly, by almost a majority of
the American people, as one Of our most tried and
most worthy statesmen. The undersigned, on the
contrary, II he is known at all to any considerable
portion Of his countrymen is known-as far as GER
tain newspapers distribute knowledge-ony as
narrow minded, illiberal, bgoted adversary of the
progress Of our age and the development of our in
situations.
Under these circumstances, no one can feel more
deeply than the subscriber, the Instantaneous po-
sition, the necessity Of occupying which, the long
medtated and deliberately arranged speech Of Gen.
Cass has imposed upon him, if lie would not be for
and for his Catholic felow-countrymen. For nearly
year and half General Cass has been shedding the
iluminations of his experienced intellect and the
concentrated powers Of his brooding mind on the
letter which forms the staple of his great speech
and the undersigned hopes that he may be allowed
the reasonable period already referred to for an OPP
portunfy to reply IN answer to General Cass, TO
statements, insinuatons nuendoes, and differences,
which he fears may be found in the Senator's speech
or Gedaced from it, calculated to lower the under
signed in the good opinion Of his fellow countrymen
whether Senators or private citizens,
JOHN HUGHES,
Archbishop Of New York.
New York, Nay II, 1854.