Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-10
HONOR TO LEWIS CASS!

In the Senate on Monday last Mr.. Stuart of Mich
iqan presented joint resolution from the Legislature
of that State instrucng their Senators and request
ing Representatives TO their best exertions to
procure the passage of an act prohibiting the intro
ducton or existence of slavery in any Of the terrific
ries especially in Kansas and Nebraska; and to in
troduce without delay, bill for the latter purpose :;
and also to procure the immediate repeal of the act
of 1850 known as the fugitive slave law
Mr. Cass addressed the Senate in reference to
these instructions substantially as follows:
He said, that when years ago the Lcgisla-
tire Of Michigan instructed her delegates in Con-
sreSs to vote for the Wilmot prtviso, he said he
should resign when called upon TO act. The legis-
lature however, repealed these Instructions and
therefore he did not resign. He should neither
follow these instructions resign, and he proceed
ed at some length to state his reasons
He Said-The Democratic party has lost the as
tendency in Michigan These resolutions result from
the action of the party there. L am now in
structed deprive American citizens in the
territories of the power to regulate their relations be-
tween and and to vote for the repeal
of the fugitive slave act which was passed to give
effect to Il solemn glarantee OF the constitution.
shall neither obey those instructions nor resign my
seat If political party whenever or by whatever
combinations it attans power, can compel its oppo-
holding legislative trusts to violate their
sciences and consistency resign their POSITIONS 1t
would radically affect the organization OF the Senate,
anu Incompatible WIN us OiIICe as inc
tive branch of the sovereignty ofthe States. The Sc
nate would lose every characteristic of peImanence
the power transferred from one power to an
other. This would operate against the Democratic
party for their opponents do not recognize the right
to instruct.
The intolerant prescription which is advocated by
the new party, would exclude from political CONT
dence the first General who fell at the head of
gained American army at Quebec, because he was
born the Atlantic and the last surviving sgner
of the Declaration of Independence because he was
a Catholic. The adoption of either measure recon-
mended by the Legislature of Michigan, would be
signal for breaking up this government and the disso
luton of this Confederacy. There many honest
men who scout all idea of danger and prepared
to sacrifice the structure of freedom to oyerpow
ering impulse
shall remain in the position am until the end of
my term, unless the democracy of Michigan shall
require me to act against my convictions of duty.
W hat fear above all things, is that the people may
be struck with judicial blindness with which nations
are punished for national Offences and thus add to the
melancholy list of the people who had not wisdom
enough to appreciate the value of free institutions,
nor virtue and firmness enough to maintain them.
MIR. Smart said Sufficient the day is the evil
thereof When the proper time comes shall be
prepared to act Until then, think it is unneces-
sary to trouble the Senate with any remarks upon
the subject. The resolutions then laid the
table"
The Democratic party has lost the ascendency
In Michigan the "new party of KnowNothings
has come into power, and the result is this display
OF the most deadly hostility to the rights fthe slave
holding States Mark the words of the venerable
Cass!-he cannot be mistaken-he knows what he
says to be true. What say Southern men to these
facts? What say those Democrats who may have
been induced to join the new party to which Gen.
Cass refers