Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-09-08
Gen Cass on Know N othingism and the
Power of Congress Over the Territories

1 CaSs, defining July and clearly his view
, upon Know n othingism and the power
Congress over the Territories:
DETROIT, Aug. % 1855.
To the Editor Of the Detroit Free Press:
SIK.-The public journals contain let
ter dated July Oath. written by Gen. Hous
ton, which has just met my eye. and il
which he says he perceives, by the paper
Of the day, that Gen. Cass has approve,
",he platform Of the American Order, a.
proclaimed "to the world by the Conven
ilon at Philadelphia " had observed tn,
statements to which Gen. Houston allude
and had let them pass unnoticed, for i
would be a hopeless task to endeavor t.
correct all the misapprehensions and mis-
Representations TO which it is my lot, al
well as that of all other public men, to bt
exposed in these days Of party Strife
And, indeed, could not suppose that sucl,
assertions would deceive any one who had
heard or had read my remarks in the Sen
at. OF the United States. OH the fifth OF
February last, lpon the presentation Of the
resolutions OF the Legislature OF Michigan,
iustructing the Senators Of that State 10
sotC iol al at vi Oonb Cos II oh'u'u"S tue
introduction Of slavery into the Territories
Of the United States. Upon that occasion
while declining to comply with those in
structions. took the opportunity 10 ex-
press my sentiments in relation to the new
political movement, which sought to ac-
quire and exercise power by secret combi-
nations, bound together by the sanctions
of an oath, which, il is said made it the
duty OF its members to surrender their in.
dividuaI convictions to the expressed will
Of majority Of their associates. then
observed:
Strange doctrines are abroad. and
strange organizations are employed to
promulgate and enforce them. Our pc.
litical history contains no such chapter in
the progress Of our country, as that which
is now opening. The questions OF con-
stitutionalty and policy, which have been
so long the battle-cry Of parties. are con-
temptuously rejected, and intolerance, re-
lgious and political, finds jealous, and it
may be they will prove successful, adyo-
Gates in this middle Of the nineteenth GEN.
fury boasting with much self-complacency
of its intelligence, and III this free country
founded upon immigration, and grown
prosperous and powerful BY tolrratlons. n
- We want no new parties, no new plat
forms, no new organizations, and the sQoh-
er these dangerous efforts are abandoned,
the better will 1t be tor US, and for those
who are to follow US in this heritage Of
freedom"
Knight well suppose, after the express
ion Of these views upon the floor of the
Senate. and under circumstances of peculi-
ar responsibility, that any further action
on my part would be unnecessary to prove
my consistency, as a disciple of the school
Of Washington and Jefferson, and Madison
aud jackson, in the rejection of danger
Gus innovation, inconsistent with all the
principles those patriots taught, and which
in effect, aims to transfer the great politi-
cal duty OF an American citizen from the
light OF day, where it should be exercised
in this land OF freedom. to secret conclaves
as unirlendly to calm investigation. as to
wise and patriotic decision. But the ex-
tract from the letter of Gen. Houston has
shown me that these reports have receiv-
ed more credit than had believed and
this consideration has induced me thus
publicly TO notice and contradict them
My opinions, indeed, upon any subject are
but OF little consequence, except to myself,
but, If they are worth referring to, they
are worth the trouble Of making the refer.
enee true one.
lhave no sympathy with this plan OF
political ganization-none whatever
neither with the means it employees, nor
the objects it seeks to attain. Its secrecy,
It's oath.Douud obligations, Its control OF the
Dallot-box, its system OF prescription, stri-
king both at political rights and religious
duties. and its inevitable tendency to array
one portion OF the community against an
other. and to carry deadly feuds into eve
ry corner OF the land, Of which we have
just had terrible proof, written IN char
acters Of blood, aud are doomed to have
many more, if this movement goes OH, for
this is but the first insiament OF death, aud
how many others are to follow, aud to
what extent, and when the last is to be
paid, and after what lamentable vicissi-
tuces is known only to Him who foresees
events and can control em,--ihese char
acteristics mark it as the most dangerous
SSHCIue WulCu has ever Occu lHuOOuCcu
into our country to regulate its public ac-
ton or its social condition. 1t is thu
Orangeism of a Republic, scarcely better
in principle than its monarchcal prototy pc
lot Republic whose freedom and equal
ity justify as little as they invite the intro
duction OF a machinery whose OPP Grafton
is concealed from public observation, but
whose consequences are as clear as they
are alarming.
Gen. Houston gives credence 10 the
report that lapprove 1.-THE platform OF the
American order, as proclaimed to the
world by the Convention OF Philadelphia.
l am aware that changes have been made,
both in the name and in some Of the prIn-
ciples cfthis hew organization. But these
changes do not remove my objections to
it. Its spirit OF exclusion and intolerance
remains, and. with it, its evils and its dan
gers. 1t is a book to which ! cannot be
reconciied. whatever edition, whether the
new one or the old one, is offered to me.
There is. indeed. one principle laid down
IN that convention which meets my con-
currence, and that is, the declaration that
Congress ought not to legislate upon the
subject Of slavery within the territory Of
the United States" regret. however,
that the body which thus pronounced
against the exercise OF the power did nol
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