The true Democrat., 1855-09-25
From the Detroit Free Press of Aug
General Cass on hnow Nottingham and the Power of Congress over the Territories.

General Cass on AnoW Nottingham and the
 Power of Congress over the Territories.
 Below will be found letter from General Cass, defining fully and clearly his views upon know nottingham and the power of Congress over the territories:
 Detroit, Aug. 22, 1855.
 To tue Elitor cf the Free Press.
 | SIR:-The public journals contain letter dated July 24th, written by Gen. Houston, which has just met my eye, and in which he says he perceives, by the papers of the day, that Gen. Cass has approved the platform of the American order, as proclaimed to the world by the convention at Philadelphia" had observ- ed the statements to which Gen. Houston al iudcs and had let them pass unnoticed, for it would be hopeless task to endeavor to cor rect all the miSapprehensions and misrepresen- tations to which Is my lot, as we'll as that of all other public men, to be exposed in these days of party strife. And, indeed, I could not sup pose that such assertions would deceive any one who had heard or had read my remarks in the Senate of the United States, on the fifth of February last, upon the presentations of the resolutions of the Legislature of Michigan, instructng the Senators of that State to vote for an act of Congress prohibiting the introduce tion of slavery into the territories of the United States. Upon that occasion, while declining to comply with these instructions, 1 took the opportunity to express my sentiments Ill rela tion to the new political movement, which sought to acquire and exercise power by secret combinations, bound together by the sanctions of an oath, which, 1t is sad made 1t the duty of its members to surrender their individual convictions to the expressed will of a majority of their associates. then observed: Strange doctrines are abroad, and strange organizations are employed to promulgate and enforce them. Our political history contains no such chapter in the progress of our country, as that which is now opening. The questions of constitutional ity and policy which have been so long the battle-cry of parties, are contemptuously reject ed, and intolerance, religious and political finds jealous, and it may be they will prove success full, advocates in this middle of the nineteenth century, boasting with much self f-complacency of its intelligence, and in this free country. founded uponimmigraton, and grown prosper ous and powerful by toleration. We want no new parties, no new platforms, no new efforts are abandoned, the better will it be for us, and for those who are to follow us in this heritage of freedom''
 might we'll suppose, after the expression of these views upon the floor of the Senate and under circumstances of peculiar responsibility, that any further action on my part would be un- necessary to prove my consistency as disciple of the school of WASHINGTON, and JEFFERSON and MADISON, and JACKSON, in the rejection of a dangerous innovation, inconsistent with all the principles those patriots taught, and which, in effect aims to transfer the great political duty of an American citizen from the light of day, where it should be exercised in this land of freedom, to secret conclaveS, as unfriendy to calm investigation, as to wise and patriotic | decision. But the extract from the letter of Gen. HoUsToN asshown me that these reports have received more credit than I had believed, and this consideration has induced me thus pub | licly to notice and to 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 reference true one.
 l have no sympathy with this plan of politi cal organzation-none whatever; neither with the means it employs, nor the objects it seeks to attain. Its secrecy, it's oath bound obliga. tions, its control of the ballot box its system of prescription, stiking both at political rights and religious duties, and its inevitable tendency to array ono portion of the community against another and to carry deadly feuds into every corner of the land, of which we have just had terrible proof, written in characters of blood, and are doomed to have many more, if this movement goes on, for this is but the first in-