The union Democrat., 1855-10-13
LETTER FROM GEN. CASS,
ON KNOWiNOTHINGISM AND THE POWER OF
CONGRESS ~ THE TERRITORIES

CONGRESS- ~ THE TERRITORIES
10 the Editor Of the Detroit Free PresS-Sir:
The public journals contain letter dated July
oath, 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 ap-
proved tho platform of the American order, as
proclaimed to the world by the convention at
Philadelphia had observed the statements to
which Gen, Houston alludeS, and had let them
pass unnoticed, for it would be hopeless task to
endeavor to correct all the misappre tensions and
misrepresentation to which it is my lot, as we'll
that of all other public men. to be exposed in
these days of party strife. And, indeed, could
not suppose that such assertions would deceive
any one who had heard or had read my remarks
i'll The Senate of the United States, on the 5th of
February last, upon the presentation of the reso-
lutiuus ii jhe Legislature of Michigan, instruct
ing the Senators ot that State to vote for an act
OF Congress prohibiting the introduction of sa-
very into the Territories of the United States
Upon tbs, occasion, willie declining to comply
with these iuStructioss, l. took the opportunity to
express loy sentiments IN relation to the new po-
litiCal movement, which sought 10 acquire and
exercise power by secret combinations, bound
together by the sanctions Of an oath, which, it is
sai. made it the duty of It's members 20 surren-
as tpei- issjtda9i ,sau is reesel
viii q, majority of their associates. / then
obScryed:
Strange doctrines arc abroad and strange organizations
are employed promug;e and enorc then Our political
history c0pj1ins no suc chapter IL the progress OF
try, IS at which now opening The questions Of cons
tutonai.v and policy, which have been long the battle
cry ot Yaes aye contempuouy rejected and intolerance,
religious ,d political. haGs Jealous and il rs be they viii
prove successful advocaes IN this middle of the nineteenth
century tosne with Huc seltcompacency OF its iutel
ccncc and III this free country, founded upon lnisraiou
ard grown prosperous aRd powerful by toeTa;ion
We want parties no new Platforms no new oroan
dom
Cd the better it will be for and for those who 10 to
low US II :his heritage of freedom"
l might well suppose, after the expression of
these views upon the floor of the Senate. and
under circumstances of peculiar responsibility
that any further acti6a on my part would be un-
ncSs&ry to prove my consistency. as disciple Of
the school of Washington, and Jefferson, and
Madison. ana Jackson, in the rejection of dan
gerous innovation, inconsistent with al the prin-
cipes those patriots taught, and which, in effect,
AIMS 20 transfer The great political duty Of an
American citizen from the light of day, where it
should be oECrc.sed n this lana Of freedom. t0
secret conclGtes. as UuireGdlY to calm iuvcSticl-
ten, rs "a wise aad patriotic decision. Bat the
extract from Tia lesser of Gen. Houston has
shown me that these reports have received more
credit than had beljev al, an. Ills consideration
has induced me thas pa5l.Cly 10 notice and 20
contradict them. Ny opinions. indeed. upar any
subject are bat of Lt.le consequence. exceut 10
myself; but il they are worth referring 10, they
are EortA the trouble Ot making the reference a
true oaa,
l have re sympathy with this plan oc political
CrgGnlza0on-n0ue whatever. neither with the
means Il employs, nor the objects it seeks to at
tain. lis secrecy, lis oath-bound obligations its
ccnrol Of tae ball0t-boT, its system of proscrip-
tic2, striking both at political rights and religious
duties, and its inevitable tendency to array one
portion of the community against another, and 10
c9rry deadly teudS into every corner of the land
ct which we have just had proof written in
characters of blood, and are doomed to have
many more, il this movement goes on, for this
is but the first inStallment of death. and how
many Others are to follow, and to what extent.
and when the last is to be paid, and after what
lamentable vicissitudes is known only to Him
who iorsees events and can control them-these
characteristics mark it as the most danserous
scheme which has ever been introduced into our
country TO regulate its public action or its social
condition. 1t is the OrangeiSm of republic.
scarcely better In principal than its monarchical
prototype - of a republic whose freedom and
equality justify as little as they invite the intro
ductlon OF machinery whose operation is con-
cealed from public observation, but whose conse-
quences are as clear as they are alarming.
Gen. Houston gives credence to the report that
| approve " the platform of the American order
as proclaimed to the world by the convention at
! Phladelphia. l am aware that changes have
been made both IN the name and in some of the
principles OF this new organization But these
changes do not remove my objections to it. It's
spirit of exclusion and intolerance remains, and.
with it. its evil and its dangers 1t is book TO
which cannot be reconciled, whatever addition,
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 concurrence
aud that is the declaration that Congress ought
not to legislate on the subject of slavery within
the territory of the United States" l regret,