Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-02-04
Letter from Hen. Lewis Cass.
- w ASuINaToNNn Nc DC 1875

- @OS 4OOD
GENTLEMEN; My public duties will
prevent me from joining the numerous
assemblage which on Monday evening
will meet in your city to endorse the
first annual message of James Bueh-
anan, who is the more entitled to the
kind consideration of a Pennsylvania
meeting, as he was transferred by the
American people from that faithful State
which binds us all together, to the pre-
sidency of this great, confederacy. Es-
pecially is it your declared object to en-,
dorse that part of the message which re-
commends the speedy admission of
Kansas as a State under a constitution
formed in pursuance of lawful authori-
ity." l thank you for remembering me
among those to be united upon this oc-
c%asion; and though I cannot be with
you, yet | shall regard your proceedings
with deep interest and with the firm
conviction that the welcome ~plaudit,
"Well done, thou good and faithful SER
want" will be pronounced with one voice
by the assembled thousands, and will be
borne to the remotest parts of the re-
public, and find its response in the hearts
of the American democracy. Such a
Judgment of approval is due to your
eminent fellow, citizen, not less for his
past services than his present position,
han for his efforts to maintain at this
time the true principles of self-govern-
ment. While his policy has been con-
demncd, his motives have beer arraign-
ed, but he may we'll appeal in his justi-
fication to the efficient services of a long
life now drawing to a close, and which
offers him no reward he would accept at
the expiration of his constitutional term
of office but the confidence and graft
tude of his country and the appreciation
Of his Owl conscience.
1t is good for the American people to
come together in times of doubt and diff
fculty. Our fathers did so in the more
trying scenes through which they pass
ed, and may our ons do likewise, should
those evil days come upon them, from
which no people can be wholly exempt.
These great ~convocations of the intelli-
gcnce and patriotism of the country are
the tribunals to judge public men and
measures, and to approve or condemn
US circumstance may justify, and their
Judgment is rendered the more efectual
by imposing numbers, by free discuss
ion and by the nature of their proceed
ings. The admission of Kansas into
the Union upon the principles advocat-
cd in the message is one of those great
questions which appeal at once to the
reason and the patriotism of our couu-
trymen, and may well challenge your
deliberations and action. The addition
of another member to our confederacy
is an event full of hope, a ful6lment of
the promises of the past, and a pledge
of the glories of the future. And it is
likewise a ~peaceable and effectual rene.
dy for evils to which our system of GO
vcrument is exposed. AS long as a ter
%ritorial organization exists the country
it embraces will feel the effect of exter-
nal influence in important questions,
and efforts to control them will be con-
tinually made, whatever perils may be
in the way of the Interference. Such
now is the condition of Kansas, and no
just and patriotic man can conte nplate
that condition without serious appre-
hension. By the mercy of God, rather
than by our own wisdom or forbearance,
we have thus far escaped that last sec
tionaf controversy, which when it comes
may bring with it the destruction of
this fair fabric of political freedom
But We have a security against this dan
ger, we can consent to abandon this
fearful controversy and adopt it, and
that is the 'admission of Kansas into the
Union under a constitution formed in
pursuance of lawful authority, as prom
inently put forward in the message.-
Pass a law for the conversion of the
Territory into a State, and you say at
Once to the dangerous and conflicting
elements, 'Peacci be still !' The storm
will be hushed, the institutions of the
country, whether domestic OIL political,
will be regulated by the people of the
country, and but a few brief mouths
will pass away before peace and quiet
vii. be restored, and this alarming con-
test romembereI only for the lesson of
forbearance it would incG..cate. This
is precisely the view taken of the sub
ject by the President, and L trust, gen
tlemcn, I do not doubt, indeed, that the
same view will be taken by the patriot
ic citizens to be assembled within sight
of the Hall of Independence, to delibe-
rate upon the condition of the country
and to pass Judgment upon the course
of the Chief Magistrate.
/ am, gentlemen, with great respect,
your obcdient servant,
LEWIS CASs.
To GEO. Pitt, Esq, and others, Com.
p0- A good story is told of a Bosto-
mans first appearance in polite society