Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-19
THE LATE GENERAL LEWIS CAss.

Michigan departed this life on Sun
day morning, the 18th inst, in the eighty
fourth year Of his age. He had filled
many stations and done great public ser
vices. He had reaped a full harvest of
earthly honors, and for some years, admon-
ished by age and failing faculties, he had
retired, waiting for the inevitable " to-mor-
row." to which the yesterdays" all point
"the way to dusty DEATH The prominent
part he played in the history of his country
requires at the hands of the public chroni-
cler notice Of its leading incidents.
General CAss was born in Exeter, New
Hampshire, October 9th, 1882 of revolu-
tionary ancestry. Receiving before the re-
moval of his father to Delaware, an academic
education, he accompanied the family to that
State, where they remained but short time
before its removal to Ohio in 1900. At Ma
rietta, then the leading place in that State,
he commenced the study of law, and was
admitted TO the bar in 1902. His talents
and vigor of character soon brought him in
10 public notice, and in 1906 he was made
member Of the Legislature, and in the same
year he was married. He was conspicuous
in the discussion Of several important ques-
tons before the Legislature, and as a men,
Der Of committees was the author of import
ant public documents, and at the expira-
ton Of his service was made U. S. Marshal
for Ohio.
At the outbreak Of the war of 1872 he
raised and was made Colonel of the 3rd
regiment of Ohio volunteers, and was at
tached TO the unfortunate expedition Of Gen.
Hull, which terminated in the surrender
Of that commander to the British forces.
Col. CAss was indignant at this shameful oc-
currence, and though on parole, proceeded
to Washington and exculpated himself from
participation in it. Exchanged in 1913,
he was commissioned a Colonel in the regu-
lar service, and shortly afterwards a Briga-
der General. The war closed soon after, how
ever, and before he had much opportunity
for active service. Shortly afterward he re-
signed his position in the army and the mar
shalship Of Ohio, which he had continuedto
hold, and removingto Detroit was soon after
appointed Governor of Michigan territory. In
this capacity he exhibited great administra-
tive talents. His duties brought him in
contact with the Indian tribes of the North
west, and his wise and just treaties with that
people secured TO his Government, without
bloodshed, the immense and fruitful North
west, now teeming with population, and des-
tined to enact great part in the history Of
the nation. His service for nearly two
| score OF wears as Governor and Indian Agent
enabled him TO thoroughly understand the
Indian character, and his counsels in Indian
matters have always been valued highly.
As Secretary of War he did much to effect
peacefully the REIMBURSEMENT of lands by
the Southwestern tribes, and his service in
this respect will be one of the lasting monu-
ments to his fame. In 1881 he resigned the
Goyernorship of Michigan, and was shortly
aitGrward called to Gen. JACKsoN's Cabinet
as Secretary of War. This position he held
till 1886, when he was sent Minister to
France, which position he retained
till 1871. General CAss travelled over
the Eastern continent during the period
of his foreign embassy, and INDUCED his
tastes for the fine arts. His most important
service while at the Court of ST. Cloud was his
celebrated protest againstthe proposed Quin-
tuple treaty suggested by Great Britain for
the suppression of the slave trade, and it is
not uphold the slave trade, but objected to
the mode by which "perfdious Albion" at
tempted to tie the hands of other powers
and perfect her control Of the seas. The
conclusion Of the Webster-Ashburton treaty
in 1912, which he regarded as a virtual sur
render Of the principle which he had sue
cessfully resisted, induced him to tender his
resignation to Mr.. TYLER, then President,
and return home. After his return he pub
lished several lengthy articles in the Demo-
cratic Rerictg eulogistic Of Louis Philippe,
of France, his court and his government.
In 1874 he was presented as candidate for
the Presidency, and in lS4S was nominated
by his party but defeated by Gen. Taylor.
In 1852 he was again brought forward but
failed to receive the nomination. During
this time, however, he was member
of the Senate of the United States,
having taken his seat in 1915, and
continued to hold that position till called to
the Cabinet of Mr.. BUCHANAN as Secretary
of State in 1857. He participated in debate
on all the leading questions which came be-
fore the Senate during his service. He was
most remarkable for his hatred to the gov
ernment Of Great Britain-the result, doubt
less, of impressions in the war of 1872, and
his contest regarding the Quintuple treaty.
He was also an earnest sympathizer with the
struggle of the peoples against the etiete
monarchies of Europe, and sought to enlist
his Government actively in their behalf
In 1850, in connection with WEBSTER,
CLAY, BELL, BERRIEN and Others, he was
instrumental in efecting the compromise
which it was hoped would finally settle the
slavery question, and attained great celebrity
for the fervor and earnestness Of his zeal in
behalf of the preservation of the Union.
His career as Secretary of State was not
marked by any important events, and before
the close of Mr.. BUCHANAN's administra-
ton. foresecing the civil war which he had
deprecated and labored to avert, he resigned
and retired to private life.
Gen. CAss was a liberal and large minded
statesman, a devoted patriot, proud of his
country and its institutions and jealous to
sensitiveness Of its honor. He possessed ex-
tcusive literary attainments, a cultivated
taste, and great administrative ability. In
strength of intellect he was not the equal of
some Of his compeers, but his capacity for
public usefulness in any department was
recognized even by the greatest of has con-
temporaries. He was conservative, and la
bored TO prevent the calamity which beiell his
country. and saddened his departing days
Since his retirement he has given no public
utterance 10 his views on the state of the ma
ton, but there is little doubt that he deplor-
ed equally the madness which preciPitated
the evil and the worse than madness which