Smyrna times., 1866-06-27
NJ l S LLAN EOUS.
General Cass.

The death Of such a citizen as General Cass
Is an event in our annals that requires especial
record. His life extended over the greater
part of our history Born while the shoulder
ing fires of the Revolutionary war were slowly
dying out, and full year before the indepen-
dence of the United States was acknowledged
by the treaty of Versailles, his career extended
over our whole subsequent history, and con-
siderable part of it is identified with his own.
His early bOyhOod saw the Confederacy give
place to the Constitution. His young manhood
found him an active participant in the work of
subduing the wilderness beyond the Ohio to
the purpose of civilization, and with that mar.
vellous region, now covered by rich, populous
and powerful cOmmOnweaths, he has ever
since been Immediately identified, although his
fame was national, both at home and abroad.
Lewis Cass was born in the village of Exeter,
New Hampshire, Oct. 9, 1882, being the son
Of soldier of the Revolution, Jonathan Cass.
HIS education was received in the village acade-
my, and closed when he was about seventeen
years old, at which time his father removed to
Wilmington, Delaware and subsequently, in
October 1900, to what is now Marietta, Ohio
taking the family with him. Here young Cass
studied law and went into successful practice
About the year 1906 he was sent to the Legis-
lature, and from that time he advanced through
nearly all grades of public position. For dis
tlngulshed service against Burr's expedition,
he was made Marshal of the State Of Ohio =;
then Colonel OF a regiment Of volunteers, with
which he marched against Canads, in 1912
Brigadier General, in active service, in 1913;
Governor of the Territory of Michigan, in the
same year, which Office he held until 1881,
when he went into General Jackson Cabinet,
as Secretary Of War; Minister to France from
1886 to 1912; and Secretary of State from 1857
to 1861.
These are but the mere dates, for it would
fill quite volume to recite his varied services
Whilst Governor of Michigan he was also
Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and the ac-
QUESTIONS of land made by his treaties cover a
large portion of the States of Michigan, Indi-
ana, illinois and Wisconsin. When represent
ing the United States at the Court of France,
ne was distinguished for the zeal and ability
with which he vindlcated the rights and honor
OF MS country. 1t was entirely through his
vigorous opposition that the famous " "Quintu-
PIE treaty, involving the claim of search OF
American vessels at sea, was defeated after
being actually signed by the five powers. Du.
ring the time he was in the Senate OF the Uni.
ted States he originated the political idea that
the people of the Territories should settle all
domestic questions, including slavery, for them
selves. This idea was widely known and criti-
| cized by the soubriquet of squatter sovereign
| ty."
In 1874, after his return from France, Gen.
Cass was voted for in the Baltimore Democrat
&c Convention of that year as a candidate fol
the Presidency, but his friends were not success
tul. 1t was charged that, through their agen
cy and the colusion of some of Mr.. Van Blu
ren's delegates, the famous " two-thrds rule
was adopted, by which Mr.. Van Buren wa.
also defeated in that Convention. In l84$
Gen. Cass received the nomination of his par
ty, but Mr.. Van Buren's friends, in retaliation
for his defeat in lS42, which they charged or
Gen. Cass split off from the party, causing
the loss of the State of New York to the Demo
Gratis, and thereby electing Gen. Taylor. HI,
was voted for in several subsequent conventions
but his supporters were never to command the
necessary majority-availability and NOT states
manship, being the grand desideratum
1t is to the undying honor of General Cas-
that. at the outbreak of the late rebellion, h,
was among the most faithful of the champion
of the cause of the country, although he wa
surrounded by faithless colleagues. He was al
able man, a true patriot and thoroughly re
preventative American in all his instlncts-jus
as Lord Palmerston was recognized as the EN-
bodiment of English pugnacity. Since his re
signatiOn from Mr.. Buchanan s Cabinet, zen
Cass has lived sequestered life. lie had bee
an invalid for long time. before his decease
and he passed quietly from this world on th
18th of June, full of years and OF honors'' an
possessing to the last the highest respect OF III
countrymen.