The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-06-23
Death Of Gen. Lewis Cass.


sequently in hi, S4th ysar at the time Of bis
decease.
Lewis remained a, Exeter until 1879, when
he went 10 Wilmington, DEL finding employ.
ment there as a teacher. In October, 1900.
he removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he
entered On the study OF the law, and was
admitted to the bar in Deceu Der 1902. He
soon attsr established himself at gainesville,
where. in 1906, he married Elizabeth Spen'
GER. In the same year Mr.. Cass was elected
a member OF the Ohio Legislature, and soon
after was appointed By President Jefferson
as U. S. Marshal for Ohio.
In 1872, upon the outbreak of the war
with Great Britain, Mr. Cass was chozen
Colonel of the Sd Regiment of Ohio Volun>
teers. and proceeded with his men to Detroit,
reaching there early in July. The American
troops at that point soon after marched into
Canada; the proclamation issued OH which
occasion was written by Col Cass. In a
skirmish, July II, at a bridge across the
Aux Canards River, Col. Cass drove the
British from their POSITION. Shortly after
wards the U. 3. forces recrossed to Detroit,
which point, with the Territory of Michigan,
was surrendered, Aug. l6, by Gen. Hull, to
the British Gen. Brock. At the time Of the
surrender, Col Cass was absent with de-
ton, and, when asked to give up his sword
away. He was p.rolsd, and, going to Wash
ington, gave the Grst official cccount OF the
campaign to the public. In January 1918,
he was exchanged, and about the same time
was commissioned as a Colonel in the regular
seryce. In March of the same year he was
further promoted to the rank of Brigadier
nd
bore his share liz the pursuit of Gen. Proctor
and the victory of the Thames. He was then
placed in command at Detroit, and shortly
after was appointed Governor Of the Territo>
~ of Michigan.
In June 1915, Gov. Cass removed his fam
lily to Detroit, and the next yesr purchased
there a tract of land, for which he paid
$4,000, and the value of which IS now esti-
mated at millions. Gov. Cass was ec o6fcjo
Superintendent of Indian affairs for the
Territory, which included what now consti>
tutes the States Of Michigan and Wisconsin.
and ultimately his superintendency was made
20 embrace all the tribes northwest Of the
Ohio. Ur to his resignation of the Office of
Governor, in July 1881, he had concluded
nineteen treaties with the Indians, by which
csssions had been acquired in Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, to an
amount equal to nearly or quite fourth part
of the entire area Of those States.
When President Jackson reconstructed his
Cabinet, in August 1881, Gen. Cass was APP
pointed Secretary of War. Ia 1886 he ex-
changed that position for the Ambassador
snip 20 Franco. He was on excellent terms
with Louis Philippe, of whose character he
gave very favorable report in his king,
Court, and Government of France" By far
the most remarkable incident OF his diplo
matte career occarred near its close, in Feb
ruary 1912, in his attack on the quntup!e
treaty (between Great Britain, France. Rvs
STA, Austria and Prussia for the suppression
Of the slave trade. Tie protested against the
treaty as an attempt 70 interpo.ate a new
doctrine into intern .tional Law Louis Phil
ippe d!i no: venture to ratitv the treaty. and
it fell to the ground
The course adopted b. Con Cass in this
matter met tho approval Of President Ter:
bat the Ashburlon treaty, negotiated shorty
afterwards, was regarded by the General "a
substantially disavowal OF his protest, AMI
he accordingly resigned his Embassy. re
turning home at the close of 1872
In 1874. Gen. Cass was q candidate for the
Democratic nomination Tor the Presidency,
and, on the seventh ballo: in the National
Convention, received "a votes more than Mr.
Van Buren. the principal opposing candi-
date, but still. short OF a majority. After the
eighth ballot the names of both Gen, Cess
and Mr.. Van Buren, were Withdrawn, and
on the ninth ballot James X Polk va, nom
mated.
Shortly after Mr.. Folks election, General
Cass was chosen L. S. Senator from Aehi-
gan, taking his seat in December lSi5. lie
soon made himself conspicuous on the Ore
gon question. then matter Of disput. with
Great Britain. He insisted upon the main
tenance. at all hazards. Of our claims as far
north sls , degrees, - minutes. The dis
pute was soon settled b. n treaty made and
ratified in spite OF the opposition OF the
General.
As the Mexican wa Apr ached q conclu>
sion his famous Nicholson letter made 1t,
appearance This letter. dated Dec. q.
1917, proposed to keep the question Of
slaverF or its prohibition in the territory to
be acd uirei from Mexico out of Congress. by
setting up for the Legislatures of the terrific
ries an exclusive right Of determining their
own domestic institutions.
In lSl-. Gen. Cass was nominated for
President, the fourth ballot, By the Dams
ocr.tic National Convention. He failed.
however, 70 secure an election,-Gen. TAYLOR
defeating him by &c electoral votes
Gen. Cass, on being nominated for The
Presidency, had resigned his seat IN the
Senate, but was elected in June 1919 for
the remainder of the term he had resigned.
In 1850 he was q member of Mr. Clays
Com promise Com ni.tee, and supported all
the measures which emanated from it. He
was reelected as Senator from Michigan,
for the term Of six years from March 9Th,
1851.
At tho Democratic National Convention,
in Nav 1862, Gen Cass was again a candi,
date for the Presidency. but after a struggle
Of five days and fortynine ballots, Franklin
Pierce was selected.
In 1854, Gen. Gas; voted for the Kansas
Nebraska bill Of Senator Douglas, and. on
the night of its passage, tosk OCCASION TO
congratulate the Senate on the triumph OF
the doctrine Of squatter Sovereignty, a.
enunciated in his Nicholson letter.
In the Democratic Convention in 1856,
Gen. Cass was no longer a candidate for the
Presidency, beyond receiving a few scat;er>
ing votes Upon Mr.. Buchansn's entering
upon office, in March 1857, the General re
ceived from him the appointment of ST. creta-
re- of State. which Office he retained until
Dec IL. 1860, when he resigned in conse,
quencs of diss abstraction at the course of
the President in the difficulties with the
South.
From that time until his death Gen. Cass
lived in retirement at his home in Detroit
constantly evinclng a deep>scatel interest in
the progress of the struggle for the suppress
SION Of the rebellion, and complete conf
dence in the ultimate triumph of the cause
Of the Union.
In manners Gen. Cass WAS courteous in
habits simple in bearing dignlfied. Though
not the compeer in genius of Clay, Webster,
and Calhoun, he creditably filled a position
in that rank of statesmen who were second
only to the illustriols trio.
The General leaves four children, one