Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-22
0bio Statesr1rroan,
GENERAL CAsS.
Incidents OF His Last IiIness.-.His
Personal Charactcrlstics and FaIni-


Iy Affairs. .a |I
From the Detroit Tribune, tRepub } June 81
Until about two years ago, General Cass
was, to all appearances, hale and hearty,
and not unfreeuently might have been seen
enjoying an early morning or evening
walk. A short time subsequent to the
above date his health began to fail, and 1t
failed very rapidly since the cold weather
set in last fall. During the month of jan
uary he was very ill, and at one tlmelt was
thought that he would not live to see the
end Of the month.
AT times his mind was slightly affected,
owing to the very painful nature OF his dAs1
ease, but tthese occurrences were rare. AS
general thing he retained his mental 1ac-
ulties until death relieved him OF his suffer-
ings. About half an hour before he died
he spoke, but manifested an aversion to be-
ing troubled by any one. He frequently
referred to his past life, and would occa-
siOnally relate anecdotes to DR.. Farrand, Of
whom he appeared to be particularly fond.
Having been informed of the invasion Of
Canada by the Fenians, he, upon several
occasions, expressed his unqualified disap-
proval of the movement, and characterized
it as absurd, unwise, and calculated to do
more mischief than good. .,. ,
The last conversation of any moment that
the dying statesman had with his relatives
or friends was on Wednesday evening last,
at which time he appeared to be fully him
self, and recognized those who surrounded
his bedside. He talked quite freely with
them. ia H g. # gaG" ...-.
During his illness he was attended by DR..
Zina Pitcher, and DR.. d. o. Farrand, the
latter having remained by his bedside al
most constantly for several months past
Il glsOf I'M Of hn
as was reported at that time, but q disease
| consequent upon old age.
About O'clock on Saturday night it was
quite apparent that dissolution would take
place. At about ten minutes before four
o'clock on Sunday morning a marked
| change occurred, and eight minutes later
the soul of the statesman had passed into
the presence of its Maker. When the bells
of the city struck o'clock, the pulse had
ceased to beat, and all was over.
There were present at the bedside when
Gen. Cass expired, his daughters, Mrs. Can
| field and Madam Won Limburg, and Mr..
George s.. Frost, Mr.. VIM. Foxen and DR..
| d. o. Farrand. ...-.... -...l
Gen. Cass' wife died in March, 1856, and
| left four children, all ofwhom are now liv-
ing. They are: Maj. Lewis Cass; Mrs.
Ledyard, wife of Henry Ledyard, Esq. for
| Limburg, wife of the resident minister of
the Netherlands; and Mrs. Garfield, widow
of Captain Garfield, formerly of the United
States Typographical Engineers. ..,
| Probably the most salient characteristic
of the deceased statesman was his robust
strength, physical and intellectual The
yigor of his constitution, inherited from
hardy parents and fortified by an active
| and stirring life, is attested by his longev-
| ity and the uniform excellence of his health.
| His personal appearance gave evidence OF
the possession of great bodily strength and
rare powers OF endurance. His habits were
unexceptionable. Heneither used tobacco
in any form, nor ever tasted ardent spirits
as beverage, and he died with a system
unweakened, and a soul untainted by licen-
| tiousness in any guise. The traits or his
intellect were also of the virile type. No
public man of his generation surpassed him
| IN potent, resolute and tireless energy. His
executive abilities were remarkable, and
the multifarious duties of his life were in
variably discharged with fidelity and dis
patch. His personal intrepidity became
| proverbial, and found many opportunities
for effective display in the war of 1872 and
in his twenty years. intercourse with the
| North American savages. This marked
mental attribute, Joined to an indomitable
will, exercised decisive influence upon
the most important crisis in his diplO-
matte and senatorial career. Mr..
Cass' Intellectual powers were nei-
| ther profound nor brilliant, but essen
TALLY practical and substantial. His schol-
arly attachments, though extensive, were
not exhaustive nor critical. In metaphys-
| les and the cognate mental sciences, he re-
mained voluntarily tyro. In his reason-
/ s,,k. hn, tp hpxy
the common plane, nor relied upon novel
| logical devices, but in the beaten arena and
with familiar weapons ever did yeoman's
| service. He certainly cannot be classed
among the worlds original thinkers, and
we cannot claim for him the paternity of
any durable social or political system. The
| positive attributes of his mind were an apt
faculty of appreciation, clear and common
sense powers OF thought, and an indepen-
dent spirit. The agility of an athletic or
the proportions of an Apollo may have
! been wanting, but there was no lack OF
| serviceable strength. His career was
! throughout, therefore, straightforward,
| and in the point of consistency, history
can produce but few political records that
| will not suffer by comparison His peculiar
| temperament also rendered him in all war;
fare, forensic as well as martial, eager to
take the offensive, and he never acknowl-
edged defeat while a resource of resistance
remained. Among men of genius and OF
superlative talents he shone, therefore,
through qualities less brilliant, but none
the less valuable. Constant activity, i'm
portant achievements, rare capacity for
labor, and the American pugnacity render
ed him prominent actor upon stage trod
| by some of the mlghtiest of earths giants.
Mr., Cass' business habits were cast in a
| like mold. In his dealings with others he
was always just and liberal. During his life
heneyer sued debtor, and in the great
commercial crises which have periodically
convulsed the financial fabric, his course
towards those with whom he was connect
| ed in business relations was invariably gen
erous beyond all common precedent
Were the recital permissible, we might
mention striking instances of this fact in
our own city. His great wealth was the
result of early purchases of lands made in
| this region, and the subsequent increase in
value of his real estate. 1t is estimated
that, at the time Of his death, General Cass
was worth considerable over $1,000,0O0! In
1854 his income was returned at about
$oSVOV' aucnhLI nnLL..nauAL adj bra .saa'-
H. r9rA 10 The Crops. 20 adI I5JiB
,, In New England the crops are generally