The New York herald., 1866-06-18

i f0W6TS
braong In the right Of search and intending 10 make
the law Of the ocean The restywas signed by some of
s ro~o.s csIor. pubic attention was much turned 70
Importance TO the United States, and all other Powers
Interested IN the freedom OF the seas that should not
be ratified by France IL obvious from the state Of
the maritime world that France could be withdrawn
from this confederacy no new principle Of public law
could be created which she tho United states
should refuse their sanction: qulnupIe treaty would
be dangerous but quadrupe treaty would be without
result, was object OF the highest Importance; and
as the American Minister at Paris Mr.. Cass finding
depend upon his own resources and act on his own
responsibility. The course he resolved upon two
fold First be determined TO operate upon public
timena and then directly upon the government His
pamphlet upon the right Of search the he
adopted TO effect tho first object and his formal protest
against the ratification Of tho French treaty the second
The pamphlet was published In English, French and
German, and was distributed throughout Europe Tho
refused its ratification, and the quintupe treaty
dead letter. England experienced the first great check
me AND s q hey se
press was turned against the man who had bscn 80
mainly instrumeniai to It, They seemed TO consider
General Cass conduct a. personal matter, which gave
| every Engshman the right abuse him. His course
also gave some offence In this country but IL was ap
| proved BY the President The Ashburton treaty,
which after concluded gave Mr. Cass an oppor
tunity Of reHgning, which he took advantage OF.
The agreement OF the United States In that treaty TO
maintain squadron on the coast or Africa to cooperate
with the British in the suppression OF tho slave trade
without at the time requiring from the British
remuneration Of the doctrine Of the right Of visit was
regarded by Mr. Cass substantially dsavowa Of his
protest aud pamphlet and as placing him in awkward
position with the French government, by well
pleased with his interference dcfcst the quntuple
treaty He accordingly resigned his embassy and re-
turned home where he arrived at the close OF the year
His criticisms the Ashburton treaty, contained In his
letter Of resignation produced a sharp controversy be-
tween him and Mr. Webster then Secretary o State and
negoliator OF that treaty.
On his return TO the United States Gensral Cas- was
hundred and twenty ve vote, ~ the Baltimore co"yen
ton In 1874 Ar. Polk being finally nominated, General
lass AZ once came forward IN support OF he nominee
addressing the people OF Ten Kentucky and the
Northwestern states in behalf OF their choeel avore.
In the year Mr. Casa elected Uaiied States
Senator from Michigan and took his seat In March, ls45
with Mr. Polk President In the session of Congress
Of ls45-s6 he rendered most important services in
the Oregon question, and adhered 10 the last To
his own firm clion that tho United Slater law
fully entitled to the whole territory 10 latitude 81 de-
grees and 40 minutes Had not been for rnness
with which he and bis followers adhered TO tho line 81
degrees 40 minutes the probability that England would
finally agreed upon between the respective ministers OF
the two countries. During tho Mexican General
Cass supported Mr. Polks administration as Chairman of
the Military Committee Of tho Senate.
This led TO the introduction into Congress by Mr.
Wilmot democratic representative from Pennsylvania
OF provso famous the Wilmot proyiso that from ali
the territory acquired by treaty with Mexao slavery
should be excluded This proviso its first ntroduc
ton near the close OF the session OF 1876 seemed TO
have the almost unanimous support OF the Northern
ton Of the democratic party No vote taken upon IL
at that session in the senae hut NJ Cass aterwad ad
mtied that had the opportunity occurred, he should
have voted Tor t. When this question again in
March, lS4s he advocated It's postponement till after the
close Of tho A the approached conclusion
his famous Nicholson letter made its appearance This
let9r, dated December ~ 1s47 proposed keep the
question Of slavery, its prohibition in the territory
be acquired from Mexico out OF Congress- by sen. up
for the Legislatures Of the Territories exclusive right
Of determining their domestic Institutions, cquna
lent possessed by the Mr. Cass declared
himself In this letter decidedly opposed to she Wmot
proviso standing the way Of the acquisition Of
ritory and as unnecessary since from the character
and climate OF the about be acquired
McKee, slavery could hardly 20 into il, He aid not deny
rbanOe nf nj by
the change simultaneously going in the public misd
In the Democratic Nominating Convention which met at
Baltimore May 90, 1s4S that change was very manifest
In that body the wlmot proviso had few friends
except branch Of the double dstga.ion from New
York. These New York Wlimot proyiso men, refusing
divide the vote of that state with the rival delegation
the Convent had proposed presently retired from
opal candidates Mr. cass. Mr. Buchanan and Mr.
Woodbury., all anwilmot prov men. On the nrrt
ballot Mr. Cass took the lead and on the fourth ballot he
received the requisite twohrds o. votes cast and
declared the candidate. he found however. for
midable Opponent IN General Taylor nominated oy NC
In the Mexican war; and he was stl further weakan
by the determination Of the New York scccders from .he
Convention tho special friends of Mr. Van Buren,
support hnia RESOLUTION In which they were sustained
by the acceptance the part OF Mr. Van Burcn OF VII
provso, or, called, free soil nomination.
The division thus made the democratic ranks secured
10 General Taylor the State u Now York and his election
TO the Presidency BY majority OF thir'ys1 electoral
votes
Mr. Csss had resigned h5 scnatorshp 10 run for the
Pres dercy On his defeat for tho latter offca no
elected and OF the principal supporters
OF tho compromise measures OF 1880 which we're based
ON the dea OF his famous NICHOLSON letter In 1852 he
was again candidate for Presdent at the National Con.
vention and received by far greater number Of votes
than any other candidsfc An agreement finally %
latter received the support fcncral Cass his fends
General lent the fun weight o his and support
the passage Of the Nebraka bill and the election Of
Mr. Buchanan President In 1850 and
his great age took the stump In Mr. Brchanans favor in
Michigan. The e1orts made 10 countefact hs influence
resulted throwing him out OF the uated states senate
Of which he had been one OF the chief ornaments for
many years He was Immediately appointed BY NJ.
Buchanan Secretary Of state, ssd continued IN thai
capacity until Is60, when he resigned in disgust at til.
incompeencv OF Mr. Buchanan, and the lack OF energy
| and yigor displayed by him. Nc retired to Detroit
| where he has ever since remained in retirement
Mr. Cass was very wealthy worth probably two mil
lions OF dollars, and lived in good style jefferson
street IN that city He was slwsys simple in his habits
and Manners with perhaps slight anectaon Of the too
intensely democratic 10 his style % living socially he
ths companioushIp Of the young and for certain hAr
iousness, which never deserted him. Though fond
library aud pictures were among b,s be., be.
! loved companions Ho had largo collection
OF choice productions from the pencils Of ancient and
| while he was Minister 10 France One Of the most in.
srcstns o. these art faties naf finished picture by
West, % tho ,ssnng OF The Triy of Paris, that ter.
minated The Revolutionary war fiyc hsarss are out
lined on the canvas Ira. Kiln Jay, iaarcns and the
| allow West % complete the lictrre
HIS son, Major Lewis Cas-, has his fathers taste for
hc fine arts ard during his loug solourn In Rome NJ
| Minister there, he acquired many gems which were
until lately kept ia splendid gallery and which
| open the public, at certain seasons, daily.
| Among the treasures Mayor Cass collected 10
| antique marble Of lirs sizn, erhGined from
Roman excavations. Another painting Of
the Saviour. wearing the Of thorns, from the
pencil OF Guido II is OF his recognized mas
erpleees which, 10 his WILL he left 10 church IN Rome
| During the revolutionary tnmults Ia Rome this church
saved from destruction by Minister Cass personal
nterpostion The monks presented him the picture a.
| a mark Of their gratitude.
The wealth OF eDera Cas- resulted from the
In the value Of his estate IN Michigan purchased IN 1878
II consisted OF tract u land mile square, upon which
acres which, though they ha within the limits of The
city, have no houses or stores bult upon them. For
| this properly he lately taxed a yalua.
| tion OF two hundred thousand doiar. VI !.
| man of business objected but when he went
before the 10 make hs objection good he found
land broker present who offered him t40o 900 IN Cash
for the properly, and had largo sum of money 10 bis
hand . proof that he meant What he said A. the
land vii be worth V the GcncrAls grandchildren three