The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-06-27
Two Political PatTiarchs Gone.

lW0 L GIitletti L aGfiafCUS JULIE
Within the past week we have heard OF
the almost simultaneous deaths Of the Hon.
Lewis Cass, of Michigan, and the Hon. ".
W. seaton, Of Washington City, Two
patriarchs, one from each of the former po-
litical parties ofthe country, of nearly the
same hge, who have witnessed the progress
Of tie Republic almost from It's birth to the
present time, have passed away from Earth
amid the chaos, gloom and uncertainty
which now enyelop their beloved country
!" They haTerested from their labors and
their works do follow them
General CASE has filled no inconsiderable
space in the public estimation for more
than half o century past. He was born in
New Hampshire in the year 1852, the
same year as Calhoun, Webster, Benton
Van Buren,, Woodbury. and c. J: Ingersoll
giants all, who have long since passed of
the stage of action and left the signet
marks of their talents on the pages Of their
country's history. General Cass emigrated
to the great West, then a wilderness, before
he had attained his manhood lin 1902 we
believe) and it was there that his character
was developed, and the principal services
to his country rendered. He was for some
| time Governor of the North West Terrific.
ry. and in that capacity first gave evidence
of that administrative ability on which bis
fame as statesman principally rests
When the war broke out between Great
Britain and the United States in 1872, he
volunteered his services and was conspicu-
Gus for, the zeal with which he applied him
self to the defense of his country's insu.ted
honor. Present at the cowardy surrender
of General Hull, he broke his sword in a
st of indignation at the dastardly conduct
of his superior officer.
Rising to eminence as a statesman he
filled successfully the Offices of Secretary
of War and Minister to France under
General Jackson--a sufficient proof of his
ability, and Of the orthodoxy Of his Dem
ocracy. He did not appear in the Legisla-
tive Halls CT the nation until he had
reached an advanced age, his election to
tie Senate from the State of Michigan in
1916 being the first time that he ever oc-
cupied seat in either house of Congress.
His speeches, therefore, form but a com
paratively small portion of the political
literature Of the country. In the year
l848 he resigned his seat having been COM
plimented by the reception Of the Demo
cratic nomination for the Presidency ofthe
United States. The popularity of General
Taylor, who had just emerged so success
fully from the Mexican war, and the defec-
ton Of Mr. Van Buren,, who embraced the
opportunity to vent his indignation on
General Cass for the passage of the two
thirds rule which excluded himself from the
nomination by the Democratic Convention
in 1914, caused bis defeat for an Office on
which his heart had been set for some time.
After bis defeat General Cass was returned
to the Senate to fill bis own vacancy, and
was reelected on the expiration of his
term of. his service. On the incoming
of the Buchanan administration he
his seat to accept the Office Of Secretary of
State nnder his old friend, served as such
through the Whole term, and at the end of
it on the 4th Of March, 1861, closed his
long and eventual political career. During
the late unfortunate contest we heard but
little Of him, and are therefore ignorant Of
81 = p 4-4 Fas
the part he took in the war against the
Southern States. Doubtless, like every
body else as the North, he had something
to say in praise of the @old flag" and the
preservation of the best government thu
world has ever Seen" But we do not be
lieve that his heart ever was in the contest
or that he deemed war the best means o
preserving the union and harmony Of thu
States. He doubtless would have lament
ed the destruction Of government, t.
whose greatness he had contributed 81
much, but wefmistake theImau if he woult
not rather have pursued conciliatory pol
| icy towards the South, and have endeavor
ed to preserve, the Union without the de
struction Of that sectfon, whose confaepc
he had SO long enjoyed. cr.f,
General Cass' mind was not of the high
est order.a His speeches were general.
prosy, tiresome to listen to, and dull in tn
reading. Colonel Benton once SAID he hat
cut him for the simples." But his soun'
Judgment, his good practical sense aud hi
integrity as raan and a statesman, served
to acquire for him a deservedly high AM
commanding position in his county. Fo
many years past he has enjoyed the pos
session Of an immense estate, which ha
enabled him to dispense those charitie
and Inequalities which have made him S
! beloved in those circles where his virtue
are best known. He has now fallen flu
ofyears and full OF honors, and has eS
changed 1.-The noise and confusion y c
party strife and worldly contentious 70
I'VE hope) the peaceful serenity and happi
ness Of a better world.
1 Although Colonel Seaton may not hay
filed so many high Offices as General CAS-
yet he was as widely known, exercised a
n y y i