The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-20
General Lewis CaSS.
ES.o,,, 56s Obf,,ooo Pep,tbJiC0pI

S4In year III Lu6 Vi LID uCSCdoCs
Lewis remained at Exeter until 1893,
4 when he went to Wilmington, DEL,
4 finding employment there as teacher.
| In October, 1900, he removed to Mari
eta, Ohio, where he entered on the
study of the law, and was admitted to
II the bar in December, 1902. He soon
Il after established himself at GAINESVILLE,
Il where In 1905, he married Elizabeth
Il Spencer In the same year Mr.. Cass was
\ elected member of the Ohio Legisla-
ture, 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 chosen
Colonel of the third Regiment of Ohio
Volunteers, and proceeded with his
men to Detroit, reaching there early in
July. The American troops ut that
point soon after marched into Canada;
the proclamation issued on that occa-
sion was written by Col. Cass. In a
skirmish, July IL, at bridge across
the Aux Canards River, Col. Cass drove
the British from their position. Shortly
afterwards the u. S. forces recrossed to
| Detroit, which point, with the Territory
of Michigan, was surrendered, August
I6, by Gen. Hull, to the British Gen.
Brock. At the time of the surrender,
| Col. Cass was absent with detach-
ment, but was included in the capitu-
| lation, and, when asked TO give up his
sword, Indignantly broke the blade and
threw it away. He was Paroled, and,
| going to Washington, gave the first
| official account of the campaign to the
public. In January, 1913, he was ex-
changed, and about the same time was
commissioned as Colonel in the regu-
lar service. In March of the same year
he was further promoted to the rank OF
| Brigadier General, and joining Gen.
| Harrison's army, bore his share in the
| M of (nnn Proctor and the victory
| of the Thames. He was then placed in
command at Detroit, and shortly after
was appointed Governor of the Terri
tory of Michigan.
In June, 1915, Gov. Cass removed his
family to Detroit, and the next year
purchased there tract OF land for
which he paid 1000, and the value of
which is now estimated at millions.
Gov. Cass was er-OUiciO Superintendent
of Indian Affairs for the Territory,
which included what now constitutes
the States of Michigan and Wisconsin,
and ultimately his superintendency
was made to embrace all the tribes
| northwest OF the Ohio. Upto his resig-
nation ofthe Office of Governor, in July,
1881. he had conclued nineteen treaties
with the Indians, by which cessions
had been acquired in Ohio, Indiana,
| Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, to
an amount equal to nearly or quite
States. 3
When President Jackson reconstruct
ed his Cabinet, in August, 1881, Gen.
Cass was appointed Secretary OF War.
In 1886, he exchanged that position for
the Ambassadorship to France. He
was on excellent terms with Louis
Philippe, of whose character he gave
n very favorable report in his liking,
| Court, and Government of France"
By far the most remarkable incident of
his diplomatic career occurred near It's
close, in February, 1912, in his attack
on the quintuple treaty (betWeen Great
| Britain, France, Russia, Austria, ana
| Prussia, y for the suppression of the slave
trade. He protested against the treaty
as an attempt to interpolate new doc
trine into international law. Louis
Philippe cid not venture to ratify the
treaty, and it fell to the ground
The course adopted by Gen. Cass in
this matter met the approval of Presi-
dent Tyler; but the Ashburton treaty,
negotiated shortly afterwards, was re-
| parded by the General as substantial
| " a disavowal of his protest, and he
accordingly resigned his Embassy, re-
| turning home at the close of 1872.
In 1874, Gen. Cass was candidate
| for the Democratic nomination for the
Presidency, and, on the seventh ballot
| in the National Convention, received
| "a votes more than Mr.. Van Buren,, the
principal opposing candidate, but still
short of majority; After the eighth
| Mr. Van Buren We're withdrawn, and
on the ninth ballot James X. Polk was
| nominated.
Shortly after Mr.. Polk's election,
Gen. Cass was chosen United States
senator from Michigan, taking his seat
himself conspicuous on the Oregon
question, then matter of dispute with
| Great Britain. He insisted upon the
maintenance, Mt all hazards, of our
claims as far north as 81 degrees 40
minutes. The dispute was soon settled
| by u treaty made and ratified in spite
| of the opposition of the General.
| AS the Mexican war approached II
conclusion, his famous Nicholson letter
made its appearance. This letter, dated
| Dec. 24, lSl7, proposed to keep the ques-
| ton of slavery or its prohibition in the
| territory to be acquired from Mexico,
| out of Congress, by setting up for the
Legislatures of the territories an eX-
| elusive right of determining their own
domestic institutions.
| In 1913, Gen. Cass was nominated for
| President, on the fourth ballot, by the
| Democratic National Convention. he
| failed, however, TO secure an election,
Gen. Taylor defeating him by 36 cleo
| toral votes.
| Gen. Cass, on being nominated for
| the Presidency, had resigned his seat in
the Senate, but was elected, in June,
| l349, for the remainder of the term he
had resigned. In 1850 he was Il mem-
| Der of Mr.. Clay's Compromise Com
mittee, and supported all the measures
which emanated from it. He was re-
| elected as Senator from Michigan, for
the term of six years from March 4,
1851.
At the Democratic National Conven-
ton in May, 1852, Gen. Cass was again
| n candidate for the Presidency, but af-
| ter a struggle of five days and forty
nine ballots, Franklin Pierce was Sc
In 1884, Gen. Cass voted for the Kan
| sas- Nebraska bill of Senator Douglas,
Land, on the night of its passage, took
| occasion to congratulate the Senate on
the triumph OF the doctrine of squatter
| sovereignty, as enunclatedln his Mich
! olson letter.
In the Democratic Convention in
| 1856. Gen. Cass was no longer candi-
i date for the Presidency, beyond receiv-
ling "A few scattering votes. Upon Mr..
| Buchanan's entering into othee, IN
| March 1857, the General received from
| State, which office he retained until
| Dec. Ia, 1860, when he resigned in con-
1 sequence OF dissatis faction at the course
of the President in the difficulties with
From that time until his death, Gen.
\ Cass lived in retirement mt his home in
\ Detroit, constantly evincing deep
| seated interest in the progress of the
4 struggle for the suppression of the re-
lbellion, and a complete confidence in
tile ultimate triumph of the cause OF
the Union. H5 5e.-.-7 as. -lf-1a
In manners, Gen. Cass was courteous;
in habits, simple; in bearing, dignihed.