Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-25

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
WASHINGTON, ID. c, March 2&th. is-6

n.
To the Editor Of The Epeysiso Star:
Dear Sir: Sometime since you published
an anonymous communication rejecting
upon the character and conduct, personal
and Official, OF the late Gen. Lewis Cass,
DISTINGUISHED statesman OF the past whose
memory Is held In high respect wherever be
was personally known, And highest among
his immediate townsmen, regardless OF
party, who knew him best, as man of I'M
spotted integrity. Thegrave charges OF your
correspondent are read mainly by q genera
ton which knows nothing OF our dead states
man except nom history, and which unfor-
tunately, In view OF disclosures OF the pres
emit tirhe, is ready To give quick credence TO
unfounded accusations. inclose nom the
against a venerated name. written by a gem
tleman OF Detroit Of the highest social posi-
ton, whose statements, among those who
E SgHw be- e's fidelity to truth
ask you 10 publish this article as an act OF
justice due 10 the personal friends OF a de
parted statesman whose name fills a large
space I'm his coun'rys history.
Very respectfully, A. s. WILLIAMS.
NJ. {. LIST Dist. Mich.
TO me Editor Of ne DETROIT Pos:
The Post of March n contains this state
ment, transferred from Washington paper:
"A Leaf from History. Gen. Lewis CasS.
after Gen. jackson, was the great 'thunderer'
OF the party. Under Gen. Jackson, Cass was
Secretary OF War. Cass' collection as extra
ganization OF a company of spectators in
western lands are notorious. AS Secretary
OF war, Cass had advantages which no mere
citizen could have. He had opportunities OF
securing for his company a MONOPOLY of the
most choice tracts OF land; TO learn when
they would be put on the market; TO secure
mem, then 10 raise the price, and 10 sell
them 10 purchasers forced to buy. II is well
Known that in Western land speculations
CaSs amassed his whole fortune"
The statement co1tains one small grain of
TACT, the purpose application OF which has no
ore element OF truth.
No one probably knows more OF the private
business affairs OF Gen. Cass during his Alb
SERGE from here In the War department and
IL France than i, who represented and con-
Quoted them through that period, and have
o oeen IN most CONFIDENTIAL relations with him
The collection" was for authorized public
expenditures and pay, made by the depart
ment 10 which they belonged. upon the Gus
Iomary examination and passing of his ac-
counts, himself then in no position TO affect
the result, outside ofhis vouchers, and what
ever the Responsibility, IL belonged 10 the dc
Inc speculation" was a combination OF
ten gentlemen 10 provide funds for the pur-
chase OF pnblic lands in open market, con-
ulbuting each $4,000 They apl cintei as
their agent the late Mr.. Kerchevat. The par
ties were. Mr.. Owens, OF Georgi A; Hubbard,
OF New Hampshire; Webster, of Massachu-
SETS; Davis, OF Massachusetts,; MeSsrs.
Loves, Massachusetts; Butler, OF New York:
Cass, OF Michigan; McHenry, OF Maryland,
and two others, whose names are not now re-
L
and and Mr.. Van Buren,.
The land was purchased at exorbltant
prices aud divided. The subsistence OF india
non prices was 10 great that the share OF
Cass sacrificed the $4,000 his land wassaba.l-
doned and sold for taxes. The "raising OF
prices was made on the original purcha sers,
and not by them, and the sale TO purchase
"fOrced 10 buy" becomes conundrum, for
the forced" purchasers were the tax title
bidders.
There is not word OF truth in The asser-
" in VIA farp
speculation, outside OF the Cass farm. The
law OF the territory required property quail
lncatlon OF the governor OF lana OF the value
OF $1,000 He was urged by the proprietor TO
buy this farIl, bought IL aud gave his note
for one quarter OF the purchase money, which
was S12 eco. The FARM com pretended three
original French farms, being in an arpenis
wide by 80 erpentS deep, q total of $50 arpents
TIE subdivision of this farm produced more
than 600 lots. The front. about ten acres,
was sold for 800 OOO. The residue, being
over 1900 lots, was subdivided, and lots sold
at prices raj ging from IS. 600 10 $500. Very
litle arithmetic is needed to arrive al the
result.
When he returned from France ne haa no
other fortune, and owing 10 the inability OF
purchasers to pay for lots bought on that
farm" his means were crippled.
The other suggestions. half inSinuation
and half allegation, are too vague and in-
consequent 20 assume the form OF a tangible
statement. They belong TO the class of as
sertions that accused Washington of charg-
ing the government that he M gratuitous l5
served up TO the point OF achieving its indie
pendence more for his cash disbursements
than he actually paid, and of overdra wing
his salary.
No man in Michigan, and no man In De-
troit, ever did mole TO promote the material
interests OF state and city than did General
Cass. What these services and benefits
were ii is easy TO state in no short catalogue,
but every one is not called on TO produce
proof that he is not a fraud. None who have
known him Intimately, but know, that by
no act OF his private life did he ever stain
the escutcheon OF his personal honor. Aud
no man has received larger compensations
OF injustice and viilification, born OF pure
"cussedness," than he. 1t is the common
heritage OF public men in this country, be.
slowed and entailed upon them by the rest
less agencies OF jealousy, envy and blind
partisan violence, reckless alike OF truth
and decency, and the preaching of apostles
OF the doctrine that call is fair in politics"
Detroit, March Is, 1876. T.. A. BRUSH.