The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-03-03

ut the birth Of the federal govern.
ment in 1889. Nav Hampshire
WAS the ninth state to ratify the
constitution ard give it life. Said
Cass TO James A. Garfield in 1851;
"fou remember. young man, that
the constitution did not take effect
NATL niue states h I'll ratified it,
Ny native state was the ninth. II
hung a long time in doubtful scale
whether nine wonld agree, bu,
mhen, at last, New Hampshire
ratified the constitution, it was &
day Of great rejoicing. My moth.
er held NE, Il little boy of 6 years,
ia her arms at the window, aud
pointed me to the boDfirts that
we're blazing in the streets of Exc
ter {his bir,hplace) aud told me
that the people were celebrating
the adoption Of the constitution
SO | saw the constitution bOrD,n
he concluded, in the anguish m
spirit that possessed him at thu
outbreak Of the civil war, 81 fear
may e it. die.".
1t was fortunate for Michigan
that Lewis Cass found his way to
tie west. He was a colonel iu the
war of 1912. an it is said, stood
in the bow If the first boat that
crossed the Detroit river into the
hostile territory Of the British.
Whether the story is trne or not,
it illustrates the zaal aud energy
Of the man. He was a Democrat of
Jefferson ileas, aud it was Jsf'.r.
sou who drst pnt him into national
politics. He made him United
States marshal in 1912, though
Madison made the appointment.
Cass got iuto politics before he
was scarcely of age. He was All
Ohio legislator before he arrived
at The statutory age Of 81; but that
did not deter him, for be served
his term. Cass became governor
Of the territory of Michigan in
1913. Prof. A. q. Mclaughlin, Of
The University of Michigan, Who
has written u critical biography Of
Of Cass for the American States
men series, gives him great credit
fur Americanizing the state, which
was uuder French in1nence. He
WAS bold, active, quick aud nnre
letting iii opposing British iatrn.
sion. He was AichiRau's terrific
rial governor until 1881. In that
year he became secretary of war
by the nomination of President
Andrew jackson.
Cass was a JacAsonian Demo.
crat. The circumstances ofhis en-.
try to the cabinet are interesting.
John Il. Eston WAS Jacksoh's frat
appointee. But Eaton's .. wife
brought some sort Of scandal with
her into Washington society and
it disrupted the cabinet, aided by
tho Calhoun influence, of which
Jackson was suspicious. Mrs. Gal
Aoun refused to recognize Mrs.
Secretary Eaton as her social
equal, aud refused to meet her rs
such. Other cxhinet wives did
likewise. Martin Van Buren,, the
bachelor Secretary of State, ad-
ded to the troubles by sticking up
for Mrs. Eaton.
"Old Hickory" made as much
fuss over the little scandal ~ he
did over the Hremoval Of the de.
posts" OF the South Carolina null.
lificatiou act. He got 80 stirred
up that he threatened to send home
the Minister to Holland and his
wife because The latter would not
sit beside Mrs. Eaton at tho Rus.
sian Minister'S ball. Urder such
pressure tue jackson cabinet dis
solved and Lewis CasS came in,
the first man from Michigan TO
have a voice in the Presidents
council. He served JACKSON in
the cabiuet until 1886, when he
was sent AZ Minister to FraDce be-
cause of i'll health.
While he was there, England,
France, Russia, and Prussia and
Austria entered into the quintnple
treaty aud Cass made his vigorous
protest.. Tue point Of the treaty
that Cass did not like WAS the