CHAPTER XI.

Gov. Cass' opportunities for acquiring knowledge of the schemes of diplomatists-His success in thwarting their plots against the welfare of his countryHis return to the United States-The reception given to him by the people of Boston-Letter from Gen. Jackson-The welcome extended to him by the citizens of the towns and villages through which he passed on his journey to Detroit-His letter to the Committee of the Democratic Convention of IndianaGen. Cass regarded by the people as a Candidate for the Presidency-Public opinion, The annexation of Texas-Gen. Cass' letter advocating annexation, The Baltimore Convention of 1844-Gov. Cass' letter read in that Convention-His name withdrawn for the sake of union and harmony-Nomination of James K. Polk-Gov. Cass supports the nomination-Meets his fellow citizens in various parts of the country and advocates the election of Mr. Polk-Great Democratic victory.

Gov. Cass from his position in public life has enjoyed opportu nities of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the schemes and plans, formed by European Cabinets to promote their particular aggrandizement. His accurate perception and tact has enabled him on more than one occasion, to frustrate the deep laid and well disguised plots of the most celebrated and able diplomatists of Europe. Men of all political parties in the United States, with some few exceptions, have been forced by the palpable, self evident benefits derived from his services, to award to him the credit of obtaining them, when from political prejudice, they would gladly have withheld their admission. The gratification of receiving an approving voice from his political opponents, has been enjoyed by Gov. Cass, to an extent, unequalled in the career of any other eminent citizen of the Republic, since the days of Washington.

He was greeted on his arrival in this country, by the applauding voice of his countrymen, without distinction of party. He was regarded and treated as the man of the nation. His "faithful services and energetic proceedings at an important crisis in his distinguished mission" to use the language of the citizens of Boston, had endeared him to every American heart, whose feelings sought expression in some public acknowledgement of their gratitude. There was all over the country a spontaneous exhibition of admiration and esteem, for the man who unawed by the

potentates of the old world, stood forth, even then unsustained by his own government, their single opposer, when they attempted to interpolate in the maritime law of the world, their selfish conceptions of their own interests, involving an outrage upon the American flag, and an infringement of the rights of American Seamen. It was truly a sublime spectacle, and the people loved to picture it before them, when the plain and unostentatious representative of this free Republic, at the proudest Court of Europe, surrounded by the noble, and learned, and experienced ministers of the Great Powers arose in the might of the great principles he advocated and said to them in the thunder tones of an American freeman "my Country will have none of this-she will never submit to have her ships stopped on their course by any or all of the nations of the world."

The following letter signed by numerous distinguished citizens of the New England Metropolis is but one of hundreds of similar expressions of public opinion.

"BOSTON, Dec. 7, 1842.

SIR-The undersigned citizens of New England, would congratulate your Excellency on your safe return to your native country after your faithful services and energetic proceedings at an important crisis in your distinguished mission; and respectfully request that you will give them and their fellow-citizens an opportunity of expressing personally the high respect which your public career and private virtues have uniformly inspired.

"Returning as you do with the approbation of that generous people, who were the first, and for a long time, the only friends of our fathers, we should prefer that the meeting should be at such a time as would suit your convenience, in Faneuil Hall,-the spot in which of all others, Americans would desire to welcome her deserving ones.

"We are, with sentiments of the highest consideration, your Excellency's most obedient servants.

It is a remarkable fact, and one which so seldom exists in the career of public officers, that it excites our surprize when it occurs, that in regard to Gen. Cass no objection was ever made to the manner in which he conducted the most difficult and intricate functions of the numerous offices, which he filled. Seven times in succession and under four successive Presidents, he was nominated Governor of Michigan, and seven times confirmed by the United States Senate without a single vote against, or a single represen

tation against him from the hardy pioneers over whom he presided.

The venerable occupant of the Hermitage, whose personal interest in the success of Gov. Cass, was amply satisfied by its results, addressed the following letter of warm approval to the Gov.

To the Hon LEWIS CASS :

HERMITAGE, July 1843. My Dear Sir:-I have the pleasure to acknowledge your friendly letter of the twenty-fifth of May last. It reached me in due course of mail: but such were my debility and afflictions, that I have been prevented from replying to it until now; and even now it is with difficulty that I write, In return for your expressions with regard to myself, I have to remark, that I shall ever recollect, my dear General, with great satisfaction, the relations, both private and official, which subsisted between us, during the greater part of my administration. Having full confidence in your abilities and republican principles, I invited you to my Cabinet; and I can never forget with what discretion and talents you met those great and delicate questions which were brought before you whilst you presided over the department of war, which entitled you to my thanks, and will be ever recollected with the most lively feeling of friendship by me.

But what has endeared you to every true American, was the noble stand which you took, as our minister at Paris, against the quintuple treaty, and which, by your talents, energy, and fearless responsibility, defeated its ratification by France-a treaty intended by Great Britain, to change our international laws, make her mistress of the seas, and destroy the national independence, not only of our own country, but of all Europe, and enable her to become the tyrant on every ocean, Had Great Britain obtained the sanction to this treaty, (with the late disgraceful treaty of Wash ington-so disreputable to our national character, and injurious to our national safety) then, indeed we might have hung up our harps upon the willow, and resigned our national independence to Great Britain. But, I repeat, to your talents, energy, and fearless responsibility, we are indebted for the shield thrown over us from the impending danger which the ratification of the quintuple treaty by France would have brought upon us. For this act, the thanks of every true American, and the applause of every true republican, are yours; and for this noble act I tender you my thanks.

Receive assurance of my friendship and esteem.

ANDREW JACKSON.

In the principle cities and towns of the Union, the presence of Gov. Cass, created a desire among all classes, to see and talk with the man who had by his straightforward advocacy of freedom and republicanism, drawn the claws from the feet of the British Lion. His visit to Washington, immediately on his return, created great

sensation there, not only among the the people, but among the leading politicians of the land. They saw, the future President of the United States. They felt, that sooner or later, Lewis Cass, would be the Chief Magistrate of this Union. Remaining in Washington until nearly the close of January, Gov. Cass then left on his journey homewards to Detroit. His route was through Pennsylvania and Ohio, in accordance with the expressed wishes of the citizens of those states, who wished to receive and take by the hand, the man who led their volunteers to war in 1812, and who, thirty years afterwards, again baffled the same foe against the liberties and rights of his country, whom he assisted, to overthrow on the banks of the river Thames. His route was one continued scene of triumph, the more grateful as it was the spontaneous, unsolicited oblation of gratitude and esteem, to one who was then a private citizen, without the attractions or the power of high official station. As Gov. Cass approached the boundaries of his own state, the people became enthusiastic in their preparations to receive him. The municipal authorities, and literary and mechanical associations, united with private citizens, to show, in an impressive and becoming manner, their appreciation of the benefits, they as citizens had received from his services.

The citizens of Detroit were stimulated by emulation in their arrangements for his reception. A committee proceded by rail road to meet the Governor at Ypsilanti, and escort him to the city. They arrived at the depot in Detroit, on the fourteenth of February, about two o'clock in the afternoon. Here they were met by a large concourse of citizens, who, with the Governor of the state, members of the legislature, the military and civic associations had assembled to welcome home, their friend and fellow citizen. The proceedings were alike creditable to the people, and gratifying to the object of their attentions. Dr. Houghton, the Mayor of Detroit, in behalf of the citizens, received Gov. Gass, with an appropriate address, to which the Gov. replied in a beautiful and touching manner, alluding to his early connection with Michigan, when though he had the misfortune to behold a foreign flag replace that of our own upon the site of our beautiful city, it was permitted him in the Providence of God, to aid in the expulsion of the enemy and erect again the national banner over our city and strait. He spoke

of the fortitude and fidelity of our early citizens, in braving the evils of those times, and in adhering to their country, when the woes of that period, when danger and suffering and death, were the consequences of their allegiance. Briefly and pertinently touching upon other topics, connected with the history of Michigan, and called to his mind by the scene before him, in contrast with what he had seen and experienced, when war had scattered destruction throughout this region, when the inhabitants were dispersed and impoverished, when there was not a church nor school house, nor a court house, nor a bridge, nor a road in the whole country; when the best part of the territory was in possession of the Indians-he spoke of the welcome his countrymen had given him after seven years absence from his native land. With an emotion that betrayed how deeply he was affected by the congratulations of his friends, he remarked, "from the time I set foot upon my native shore at Boston, to this last manifestation of good will I have to acknowledge the spontaneous proofs of regard, every where shown to me, and the recollection of which will disappear, but with the termination of life."

At the conclusion of the ceremony of reception, Gov. Cass was escorted by the Battalion of Frontier Guards, and a long procession of citizens, to his rooms at Dibble's Exchange.

Circumstances pointed to Gov. Cass, as prominent among the number of eminent statesmen of the country, from whom the selection of chief magistrate would be made. But little more than a year would elapse before a Presidential election would occur. During his absence, several questions of public policy had arisen, upon which the people were divided in opinion, and in regard to which he had enjoyed no opportunity of expressing his views. Having consented, at the earnest entreaty of many influential and patriotic citizens, to become a candidate for the highest office in the gift of the people, he had no reluctance in frankly and openly declaring his opinions. He was addressed on the subject, by a prominent democrat of Michigan, in a letter, containing interrogatories in regard to the leading measures which then agitated the public mind. To this letter he replied with promptness, and in a clear and comprehensive manner laid before the people of the Union his political sentiments. This declaration of principles is a cate