Gen. Cass protests to the French Government-Notifies the Secretary of State- Treaty not Ratified-His Course approved by the President-The Protest to the Disappointment of England-The Washington Treaty-Gen. Cass resigns his Mis- sion-The Correspondence-England's Construction of the Treaty,...... 435 Gen. Cass retires from the French Court-Public Dinner-Arrival at Boston-En- thusiasm of the People-Their Address to Gen. Cass-Arrival at New York- Public Demonstration-Letter of Mr. Dickerson-Gen. Cass's Reply-The Pub- lic Press-Arrival at Washington-Tour to Detroit-Reception at Home,.. 481 Private Affairs-Gen. Cass's Pecuniary Troubles-His Wish-Named for the Presi- dency-Letter to the Indiana Committee-The Cincinnati Meeting-Gen. Jack. Gen. Cass delivers an Oration at Fort Wayne-The Celebration-Preparations for the Presidential Election-The Candidates-The Texas Question-Gen. Cass's Views-The National Democratic Convention of 1844-Letter of Gen. Cass to the Delegates from Michigan-The Whig Convention-The Democratic Ticket- The Oregon Question-Gen. Cass addresses the Senate-His Opinions-Extracts from his Speech-His Reply to Col. Benton-The Treaty of Oregon-The Sen- National Fortifications-Unsatisfactory Relations with Great Britain-War with Mexico-The Three Million Bill-The Sabbath-Wilmot Proviso-President's Recommendation - Gen. Cass advocates Appropriations - Extracts from his Speech-For Vigorous Prosecution of the War,.................. Prospects of Peace-The Three Million Bill again-Wilmot Proviso again-Gen. Cass on the Proviso-Peace with Mexico-The Nicholson Letter-Its effect on Harbor Appropriations—Views of Gen. Cass-The Chicago Convention-The Famous Letter-Gen. Cass's Official Acts for Harbor and other Public Improvements- Foreign Governments-Gen. Cass's Sympathies with the King-ridden People-Aus- trian Intercourse-Gen. Cass favors Suspension-Extracts from his Speech-Ire- land-The Distress of the People-Gen. Cass moves an Appropriation in their behalf-His Relations with Mr. Polk's Administration-Yucatan,.... The Baltimore Convention of 1848-The New York Difficulties-Gen. Cass again Named for the Presidency-His Nomination-Resigns his Senatorship-The Canvass before the People-The Buffalo Convention-The Clay Letter of 1825- Re-election to the Senatorship-Gen. Cass proceeds to Washington-Reception in New York City-Campbell P. White and others Address him-Invited to a Public Dinner-His Letter of Declension-In the Senate again-Wilmot Pro- viso-Instructed to vote for it-Declines-Instruction repealed-Gen. Cass's Motives Impugned-Charged with Inconsistency-The Refutation,........ 662 Opposition to the Compromise Measures-California-Public Meeting in New York -Gen. Cass Present-What he said to the People-How they received it-Re- Gen. Cass again at his Post-Preparations for another Presidential Contest-Gen. Cass a Candidate-His Friends-The Nominating Canvass—Baltimore Conven- tion--The Result-The Cuban Question--The Views of Gen. Cass,...... President Pierce-His Inaugural-The Nebraska-Kansas Bill-Gen. Cass's Position, Views, and Votes-The attack of Col. Benton-Gen. Cass repels it-His Speech Gen. Cass's Aversion to everything British-The Second War-The Clayton-Bul- wer Treaty-The Homestead Bill-The Employment of Indians-The Anglo- French Declaration-Slavery again-Legislative Instructions-The Senator's Reply-Know Nothingism-Age of Gen. Cass-His Habits-Residence--Death of Mrs. Cass-Gen. Cass's Private Affairs-His Property-His views of the LIFE AND TIMES OF LEWIS CASS. CHAPTER I. Introductory-Birth of Mr. Cass-His Ancestors-His Father in the Wars-His Parents emigrate to Ohio-Mr. Cass' Education-Exeter Academy-His Disposition-The Everetts and Daniel Webster -His Health and Amusements-Dependent on his own Resources-Goes South-His Residence in Delaware-School Teaching-Success-Views of Slavery-Crossing the Alleghanies-Stops at Marietta-Acquaintance with Judge Meigs-Reads Law-Mr. Baccus-Admission to the Bar-Professional Life-His Marriage-Blennerhasset-Aaron Burr-Elected Member of the LegislatureBurr's Conspiracy-Mr. Cass' Action-Mr. Graham-President Jefferson-Mr. Cass appointed Marshal-His Success as an Advocate-His Politics-An Important Question-Impeachment of Judges-Mr. Cass' Argument. The lives of individuals furnish materials for a history of the nation. Fullness and authenticity are secured, if the events which chequer the career of the actor are compiled during his lifetime, fresh from memory. If the history of a nation is worth preserving, it is not essential to pause for the purpose of considering the propriety or necessity of such compilation, especially if the leading incidents are intimately connected with the development of the growth and prosperity of the country. The student who reads to gain a mere information of events, as well as the philosopher who lays deep the foundation of knowledge, accomplish their several purposes with far greater satisfaction, if, instead of being confined to cursory glances and meagre generalities, they can go behind the curtain and behold and study at leisure all the objects, scenes and details, which fill up the panorama of society, and expose to their gaze the springs of change and government. The following pages will disclose to the reader a minute and true history of the life and character of an eminent citizen of the American Republic. Having occupied, for fifty years, a prominent and highly influential position among his fellow citizens, and taking an active and responsible part in the bold and progressive movements of society, the government, and the world, strange indeed would it be if he had not encountered many tempestuous seas and experienced the ill-will of rivalry and ambition. Never backward in a manly expression of his sentiments upon all topics submitted to his consideration-whether pertaining to individuals, the community in which he lived, or the nation at large- his motives and actions have frequently been subjected to the severest canons of criticism. But time unravels all things; and conscious of the rectitude of his own purposes, and willing to be tried by this infallible test of truth, he has moved on in the career of life with undisturbed serenity, until he has attained a lofty position in the annals of his country. In the village of Exeter, in the State of New Hampshire, may be seen a small, unpretending, wooden dwelling-house, which has withstood the wear of the elements upwards of three-quarters of a century. It was occupied, in the year 1782, by Theophilus Gilman, and on the ninth day of October, in that year, in this house, Lewis Cass was born. His ancestors, on the side of both father and mother, Cass and Gilman, were of Puritan descent, tracing their origin to the first settlers of New England, and their names are to be found in the records of the early colonial proceedings. His father, Jonathan Cass, was a fair representative of the substantial yeomanry of New England, who, struggling with the disadvantages of straitened circumstances, and of a very limited education, by the power of intellect and force of character, added to virtuous principles, attain for themselves, by unceasing exertion, an honorable position in life, and only rest from their work until they rest in the grave. While a lad, and indeed until the age of early manhood, he was employed in the severe labors which attended the settlement of the country, and during a portion of it, in cutting logs and making lumber, then the employment of the winter-hard and exposed work-but which furnished almost the only article of exportation, supplying the means of the West India trade. It was a harvest, to be reaped only in the cold season, when the swamps were frozen, and the ground covered with many feet of snow, and when men and cattle were secluded in |