Elberton, Ga., June 5th, 1848.
Dear Sir: The
last mail brought us the news of Gen. Cass's nomination, and with it came a
whig paper charging him with having voted for the Wilmot Proviso. My
recollection of the facts is this, the Proviso was attached to the three
million bill in the House and sent to the Senate where on motion to amend it
was struck out, Gen. Cass voting for the striking out. In this shape it was
sent back to the House and passed without the Proviso. If my memory serves me,
this was the only time the question ever came up in the Senate and Gen. Cass
recorded his vote in favor of the South. Please send me the Senate journal
showing all his votes on the question. I am under so many obligations to you
for favors of this kind that I dislike to trouble you, and wish you to attend
to my request only in case it be convenient. The Democrats here are highly
gratified with the nominations and are prepared to give them a united support.
Cass in my humble judgment is a perfect embodiment of progressive democracy as
opposed to what the Whigs call conservatism, which in plain English means
putting the people in ward, to save them from their pretended ignorance and
folly; and the question is not only between free-trade and protection, but also
whether we shall govern ourselves or have guardians. Cass went for 54.40, is
now for the acquisition of Mexican territory, free trade, the independent
treasury, and hates the British; and therefore must be worthy of democratic
suffrage.
SOURCE: Ulrich Bonnell Phillips, Editor, The Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911, Volume 2: The
Correspondence of Robert Toombs, Alexander H. Stephens, and Howell Cobb, p.
107
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