I have no doubt myself of General Cass on this question;
but I know the Democrats differ among themselves as to his position. My
internal-improvement colleague [Mr. Wentworth] stated on this floor the
other day that he was satisfied Cass was for improvements, because he had
voted for all the bills that he [Mr. Wentworth] had. So far so good. But
Mr. Polk vetoed some of these very bills. The Baltimore convention passed
a set of resolutions, among other things, approving these vetoes, and
General Cass declares, in his letter accepting the nomination, that he
has carefully read these resolutions, and that he adheres to them as
firmly as he approves them cordially. In other words, General Cass voted
for the bills, and thinks the President did right to veto them; and his
friends here are amiable enough to consider him as being on one side or
the other, just as one or the other may correspond with their own
respective inclinations. My colleague admits that the platform declares
against the constitutionality of a general system of improvements, and
that General Cass indorses the platform; but he still thinks General Cass
is in favor of some sort of improvements. Well, what are they? As he is
against general objects, those he is for must be particular and local.
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