Miller expressed his great surprise at the change in the sentiments
of the Senator from Michigan, who had been regarded as the great champion
of freedom in the Northwest, of which he was a distinguished ornament.
Last year the Senator from Michigan was understood to be decidedly in
favor of the Wilmot Proviso; and as no reason had been stated for the
change, he [Mr. Miller] could not refrain from the expression of his
extreme surprise."
To this General Cass is reported to have replied as follows, to wit:
"Mr. Cass said that the course of the Senator from New Jersey was most
extraordinary. Last year he [Mr. Cass] should have voted for the
proposition, had it come up. But circumstances had altogether changed.
The honorable Senator then read several passages from the remarks, as
given above, which he had committed to writing, in order to refute such a
charge as that of the Senator from New Jersey."
In the "remarks above reduced to writing" is one numbered four, as
follows, to wit:
"Fourth. Legislation now would be wholly inoperative, because no
territory hereafter to be acquired can be governed without an act of
Congress providing for its government; and such an act, on its passage,
would open the whole subject, and leave the Congress called on to pass it
free to exercise its own discretion, entirely uncontrolled by any
declaration found on the statute-book.
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