The Life and Times of Lewis Cass

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-Profes Bional Life-His Marriage-Blennerhasset-Aaron Burr-Elected Member of the LegislatureBarr'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 infal lible 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

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