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interrupted him as follows； to wit：
〃Mr。 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。〃
In Niles's Register； vol。 lxxiii。； p。 293； there is a letter of
General Cass to _______Nicholson； of Nashville； Tennessee； dated
December 24； 1847； from which the following are correct extracts：
〃The Wilmot Proviso has been before the country some time。 It
has been repeatedly discussed in Congress and by the public
press。 I am strongly impressed with the opinion that a great
change has been going on in the public mind upon this subject；
in my own as well as others'；and that doubts are resolving
themselves into convictions that the principle it involves should
be kept out of the national legislature； and left to the people
of the confederacy in their respective local governments。。。。
Briefly； then； I am opposed to the exercise of any jurisdiction
by Congress over this matter； and I am in favor of leaving the
people of any territory which may be hereafter acquired the right
to regulate it themselves； under the general principles of the
Constitution。 Because'First。 I do not see in the Constitution
any grant of the requisite power to Congress； and I am not
disposed to extend a doubtful precedent beyond its necessity；
the establishment of territorial governments when needed；
leaving to the inhabitants all the right compatible with the
relations they bear to the confederation。〃
These extracts show that in 1846 General Cass was for the proviso
at once； that in March； 1847； he was still for it； but not just
then； and that in December； 1847； he was against it altogether。
This is a true index to the whole man。 When the question was
raised in 1846； he was in a blustering hurry to take ground for
it。 He sought to be in advance； and to avoid the uninteresting
position of a mere follower； but soon he began to see glimpses of
the great Democratic ox…goad waving in his face； and to hear
indistinctly a voice saying； 〃Back！ Back； sir！ Back a little！〃 He
shakes his head； and bats his eyes； and blunders back to his
position of March； 1847； but still the goad waves； and the voice
grows more distinct and sharper still； 〃Back； sir！ Back； I say！
Further back！〃and back he goes to the position of December；
1847； at which the goad is still； and the voice soothingly says；
〃So！ Stand at that！〃
Have no fears； gentlemen； of your candidate。 He exactly suits
you； and we congratulate you upon it。 However much you may be
distressed about our candidate； you have all cause to be
contented and happy with your own。 If elected； he may not
maintain all or even any of his positions previously taken； but
he will be sure to do whatever the party exigency for the time
being may require； and that is precisely what you want。 He and
Van Buren are the same 〃manner of men〃； and； like Van Buren； he
will never desert you till you first desert him。
Mr。 Speaker； I adopt the suggestion of a friend； that General
Cass is a general of splendidly successful chargescharges； to
be sure； not upon the public enemy； but upon the public treasury。
He was Governor of Michigan territory； and ex…officio
Superintendent of Indian Affairs； from the 9th of October； 1813；
till the 31st of July； 1831a period of seventeen years； nine
months； and twenty…two days。 During this period he received from
the United States treasury； for personal services and personal
expenses； the aggregate sum of ninety…six thousand and twenty
eight dollars； being an average of fourteen dollars and seventy…
nine cents per day for every day of the time。 This large sum was
reached by assuming that he was doing service at several
different places； and in several different capacities in the same
place； all at the same time。 By a correct analysis of his
accounts during that period； the following propositions may be
deduced：
First。 He was paid in three different capacities during the
whole of the time： that is to say（1） As governor a salary at
the rate per year of 2000。 （2） As estimated for office rent；
clerk hire； fuel； etc。； in superintendence of Indian affairs in
Michigan； at the rate per year of 1500。 （3） As compensation and
expenses for various miscellaneous items of Indian service out of
Michigan； an average per year of 625。
Second。 During part of the timethat is； from the 9th of
October； 1813； to the 29th of May； 1822 he was paid in four
different capacities； that is to say； the three as above； and； in
addition thereto； the commutation of ten rations per day；
amounting per year to 730。
Third。 During another part of the timethat is； from the
beginning of 1822 to the 31st of July； '83 he was also paid in
four different capacities； that is to say； the first three； as
above （the rations being dropped after the 29th of May； 1822）；
and； in addition thereto； for superintending Indian Agencies at
Piqua； Ohio； Fort Wayne； Indiana； and Chicago； Illinois； at the
rate per year of 1500。 It should be observed here that the last
item； commencing at the beginning of 1822； and the item of
rations； ending on the 29th of May； 1822； lap on each other
during so much of the time as lies between those two dates。
Fourth。 Still another part of the timethat is； from the 31st
of October； 1821； to the 29th of May； 1822he was paid in six
different capacities； that is to say； the three first； as above；
the item of rations； as above； and； in addition thereto； another
item of ten rations per day while at Washington settling his
accounts； being at the rate per year of 730； and also an
allowance for expenses traveling to and from Washington