But there is as much doubt of Cass on improvements as there is of Taylor
on the proviso. 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.
Now this is taking the subject precisely by the wrong end. Particularity
expending the money of the whole people for an object which will benefit
only a portion of them--is the greatest real objection to improvements,
and has been so held by General Jackson, Mr. Polk, and all others, I
believe, till now. But now, behold, the objects most general--nearest
free from this objection--are to be rejected, while those most liable to
it are to be embraced. To return: I cannot help believing that General
Cass, when he wrote his letter of acceptance, well understood he was to
be claimed by the advocates of both sides of this question, and that he
then closed the door against all further expressions of opinion purposely