A man worthy of no small attention was Lewis Cass. Born at Exeter, New
Hampshire, October 9th, 1782. He served in the war of 1812, rising to
the rank of major in the army. He was a school-fellow with Daniel
Webster, became a school teacher at Wilmington, Delaware, and walking
from that place to Ohio, where his parents moved, began the practice of
law in Zanesville in 1802.
In 1806 he married and soon after was elected to the legislature of
Ohio. He performed a most conspicuous part in the Burr trial, favoring
the law which caused the arrest of the supposed conspirator. He became a
colonel in the war of 1812, being included in the surrender of General
Hull, of Detroit, and was instrumental in bringing about that General's
arrest on the charge of cowardice and treason. He was afterward
exchanged and served as aid to General Harrison in the battle of the
Thames. He was appointed military governor of Michigan in the autumn of
1813, having risen to the position of Brigadier General.
In 1815 he purchased for $12,000 the whole plat of Detroit, and the
subsequent rise made him immensely rich. He became Secretary of War
under Jackson in 1831. He next became minister to France in 1842. Three
years after this he was elected United States senator from Michigan, and
resigned in 1848 to become a candidate for the presidency, but a
division in his party caused the election of Taylor. He was then
re-elected to fill the vacancy caused by his resignation, and again
re-elected in 1854 for a full term of six years. He supported measures
favorable to the promotion of slavery notwithstanding the Michigan
legislature had instructed him to vote otherwise. He favored Douglass'
Kansas-Nebraska bill.
He warmly favored Buchanan's nomination and became his Secretary of
State, but promptly resigned when the president refused to reinforce
Fort Sumter; thus closing a career of over fifty years of almost
continuous public service. He, however, gave his support from this time
to the Union and lived to see that triumphant suppression of treason. He
died on the 18th day of June, 1866. He was a man of pure integrity,
great ability, a fine scholar and an effective public speaker. He was
exceedingly generous in all worthy petitions which his great wealth
enabled him to gratify unsparingly. He was also an author of some note.