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Lewis Cass and the Politics of Moderation
Drawing upon Lewis Cass’s voluminous private papers, correspondence, and published works, Willard Carl Klunder provides the first comprehensive biography of the man who was the Democratic spokesman for the Old Northwest for more than half a century. A champion of spread-eagle expansionism and an ardent nationalist, Cass subscribed to the Jeffersonian political philosophy, embracing the principles of individual liberty; the sovereignty of the people; equality of rights and opportunities for all citizens; and a strictly construed and balanced constitutional government of limited powers.
Cass was a significant player in American politics, from the Burr conspiracy during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, through the Trent affair of the Lincoln administration. During his career, he served as a prosecuting attorney, state legislator, federal marshal, army officer, territorial governor, secretary of war, minister to France, United States senator, and secretary of state. More than any other individual, he was responsible for the growth of Michigan from a frontier territory to the threshold of statehood.
Aptly names the “father of popular sovereignty,” Cass championed this doctrine that provided an expedient solution to the volatile question of slavery expansion for a decade. A vehement opponent of slavery, Cass supported the right of citizens in each state or territory to decide the question for themselves.
Klunder presents a balanced and insightful look into the character and career of this significant 19th century Michigan politician. Lewis Cass emerges as a bright symbol of antebellum nationalism and political moderation. Lewis Cass and the Politics of Moderation will be of interest to anyone concerned with American biography, White-Indian relations, and the coming of the Civil War.
Cass was a significant player in American politics, from the Burr conspiracy during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, through the Trent affair of the Lincoln administration. During his career, he served as a prosecuting attorney, state legislator, federal marshal, army officer, territorial governor, secretary of war, minister to France, United States senator, and secretary of state. More than any other individual, he was responsible for the growth of Michigan from a frontier territory to the threshold of statehood.
Aptly names the “father of popular sovereignty,” Cass championed this doctrine that provided an expedient solution to the volatile question of slavery expansion for a decade. A vehement opponent of slavery, Cass supported the right of citizens in each state or territory to decide the question for themselves.
Klunder presents a balanced and insightful look into the character and career of this significant 19th century Michigan politician. Lewis Cass emerges as a bright symbol of antebellum nationalism and political moderation. Lewis Cass and the Politics of Moderation will be of interest to anyone concerned with American biography, White-Indian relations, and the coming of the Civil War.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1995
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About the author
Willard Carl Klunder
5 booksA specialist in American antebellum history, Willard Carl Klunder was associate professor of history at Wichita State University. Klunder earned a B.A. in history from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and a master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 28, 2018
Lewis Cass for many reasons is one of those forgotten 2nd rank statesmen who are barely remembered if at all in this 21st century. Some will know him as the Democratic candidate for president in 1848 who lost to Zachary Taylor, probably because former president Martin Van Buren
ran as the Free Soil candidate that year and took enough votes in key states like New York to tip it
to the Whigs and Zach Taylor.
He was not the most glamorous of candidates. As he grew older he grew more ponderous. Never
any kind of orator in the Senate representing Michigan from 1845 to 1857 his speeches were as ponderous as he was. An advocate of moderation and compromise with the south to preserve all
precious union today he would be looked at as truckling to evil. Most in the ante bellum America
never saw slavery as a moral question so he was no different than most of his fellow citizens.
Professor Klunder goes into some detail concerning his first official civilian position after army
service in the War of 1812. Cass was Governor of the Michigan Territory post the War of 1812 up to
1831 and as such reigned something like a Roman governor over Empire Territory. In his hands
were the plenipotentiary power to negotiate treaties with the Indian tribes which were respected
while he was in that office, to establish settlements, to enforce laws. In fact Cass himself drew
up the Territorial constitution that governed Michigan until it was admitted to the Union in 1837.
Cass never had to deal with the slavery issue there because Michigan was part of the old Northwest
Ordinance Territory where slavery was forbidden even before the Constitution was ratified. Cass
also due to his service against the British in the War of 1812 was also a lifelong Anglophobe, seeing
British stirring up the Indian tribes as they were wont to do earlier in our history.
He also was held in such esteem that he was never questioned in his conduct by four presidents
whom he served under, Madison, Monroe, Quincy Adams, and Jackson. It was to Jackson's Cabinet
he went to as Secretary of War and it was the Democratic party whom he gave his allegiance to
from then on.
He also served as our Minister to France in 1836 to 1844 and after a try for the Democratic nomination was elected to the Senate from Michigan.
His last position was as Secretary of State for most of the Buchanan administration. At the time
Cass was approaching 80 and not real with it any more. Buchanan made him Secretary of State
afer Michigan which was turning solid Republican didn't re-elect him. It was to solve a political
problem for Buchanan which I won't go into. Cass was nothing more at this point than a figurehead and Buchanan himself who was a former Secretary of State ran the department through
underlings. Cass resigned however as a point of principle toward the end when Buchanan refused
to reinforce Fort Sumter and other southern military installations. Until his death in 1866 Cass
was a strong backer of the Union and Abraham Lincoln's efforts to save it.
The book gets into the real character quite well of Lewis Cass who if not great was as good a statesman back in the day as you got in America.
ran as the Free Soil candidate that year and took enough votes in key states like New York to tip it
to the Whigs and Zach Taylor.
He was not the most glamorous of candidates. As he grew older he grew more ponderous. Never
any kind of orator in the Senate representing Michigan from 1845 to 1857 his speeches were as ponderous as he was. An advocate of moderation and compromise with the south to preserve all
precious union today he would be looked at as truckling to evil. Most in the ante bellum America
never saw slavery as a moral question so he was no different than most of his fellow citizens.
Professor Klunder goes into some detail concerning his first official civilian position after army
service in the War of 1812. Cass was Governor of the Michigan Territory post the War of 1812 up to
1831 and as such reigned something like a Roman governor over Empire Territory. In his hands
were the plenipotentiary power to negotiate treaties with the Indian tribes which were respected
while he was in that office, to establish settlements, to enforce laws. In fact Cass himself drew
up the Territorial constitution that governed Michigan until it was admitted to the Union in 1837.
Cass never had to deal with the slavery issue there because Michigan was part of the old Northwest
Ordinance Territory where slavery was forbidden even before the Constitution was ratified. Cass
also due to his service against the British in the War of 1812 was also a lifelong Anglophobe, seeing
British stirring up the Indian tribes as they were wont to do earlier in our history.
He also was held in such esteem that he was never questioned in his conduct by four presidents
whom he served under, Madison, Monroe, Quincy Adams, and Jackson. It was to Jackson's Cabinet
he went to as Secretary of War and it was the Democratic party whom he gave his allegiance to
from then on.
He also served as our Minister to France in 1836 to 1844 and after a try for the Democratic nomination was elected to the Senate from Michigan.
His last position was as Secretary of State for most of the Buchanan administration. At the time
Cass was approaching 80 and not real with it any more. Buchanan made him Secretary of State
afer Michigan which was turning solid Republican didn't re-elect him. It was to solve a political
problem for Buchanan which I won't go into. Cass was nothing more at this point than a figurehead and Buchanan himself who was a former Secretary of State ran the department through
underlings. Cass resigned however as a point of principle toward the end when Buchanan refused
to reinforce Fort Sumter and other southern military installations. Until his death in 1866 Cass
was a strong backer of the Union and Abraham Lincoln's efforts to save it.
The book gets into the real character quite well of Lewis Cass who if not great was as good a statesman back in the day as you got in America.
Displaying 1 of 1 review