public safety, to crush them at once, I never entertained a doubt. I have seen, with the greatest satisfaction, that among those who have distinguished themselves by their fidelity to their country, on the occasion of the enterprise of Mr. Burr, yourself and the legislature of Ohio have been the most eminent. The promptitude and energy displayed by your State, have been as honorable to itself as salutary to its sister States; and in declaring that you deserve well of your country, I do but express the grateful sentiments of every fellow-citizen in it. The hand of the people has given a mortal blow to a conspiracy, which, in other countries, would have called for an appeal to arms, and has proved that government to be the strongest, of which every man feels himself a part. It is a happy illustration, too, of preserving to the State authorities all the vigor which the constitution foresaw would be necessary, not only for their own safety, but for that of the whole.

In making these acknowledgments of the merits of having set this illustrious example of exertion for the common safety, I pray that they may be considered as addressed to yourself and the legislature particularly, and generally to every citizen who has availed himself of the opportunity given of proving his devotion to his country.

Accept my salutations, and assurances of great consideration and esteem.

(Signed,)

His Excellency, Gov. TIFFIN.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Few transactions, in any country, ever excited a greater sensation than this alledged conspiracy of Aaron Burr. The crime charged was of the deepest dye; and, if successful, of incalculable consequences. The accused was a person of the highest eminence, both for talents and political position. Conspicuous persons were implicated in the supposed plot, and the party violence which marked the period, mingled itself into conflicting opinions, which these transactions naturally created. And when Mr. Burr was arrested, and was arraigned for trial, the public scanned, with eager curiosity, every step in its progress. At this day, it is difficult to reconcile the efforts of Mr. Burr with the dictates even of common sense. To judge by his projects and arrangements, he must have been a very over-rated man. He never had the slightest chance

of success, and became a mere adventurer, whose designs were unredeemed by great plans, or by corresponding intellectual power to carry them into effect. Mr. Jefferson supposed that his aim was to separate the Western from the Eastern States; one of the most ridiculous projects that ever entered into the head of man. Mr. Jefferson, like every body else, deceived by rumor, supposed there was a very extensive conspiracy, whose ramifications were artfully combined, and spread everywhere. His impressions may be gathered from the authority he gave to Gov. Tiffin, to remove every postmaster west of the mountains who should be reasonably suspected of being unfriendly to the unity of the nation.

The President was not an inattentive spectator, or indifferent to the result of Mr. Burr's trial. It resulted contrary to his expectations, and such was his chagrin, that he and Chief Justice Marshal, who occupied the bench on the trial, at Richmond, Virginia, never spoke to each other afterwards. Of a far different character were his feelings towards those who had the firmness and civil courage to aid the government in exposing the conspiracy, and baffling a project which was generally believed to be of a revolutionary character, having, for its ultimate object, the division of the federal Union. His confidence in the integrity and patriotism of Mr. Cass was such, that in the succeeding year of 1807, he tendered the latter the office of United States marshal, for the State of Ohio; and his warm friendship to Mr. Cass continued unabated to the end of his days.

Mr. Cass was somewhat reluctant to accept the appointment, lest the discharge of its duties might interfere with his professional business. Michael Baldwin had held the office for several years, but he became addicted to inebriety, and the President was unwilling to continue him any longer. Mr. Jefferson had such a horror of this vice, that he upon one occasion remarked, that if he was to serve his term of office over again, his first inquiry always should be, whether the applicant for office was liable, from habit and association, to become a drunkard.

More on account of the source from whence the office came, and the kind manner in which it was offered, than for its limited. emoluments, Mr. Cass accepted it, and qualified for the discharge of its duties. He continued to practice his profession for several years successfully at Zanesville, and in consequence of holding an office under the general government, he was not again returned

to the legislature of Ohio. He was employed as an advocate in many important cases. It was during this period of his life, a question arose in Ohio, which was much discussed, and upon which public opinion was divided, and occasioned intense excitement among the people. The point at this day may appear ridiculous, but it was then of vital interest.

It seems now to be universally conceded, that the supreme judicial tribunal in each state, has the right to determine in the last resort, the constitutionality of a law. Such was not the doctrine at the time of which we speak. Judge Todd, of the Supreme Court, and Judge Pease, president of a circuit, were both impeached for deciding that an act of the legislature, giving certain jurisdiction to justices of the peace, without a trial by jury, was unconstitutional. Believing that the doctrine maintained by the legis lature that the judiciary have no right to determine the unconstitutionality of a law-would be fatal to liberty, by rendering the law-making power an unlimited one, in common with some other members of the bar, Mr. Cass volunteered to defend the judges. They were acquitted, and this dangerous heresy, of the omnipotence of a legislature, soon disappeared. But during the progress of the discussions arising out of the matter, there was great agitation in the State; and, at one time, the prospects were alarming. The trial lasted many days. The legislature retained some of the ablest and oldest lawyers in the State. Mr. Cass brought to the case great legal research and industry. His argument was unanswerable, and carried conviction to the minds of his hearers. This effort, the cause for which he plead, and the triumphant verdict, extended his professional reputation among the people all over the State.

CHAPTER II.

Indian Confederacy- -Tecumseh and the Prophet-Relations between the United States and Great Britain-Governor Meigs' Proclamation-War of 1812-Mr. Cass' Views-Volunteers his ServicesCommissioned Colonel-His Speech to the Troops at Dayton-Its Effect-General Hull-Plan of Campaign-Rendezvous at Urbana-March to the Maumee-Hardships and Trials-Declaration of War-Disaster on Lake Erie-Council of War-Colonel Cass advises Invasion of Canada-Disinclination of Hull-Advice of Colonel Cass adopted-Passage of Detroit River-Landing in CanadaHull's Proclamation-Colonel Cass urges Prompt Movement on Malden-Hull's Delay-Colonel Cass visits Malden with Flag of Truce-Return to Camp-Leads a Detachment against the EnemyThe Engagement at the Aux Canards-His Heroic Conduct-His Report to Hull-Colonel Cass' Courage-Hull's Timidity.

In the summer of 1811, the people of Ohio were alarmed at the appearance of a hostile confederacy among the Indians on the north-western frontier. Menacing preparations had been discovered, under the direction of the renowned chief, Tecumseh, and his twin brother, Elskwatawa, surnamed the Prophet. These two remarkable savages belonged to the Shawanese nation, distinguished for its warlike predilections. Tecumseh was the master spirit, and took upon himself the departments of war and eloquence, success in these being the direct road to eminence and chieftainship; but in order to hold enslaved the minds of his countrymen, by their strong bent to superstition, Elskwatawa invested himself with the attributes of a sacred character. Pretending to be favored with direct and frequent communications with the Great Spirit, by tricks and austerities, he gained belief, and drew around him the awe-struck Indians from great distances. It was generally believed that secret agents of the British government were continually inflaming their passions and prejudices against the whites, representing that the latter were mere intruders, and picturing to the minds of Tecumseh and the Prophet, the scheme of dividing between them, not only the sovereignty of the Shawanese, but that of all the border confederacies. Signs of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain began. to loom up in the distant horizon, and were freely commented upon, by the paid stipendiaries of the crown, around the council fires. The brothers, watching these signs, and believing that an opportunity would soon occur, were collecting their followers on the Wabash, in the Territory of Indiana. William H. Harrison, then governor of that Territory, was directed to march against

them with a military force, consisting of regulars, under the command of Colonel Boyd, united with the militia of the Territory. He met them at Tippecanoe, and defeated them. This event occurred on the 7th of November. Tecumseh was absent, stirring up the various tribes, and calling upon them to unite with him in the great war dance against the settlers on the frontier.

In the meantime, it became more and more evident that the peaceful relations between the United States and Great Britain would soon terminate in open war. Congress, upon its assembling, authorized the President to call on the governors of the States for detachments of militia, to an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand, and to accept the services of any number of volunteers, not exceeding fifty thousand. As it was probable that the frontiers, bordering on the British Provinces, would be the principal theater of hostilities on land, the first attention of the general government was directed to their defense. Ohio was called upon for its quota of men for the service, and in April, 1812, Governor Meigs issued his proclamation in answer to the call, appealing to the patriotism of her citizens, and ordering the troops to rendezvous at Dayton. This military force was to be raised, as well to act against the British in Canada, if there should be war, as to suppress hostilities from the Indians, in the Territory of Michigan.

But as even in the purest atmosphere there always will be found some noxious vapors, so among the people of America there were some, at this great epoch of our country, who questioned the propriety or necessity of thus early raising an armed force. They were fain to believe that wrong motives were ascribed to the Indians; that the alledged interference of secret emissaries, in the pay of King George, was a bugbear, and a war between the two countries a chimera. Not so thought Mr. Cass. But feeling keenly the insult meditated against the glorious standard of his country, and ardently attached to the democratic institutions of a republic, and having no sympathy with those to whom a war with England was an eye-sore, he was not to be deceived by their clamor, or diverted from his duty by their hypocritical cry against the impiety of a resort to arms. He believed that a war with England was both just and necessary; and closing his law office and his lucrative business, he hastened to volunteer his services in the force which was called out. The appeal of the government