Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

Hon. George Rathbun, a leading Barnburner of our State, (says the New York Tribune,) having, in the late Convention at Utica, denounced Gen. Cass as utterly unworthy of support, Gen. C. publishes part of a letter written to him in September, 1846, by Mr. R. which expressed the highest esteem and regard. Mr. Rathbun explains that when the said letter was written, Gen. C. was openly, notoriously warmly in favor of excluding slavery from any territory which we might acquire from Mexico, and that the letter published by Gen. C. was impelled by a knowledge of that fact. He illustrates:-

"Benedict Arnold was at one time a brave soldier: he was believed to be a true patriot. He rose to the rank of General in the army of the Colonies; fought bravely in defence of the rights of the American people—was esteemed worthy and honest. The American people became attached to him, praised him, flattered him, yet when he went on board the Vulture and deserted to the British Army, and accepted office under the British crown, he was detested by every honest man of all parties. So far as I know, he never published parts of letters written to him before his desertion, to prove the inconsistency of his friends while he appeared an honest man, because they condemned him when he had demonstrated that he was no longer honest, or worthy of confidence."