The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-05
TIL e r e pU B Lie.
SPEECH
OF
MIR. BELL, OF TENNESSEE,
On the Compromise Bill
liz SENATE, July 3, 1850.

Mr. BELL said: MIR. President, l am admonished
by the proceedings OF the morning, and the remark
| Of the honorable Senator from Texas, (Mr. HoUs-
Tos) who has just taken his seat, that this subject
| is, from day to day, becoming more complicated,
and new difficulties interposcd to any harmonious
adjustment. Interests and passions and topics are
introduced and appealed TO, in my judgment,
! neither appropriate nor we'll timed. | shall be
compelled 10 treat the subject, some extent, as
others have treated it, however alien to my feelings
and views Of strict propriety. cannot hear alu-
sions and commentaries made, from day to day,
upon the course and conduct of high officer of
the Government, in whom have confidence, with
whom ! am politically connected, and in whose
character think the country itself has deep stake,
without taking some notice of them in the course OF
remarks which propose to submit.
From the moment, MIR. President, that per-
| ceived peace would be made with the Republic
of Mexico by the late administration without fur
Their acquisition OF territory, |, in common with
others, had pretty clear perception of the dissen
sions likely to grow out OF IT. and, from the date of
| the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo, there were two
points in the policy which il became the Govern
| ment TO pursue, if we would preserve the harmony
and perhaps the peace OF the country, which, Ill my
Judgment, cardinal and imperative: first that
all the questions connected with the new Terrific
ries should be adjusted speedily possible; and
secondly, that the adjustment, when made, should
be final and irrevocable, leaving open questions
to irritate and tester in the public mind For these
reasons was not satisfied with what was called the
| Clayton compromise bill. In addition to the OBJ
lection interposed to my mind, growing out of the
bad policy OF throwing upon the judicial depart
ncnt of the Government the responsibility of decd-
ing question in its nature political, and giving
rise to such intensity of interest and excitement
| believed the adoption OF that measure would only
postpone, TO an indefinite period, the decision of a
controversy which, all the while, would be sumng
| more and more aggravated complexion. Still
the question occurred, upon what plan could these
questions be promptly, finally, and irrevocably set
tied? AT the last Congress brought my mind TO the
conclusion, of which afforded full evidence in de-
bate on th. floor, that the extraordinary measure
OF bringing these Territories into the MON as State
or States, and allowing the inhabitants to settle for
themselves the question of slavery slavery, as
their interests and sentiments should dictate, was
jusitable, under the extraordnary circumstances in
the condition OF the country and the only measure
our power to adopt, which promised to accomplish
the twoold duty OF giving to these Territories the
immediate protection OF an organized civil govern
ment, and of REFRESHING the growing discussions
between the North and the South, and at the same
time violate no principle of the Constitution and
no well settled sentiment of right Justice. As
some hard blows have been dealt against those who
have favored this plan of settlement, and as may
have occasion TO return them with interest before
nave done, desire those gentlemen ot the last Con-
gress who agreed with me upon this subject, but
whose names do not 50 appear upon record, to bear
that fact III mind.
As to my Individual opinions upon this subject
and as TO the mode OF settling these dlstraCling
questions which would be satisfactory TO me, never
having had any confident hope or expectation that
slavery would, under any circums tances, find its
way INTO tncsc lcrrioflcs, any plan OF adjustment
Which involves no violation OF Constitutional pri-
cipics, and which promises 10 give general salts
faction ~ the country, would be acceptable to
With these limitations, am free 70 give my sup
port 10 any arrangement, no matter by whom sug-
gested or brought forward, and would be the last
10 seek TO embarrass any plan of adj ustment which
held out reasonable h0pe of restoring harmony TO
the country, by insisting upon any iayUrite mca-
sure OF my own.
With regard to the particular measure now be-
fore the Senate, have up 10 this moment remained
uncommtted 10 1t, the distng ushed chairman
Of the select committee MIR Clay knows. lhaye
listened with the greatest patience and the most
respectful attention TO almost every word and SEN
ument which has fallen from the lips of the various
gentlemen who have addressed the Senate for and
against the measure. have, in every instance !
believe, voted Tor those propositions 10 amend the
bill which, in the judgment of its most ardent
supporters, were calculated 10 recommend 1t TO the
| favor OF the Senate and the country, and against
those which 1t was SUPP osed would prejudice its
chances Tor success have, at the same time, vo-
ted against the separation Of the several propositions
united in this bill, having no scrupes 10 the pro-
pnety OF uniting several distinct propositions IN
the same bill, when great public good j. proposed
TO be accomplished by it, however opposed such a
course may be 10 general parliamentary law and
usuage. But while have thus contributed 10 sus-
tain the MEASURE, II has at no time met my cordial
approval. ! have been rather actuatcd, in my
course, by the hope that il would yet assume a
shape which would recommend II more strongly
both TO my own Judgment and to that of the coun-
Try uldn ny any particular iaNOr or paruaily 70
It's provisions AS they now stand.
The country, Mr.. President, desires and expects
some adjustment Of these distrRctng questions be-
fore the adjournment of the present session OF Con
gress IL Is natural TO suppose that the mode Of
adjustment which would be most acceptable to one
section Of the country would not be equally so TO
the other and am well aware that scheme Of
settlement which II il In power % adopt can Sc
cure entire satisiaction aud harmony. But what
ever we do should bold out some rational prospect
Of general content and acquiescencc. II the pro-
visions Of the bill under consideration held out this
salutary assurance, that alone would commend II
TO my hearty support but, sir, cannot be led into
an unhesitatlng and jealous support OF this inca
sure, by the olt-rcpeated and confident declarations
of its more ardent friends, that il will quiet the dis
scnsions and restore harmony 10 the country, when
see all around me, in the Senate, in the country
in the public press, the elements Of continued ag
tatiUn and discord the evidences of renewed con
tlicts on the subject Of these territories. Wha
rational hope can be INDUCED that measure which
Is scarcely able u secure the support OF majority
Of either branch of Congress- which IL opposed with
equal hcrccncss and obstinacy by a respectable
portion of the representatives OF both North ans
south, will bring thathealing upon its wings which
it's friends have 50 confidently predicted OF III Thu
cry IL peacel peace give us this measure and the
interrupted harmony OF the country will be re
stored; but, sir, fear there will be no peace, nC
| permanent concord aud harmony, whatever lulliuG
influence the adoption Of this measure might have
for time, upon the surging elements of popula
opinion and sentiment, North and South.
IL ia well known, MIR. President, TO my particu
lar friends, that the plan OF adjustment reportc,
by the select committee was regarded by me as dc
bcicnt in comprehcnsNcuess; that it assumed
basis of settlement in regard TO these Terrtoric
too narrow and restricted to secure the great object
of permanent peace and harmony. In my opinion
a sir, it should have embraced every question con
|, nected with these Territories, including Texas
All ground Of future, well as present discord
: should be removed Permit me 70 say, Mr.. Prcsi
dent, that had cherished the hope that those gen
temen who, from the commencement of this scs
sion have taken tho lead upon this great subject
, would have extended their views far beyond tn
range OF the present measure; that far more com
, prcnensive and permanent scheme would have beei
inaturcd by them. | had right to expect TIN
from the honorable Senator from Mississippi, (Mr
FooTE,) to whose interchangeable energies and tai
cnts were indebted for the Committee of Thir
teen. ! had right TO expect this from the dstin
guished gentleman from Michigan, (Mr. CAss,
whose enlarged and liberal views upon many point
connected with this subject elected my admiration
had right TO expect this more particularly fror
the honorable and distinguished Senator from Ken
lucky, (Mr. CLAy,) whose advent among US wa
beralded by the Of his purpose 70 brn
his ripe experience, great name and inhuence tosom
plan Of adjustment that would compose these un