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

| Mr.. BELL said: Mr.. President, am admonished
by the proceedings Of the morning, and the remar
| of the honorable Senator from Texas, (Mr. HoUs-
TONI 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 10, in my judgment,
neither appropriate nor well timed | shall be
compelled 10 treat the subject, to some extent, AS
others have treated it, however alien to my feelings
and views of strict propriety. . cannot hear alu-
slons and commentaries made, from day TO day,
upon the course and conduct of high officer of
| the Government, in whom have confidence, with
whom l 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, Mr. President, that per-
ceived no peace would be made with the Republic
of Mexico by the late administration without fur
| tber acquisition of territory, l, in common with
others, had pretty clear perception of the dissen
| sons likely to grow out oti and, from the date of
the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidago, there were two
| points in the policy which it became the Govern
ment 10 pursue, if we would preserve the harmony
and perhaps the peace Of the country which, in my
judgment, were cardinal and imperative: first, that
| all the questions connected with the new Terrific
ries should be adjusted speedily as 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 not satisfied with what was called the
| Clayton compromise bill In addition to the OBJ
|
| bad policy OF throwing upon the judicial depart
nient OF the Government the responsibility Of decid
! 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 assuming
a 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 thi. floor, that the extraordinary
OF bringing these Territories into the Unon State
Sates and allowing the inhabitants to settle for
themselves the question of slavery slavery,
their interests and sentiments should dictate, was
Justihabe, under the heextraordinaryc in
the condition OF the country, and the only measure
our power to adopt, which promised to accomplish
the twoiod duty OF giving TO these Territories the
immediate protection OF an organized civil govern
ment, and OF repressing the growing dissensions
between the North and the South, and at the same
time violate no principle OF the Constitution, and
no well settled sentiment of right or 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
have DONE desire those gentlemen of the last Con
gress who agreed with me upon this subject, but
whose names do not 50 appear upon record, to bear
| that fact IN mind
As to my Individual opinions upon this subject,
and as TO the mode of settling these distraclng
questions which would be satisac tory me, never
having had any confident hope or expectation that
slavery would, under any circumstances, find its
way into these Territories, any plan of ad lustmenl
which involves violation OI Constitutional priIl-
| ciples, and which promises to Civ. general satis-
faction to the country, would be acceptable 10
! With these limitations, | am free TO give my sup
port to any arrangement, matter by whom sug
gested or brought forward, and would be the last
10 seek to ombarrass any plan of jusunent which
held out reasonable hUpe of restoring harmony TO
the country, by insisting upon any iayUrte nlCa-
sure OF my own.
With regard TO the particular measure now be-
fore the Senate, have up to this moment remained
! uncommitted 10 IT, as the distng guished chairman
Of the select committee Mr.. Clay knows. lhave
| listened with the greatest patience and the most
respectful attention TO almost every word and
tent 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 for those propositions 70 amend the
| bill which, in the judgment Of its most ardent
supporters, were calculated TO recommend il TO the
favor oi the Senate and the country, and against
those which 1t was supposed would prejudice its
chances ior success. have, at the same time, ,'vo-
ted against the separation Of the several propositions
united in this bill, having scruples 10 the pro-
priety OF uniting several distinct propositions in
the same bill, whena great public good Is proposed
| to be accomplished by it, however opposed such a
course may be TO general parliamentary law and
usuagc. But while have thus contributed TO
tam the measure, II has at no time met my cordial
| approval. have been rather actuated, in my
course, by the hope that il would yet assume a
shape which would recommend IL more strongly
| both TO my own judgment and 10 that OF the coun-
| try, than by any particular favor or paruality TO
its provisions as they now stand
The country, MIR President, desires and expects
come adjustment Of these distracting 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 no scheme of
settlement which IL Is in power 20 adopt can Sc
cure entire satisfaction aud harmony. but what
! ever we do should hold 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 IT
TO my hearty support but, sir, cannot be led into
an unhesitating and Jealous support Of this Inea-
sure, by the otrcpeated and confident declarations
OF its more ardent friends that IL will quiet the dis
sensions and restore harmony to the country, when
see all around me, la the Senate, in the country
in the public press, the elements Of continued ag,-
tation and discord, the evidences OF renewed con
flicts the subject Of these territories. What
rational hope can be ndulgcd thata measure which
is scarcely able q the support of majority
of either branch OF Congress, which is opposed with
equal hcrccncss and obstinacy by n respectable
portion of the representatives OF both North and
south, will bring thathealiug upon its wings which
its friends have so confidently predicted OF iH The
cry is peace! peace give US tins measure and the
interrupted harmony of the country will be re-
stored but, sir, fear there will be no peace, no
permanent concord and harmony, whatever lullug g
influence the adoption Of this measure might have
Tor Tune, upon the surglng Clements oil popular
opinion and sentiment, North and South.
II is well known, MIR. President 20 my particu-
lar friends, that the plan Of adjustment reported
by the select committee was regarded by me as dc
bccnt in comprehcnsivcuCss that il assumed d
basis of settlement in regard to these Territories
too and restricted secure the great obIect
OF permanent peace and harmony In my opinion
sir, IL should have embraced every question con
nccted with these Territories, including Texas
All ground of future, as well present dscord
should be removed. Permit mc TO say, Mr.. Prcsi
dent, that had cherished the hope that those gen
tlemen who, from the commencement of this scs
sion, have taken the lead upon this great subject
would have extended their views far beyond tn,
range of the present measure; that far com
prcnensive and permanent scheme would have beer
instured by them. | had right to expect this
from the honorable Senator from Mississippi, (Mr
FooTE,) to whose indefatigdble energies and tai
cnts indebted for the Committee of Thir
teen. had a right to expect this from the disun
guished gentleman from Michigan, (Mr CAss, >
whose enlarged and liberal views upon many points
connected with this subject elected my admiration
bad right to expect this more particularly from
the honorable and distinguished Senator from Ken
lucky, (Mr. CLAT,) whose advent among us wa
beraided by the annunciaon of his purpose TO brins
his rpoexperience great namc and influence to son
plan Of adjustment that would compose these un