The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-19
TIL E REP U BLIC.
SPE &C H
OF
MIR. BELL, OF TENNEssEE,
On the Compromise Bill,
IN SENATE, JuLY s, 1850.

In SENATE, July 8, 1850.
| The Senate having under consideration the bill
for the admission of California into the Union the
establishment Of territorial governments for Utah
| and New Mexico. and making proposals u Texs
for the establishment Of her western and northern
boundaries-
And Mr. BELL, having addressed the senate as
was published in this paper Of the 9th and 7lhinst
he continued as follows:
| MIR. PRESIDENT: Upon careful consideration o.
the condition Of the country at this iunctwe, and
OF the intrinsic difficulties of the deeply interesting
questions now presented for our decision, concur
IN the sentiment Of the honorable Senator from
Michigan, (Gen. CAss) agree with him .hat we
have arrived at point of time in our history which
will constitute epoch, to which the future histo
rian will refer, and from il deduce tie causes o
our decline as nation, or Of increased prosperity
and grandeur. But fear that may weary thu
1 Senate.
| SEVERAL SENATORS. "Oh, non' "Go on!'' acc
ont"
| Mr. BELL. do not know that can say any
| thing further worthy the attention Of honorabl
Senator's; but have had a desire to present come
general views suggested by, yet not directly con.
| uected with the subject, which have appeared tc
| me as deserving attention. am 80 ditGdent, how
ever, OF presenting my opinions what may be
considered abstract, or merely speculative 9ues
tons, to the Senate, that it would perhaps be as
well to cloee my remarks here.
SEVERAL SENATORS. $50 onl' $50 on!''
MIR. BELL. IL desired TO corroborate the senti.
ment expressed by the honorable Senator from
| Michigan, Mr.. CAss,) on former day. He said
that we had arrived at period in history thai
would be marked..as an epoch, from which future
historians might dcduce the causes of decline or OF
increased prosperity. agree with him. am not
sure that do not consider the present crisis OF
| graver interest than, from his manner should
| suppose him to regard it. And if could have the
| indulgence of the Senate in turning over n few
pages of our past history, every one of which re-
gard as replce with valuable instruction and eve
! ry one OF which would De sufficient foundation
! for an elaborate speech, should be gratifsd
think, MIR. President, that, although some have
said that there ID no danger to be apprehended from
| the present condition of affairs, and others have
| cndeavored TO create panic. there is danger,
which ought not to be unheeded think that the
destiny of the republic, for good or for ALL does
depend, and in no slight degree, not OILY upon
what we may do now, but also upon what we may
fail to do.
| Sir, no man who loves his country, no man who
has any just pride in the reflection thit he is an
American citizen, but must desire that these dis
sensions should cease; for, sir il s mere ques-
ton whether we shall preserve the Union, for that
may yet prove no great boon either to ourselves
| to posterity The question is, not whether these
States shall continue TO be united according TO the
letter OF the covenant by which they bound to.
getber 1t is, whether they shall continue b be uni.
! ted IN heart; whether they shall contnae TO be
practically and efficiently co operative il carry
fling out the great end of the association The
! question IL, whether mutual trust and confidence
shall continue TO animate and encourage mu-
| tual efforts IN promoting and multiplying COM
| mon benefits; whether mutual hatred and
dlstrust shall step in 10 check all progress to dis
tract and coniound all Joint endeavors for hs com.
mon welfare; in fine, to entail upon the country
all the evils Of endless discord. This IL the ques
! ton And when you present that issne TO me-
say at once, give me separation; give me disunion
! give Inc any thing IN preference TO Mon
! tanned only by power, by constitutional and lcga
ties, without confidence. II our future career is tC
be one OF eternal dlscord and Of angry elimination
| ms RAT wi
/ NIL ITS consequences. If | am 10 be at peace,
let il be peace in reality; and if am to be at war
I let me know II at once, that may put my house
! in order, and be ready to meet the consequences.
So, sir, if could dictate the course of Congress in
the pending difficulties, would saw let the adjust
ment be made IN the real spirit of concession
! promise and concilaton. Let US have some as
suranCe that the promised ha rmony shal be perma
nent stay this agitation; allay this burning fever
! that threatens 10 consume the system Terniu -
! thls suspense, which is more intoerabc than sn
! open rupture. II we of the South hare made up
our mnds 10 yield nothing; To endure nothing; or
! II better spirit actuates us, and prepared
both TO yield something and endure something, aud
! yet cannot bring our northern brethren 10 a. y
terms OF Just and equitable arrangement, and tuey
wlll continue to vex and harass ua, now auI for
ever, let resolve, and let them suffer us u man
age our own affairs in own way. But trust IL
viii never come TO this ssue.
Sir, TO suppose that there il one member Of this
! body who is not ready TO sacrifice, 10 ConcCdc
fomcthing Of his individual sentinens and opn
ions 10 secure an adjustment of these questions
were he untrammced by plcdgos, TO which he may
owe his position here, and which he may not vio-
late without dishonor-to suppose that there is one
/ man here from the North or the South, who il not
prepared TO sacrifice his individual views 10 the
good OF his country, were he free 10 do ~, i 10
! suppose him utterly unworthy Of tic station he
holds. To suppose that there is one member Of this
body, who, upon a cold and selfish calculation OF
personal adve ncement. would insist upon extreme
issues, Is to suppose him a wretch who does not
deserve 10 live.
sill it cannot be disguised that the questions 10
be decided arc beset with dffcultics aud embar-
rassmeuts ON every side. Whatever way We turn,
we are met by obstacles and opposing interests and
influences. To state some Of the more prominent
Of these interests and influences, may bc of use
now, in our attempt 20 compose these distracting
questions; and If We should happily succeed in our
ciOs TO give present quiet TO the country, II may
prove OF some advantage 10 those Who come after
us, briefly 10 review the causes remote and proKi-
mate, which have prccipitatcd thc present crisis.
take the existence Of the institution OF slavery
IN number OF Contiguous State Of the Union,
composing somewhat distinct and compact geo
graphical group section and the -erisfepcc Of
any such relation institution ia an equal or
greater number Of States, constituting equally
disunct and separate group or sccnon, TO be the
primary causc of the cxistng Z embarrassments and
ulsacnsions. Bot shall assume this ~ be an in
vctcrate and incurablc disease Of our system; one
which cannot be eradcated or removed without alb
solutc destruction. II WIS born in the systcm Il
mas grown up with it; and while the system itscl
lasts, for any thing We can now dcscry in the fu.
turc, II must continue % give rice go occasional
paruSysms of annoyance and disturbance. The
bcst we can do will be so TO accommodate the ope-
ration of the systcm TO this inevitable condition OF
its existence, as to keep down Inflammation.
From the nature Of this inherent element Of dis.
sension, il will BE- readily perceived, that ono o
the most active influences to be encountered by
the statesman who desircs 20 preserve our system
of Government, is the spirit Of lnaticism, rcligi
Gus and phlanthropc. Another, not lcss active
and more powerful for mischief IL the spirit Of PAT
y and the rvalrics and ioslngs Of personal arnbi
ton. Add 10 these, sectional jealouses-the iCal.
! ousies Of sectional sway and ealouses
sprnging, in part, from economical considera-
tons naturally incident 60 a country OF such vast
extent, and of somewhat distinct productive capa.
city and adaptation r. jeoousies Of free and slave
labor, incident 10 the distinct and different socia
relations in the two soctions-and we have before
a general outline of the causes which have pro
iuccd the present Disturbances, and Of the obsta-
clcs and influences which exist 10 prcvcntany sat
siactory adjustment Of them.
propose 20 trace briefly the operation of these
elements of discord, during period in which ma
ny of the most distinguished men now on the stage
Of public life were conspicuous actors. | propose
20 confine myself far as possible to statement
Of faots leaving Senators TO make their own de
ductions and commentaries.
MIR KrSe. Of Alabama As the day is oppres-