The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-07-12
Col. RiSsell.

Either the abolitionists who now support
| Col Bisseli are destined to be awfuly cheat
ed, or he is the most arrapt political hypo.
critic and trimmer of the day. The record
of Col. i. while member of congress, com
pared with the professions of the party that
nominated him, are as opposite as day and
night-aS good and bad. Taking 1t for grant
ell that the aboitionists have shamelessly
abandoned every principle they have hitler
TO contcnded for except the single doctrine
that congress ought to prohibit slavery in
the territories he only plank of the Ph;la.
delpha PLATFORM and the record of Col. b.
| is fatty against them on a hundred votes
and in a dozen of speeches. During the
pendancy of the compromise measures of
! 1850, it is well known, the great point OF
difference between the democracy and ma.
| tional men of all parties On one side, an
! the freesoilers and sectionaists on the other,
was in reference TO prohibiting slavery in
the territories recently acquired from Mexico.
The democrats contended for the doctrine
Of non-interyention-of leaving the people
themselves Of those territories free to adopt
or reject slavery as they pleased; the oppo-
site party contcnded for the Wilmot proyi-
so. In all these discussions Col. Bissel was
an active participant, uniformly speaking and
voting for non-intcrvcntion. We could fill
our paper with his speeches in favor OF this
doctrine. The following extract from one
Of them shows the spirit and tone of all
Sir, maintain that the proposition now
under consideration contains principle cor
rect i'll itself and recognized by the people
OF the North, and especially by the Demo
cratic party. Upon the slavery question
they in favor of non-intcrveution and
when they shall he formed, they desire that
the people thereof shall be as free to adopt
such constitution rs they may choose for
themselves, rs were or are the people of
Illinois, or Massachusetts, or South Carroll
ma or Mississippi. The proposition now be-
fore US asserts this propostion-no more. no
less; and, fer the reasons | have given,
ain i'll favor o. it.
The fact is also well known, and can be
proved in 20 instances by reference to the
GloJe, that Col g. supported
throughout and voted on its final passage,
for the .Jugitire SIRE lao.
When, how, and where did Col Bissell 7.
turn his coat? In reference TO the fugitive
slave law-nevcr. In reference to the doc
trine of non-intcrvention, his conversion
dates from the night Of the passage OF the
Nebraska bill in the House. And how was
this brought about: We have on a former
occasion stated that, while the Kansas bill
was pending in Congress Col. Il. professed
10 be for il, that its advocates counted on
IiIn. and how surprised and indignant they
were when On the night Of the passage Of
hat bill the arch political charlatan Went
worth was authorized to say Col. b. was
against the bill. His sudden change is thus
accounted for. Col. Il. is ambitious as I'M
vas pending in the House, the Legislature of
illinois was in session. A L. S. Senator
ras to be elected. Gen. Shields had voted
Or the Kansas bill, and was the favorite
andidate Of the democrats \ few demo
rats in the Senate and House, who hated
Douglas and Shields, conceived the idea that
y getting up BIssel against Shields as an
nti-Nebraska candidate, democratic traitors
nough could be 90, to join with the abo,i-
.oni-ts and .rccsoilcrs to defeat Shields, \
correspondence was opened with Bssli. on
lie subject. We have no doubt the letter
Produced by the Chicago Pros week ago
O prove that Col. 3. was opposed to the
Nebraska bill before the night OF It's passage,
vas part OF this correspondence; and Col
g. il the hope Of being thus elected 20 the
senate, forsook his party and Joined the con
pirators. The scheme, so far as defeating
shields is concerned, was successful; but
he precarious state OF Bissclrs health when
he election of Senator came on, defeated
he other part OF the game.