Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-10-17
is JOHN BELL SAFE NOW,

One Of the most exciting topics at one time was
the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
Recently, IN consequence of Judge Douglas posi-
ton, the public mind has been diverted to the ques
ton as to the prohibition Of slavery in the terrific
ries The same results, however, are involved
Would the South now submit to the abolition of
slavery in District situated in the heart of two of
the slaveholding States? Then are we prepared to
have free territory places of refuge for slaves in
the dock yards navy yards, &c. in the South, where
Congress has exclusive jurisdiction; for the same
principle will obtain in those localities if the views
of the abolitonists prevail Could we RELY upon
NJ Bell to veto any bill having this tendency with
his avowed opinions in $780, re-asserted as late as
1858? Will Southern opposition men, at such
crisis disregard this vital question by preferrng Mr.
Bell to Mr.. Breckenridge? Here is the record of
Mr.. Bell, On 18th September 1850, in speech in
the Senate of the United States, he said:
With regard to the Constitutional power of Con-
gress over this subject, would say that the only
doubt have of the existence of the power either to
suppress the slave trade to abolish slavery in this
District, is inspired by the respect have for the
opinions of so many distinguished men, both in and
out of Congress, who hold that Congress has no
such power. Reading the Constitution for myself
believe that Congress has all the power over the
subject in this District which the States have within
their respective jurisdictions.
But however great my respect may be for the opin-
IONS OF others on the question of power there are
some considerations Of such high account as, in nv
judgment, to make it desirable that unless by com
mon consent the project Of abolition shall be wholly
given up and disbanded the remnant of slavery ex-
lstlng in the District should be abolished at once:
at the present moment, however the excited state
OF public sentiment in the South growing out of ter
ritorial questions, seems to forbid such course
For myself if the sentiment of the adjacent States
and of the South generally were less inhamed, I
would prefer that course to keeping it an open aues
tOn Slavery in tha of IF C
the ONLY remaining ground of contention, the only
remaining point of objection and assault on the part
OF the anti-savery North | do not include the ia
natics. They will be satisfied with nothing short
of the extinction Of slavery in the States; but all
others at the North disclam any intention or design
or any constitutional power 20 interfere with slavery
anywhere but in the District of Columbia would
be glad to see all cause of disturbance and conten-
ton in the District wholly removed but let me say
that this can never be done by the abolition of slave
~, unless it be accompanied by some adequate pro-
vision for the removal the effective control of the
slaves after they shall have been emancipated-
With this qualification and in order to test the de-
termination of the North, in regard to any further
and continued aggression upon Southern feelings
and the security OF Southern property, I Mould be
content to see sLurery in the District abolished to-
ddy. In one aspect Of the subject | am not sure
that 1t would not be great conservative measure,
both as regards the Union and the interests of the
QUILL 1ulS OuCe TeleVeu Ol all sources OF
dissension, We should be speedily enlightened upon
the question whether the North would stop there or
raise new and more dangerous issues"
When this extract was read, in February, 1858,
by his colleague, Hon. A. johnson, Mr. Bell said:
81 do not care to refer to the paragraphs which
my colleage read from speech made by me in 1850
the Compromise measures of that period, be-
cause / do not at all repent them as / understand
them. There may, perhaps, be an accidental mis-
print have not had time to examine but do
not wish to retract any sentiment then uttered.
hold the same sentiments now. do
not find the least occasion to change them" Gong
Globe, 1S57-5s, part l, page 834)
Will Southern men endorse these sentiments of
Mr.. Bell? By voting for him, you certainly will
substantially say, 81 believe Congress has the pow
er to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia,
and thinking that it would remove all cause of dis
turbance and contention, would be content to see
slavery in the District abolished today" Is it not
time for those inclined to vote for Mr. Bell in conse-
quence of the rupture in the Democratic party, to
pause, when, in Breckenridge you have a candidate
perfectly sound and reliable p Wilson Star Of
Freedom