The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-08-14

slavery,
Southern States His association with Slade, thus
early begun. continued through all the contests
upon the famous 2lst rule.
The history of that memorable day, and Mr.
Bells connection Herewith, ends not with the ad-
iournment. The Southern delegations met, after
the adjournment of the House, in the room of the
committee on the District of Columbia, and MIR
Patton of Virginia, was directed to offer, at the
next meeting of the House, the following resolu-
ton as an amendment to the rules:
"Resolved, That all petitions, memorials and
papers touching the abolition OF slavery, or the
buying. selling or transferring of slaves in any
State District or Territory of the United States,
be laid ON the table without being debated, prin-
ted, read or referred, and that no further action
shall be had thereon"
Mr. Benton continues:
"Accordingly at the opening of the House Mr.
Patton asked leave to submit the resolution, which
was read for information. Mr. Adams objected to
the grant of leave. Mr. Patton then moved a sus-
pension of the rules-which motion required two
thirds to sustain it, and unless it obtained this salu
tary remedy for alarming evil, (Which was al
ready in force in the Senate could not be offered
1t was test motion, and on which the opponents
of abolition agitation in the House required all
their strength; for, unless two to one, they were
defeated Happily, the two to one were ready,
Abolition member, (to keep his friends on the
track and to hold the free State anti-Abotionists
to their responsibility at home,) the vote stood,
1875 yeas to 60 nays-the full two-thrds, and ff-
teen over.
'This was one of the most important votes ever
delivered in the House. Upon its issue depended
the quiet of the House. on the one hand, or the
other the renewal and preparation of the scenes
of the day before, ending in breaking up all ma
tiOnal legislation. 1t was successful, and that
critical step being over the passage of the resolu-
ton secured.
But not secured by the cooperation Of Mr. Bell,
for, says the historian
THE main quention put and carried, but
again on the yeas and nays, to hold free States
men to their responsibilities showing the same 63
an he ncgutice, with a few additional votes from
the free State members. Thus was stfed and.
in future, prevented in the House, the nfamma-
tory debates on these disturbing petitions
The political Textbook says:
"On the 18th of January, 1910, the question
was taken, in the House, on an amendment offered
by MIR W. Cost johnson to amendment offered
by Mr. j. .. Adams to the rules. The amend
ment offered by Mr. johnson was carried, and was
called the 2lst rule. 1t is.as follows:
THAT no petition, memorial or resolution, or
other paper praying the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia or any State Territory, OF
the slave trade between the the States and Terrific
ries of the United States in which it now exists
shall be received by this House or entertained in
any way whatever"
Mr. Bell voted in the negative with J. Q. Adams
and J. r. Giddings, and was the only Southern
except Underwood Of Kentucky,
who again backed the "pertinacious Slade"
The second branch of the fifth resolution of the
celebrated series offered by Mr. Anterior. on the
18th December, 1888, in the House of Repre-
reads as follows:
"And that every petition. memorial. resolution,
proposition or paper, touching or relating in any
way, or to any extent whatever to slavery as
aforesaid or the abolition thereof shall on presen-
tation thereof without any further action thereon,
be laid upon the table, without being debated,
printed or referred"
Mr. Bell, in company with J. Q. Adams J. r.
and the ''inevitable Slade.' voted in
the negative. See political Text Book" page
a. With such record, well might Charles A
Dana, the abolition editor Of the American Cyclic
pedia," write:
when the reception of petitions for the aboli-
ton of slavery in the District of Columbia was
agitated in the House of Representatives 1886.
Mr. Bell alone, of Tennessee delegation, favored
their reception"
Such was the voting association of Mr. Bell
during his carly Congressional career. He disap-
peared from Congress by going into IIarrison's
Cabinet. and into retirement by separation from
President Tyler In 1917 he was elected to the
United States Senate and from his speech upon
the abolition of the slave trade in the District of
Columbia, it appears that the expression of his
abolition opinions is no longer confined to silent
votes, but outSraken on the floor of the Senate
We extract the following from the Congressional
Globe:
"With regard to the constitutional power of
Congress over this subject, l would say that the
Inly doubt have of the existence of the power
either to suppress the slave trade or to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia is inspired BY
he respect have for the opinions of so many
and eminent men, both in and out of
Congress. who hold that Congress has no such
power. Reading the Constitution for myself.
Iettece that Co"yre$s has al tie potcer 0ccr the
uGject az Misistrct ,chich the Suites ha &c utthin
heir respective Jurisdictions = Congressional
Gtobe rot. p, p. 1868.
Again:
"But, however great my respect may be for the
opinions of others the question of power, there
ire some considerations of such high account as
n nay judgement, to make it desirable that unless
e wholly given up and abandoned the reaasuat ot
orery erising an the District should he obotished
II once; at the present moment, however the |
excited state of public sentiment in the South. |
growing out ola Territorial question, may seem
% forbid such a course. - bit.
Aud again