Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-06-08
CLARKSVILLE, TENN, FRIDAY. JUNE s, 1860.

carried his argument TO such an extent as we have
already said as 10 declare that he bcliered the pros
pefy and glory Of the United States 70 Be mainly due
10 The institution Of african siavery IN he Southern
States. Hero is the other extract which we desire
you to peruse and ponder on:
"Sir making all due allowance for American en-
terprjse and the energies of free labor under such
system of free government as we enjoy, ! doubt
tchether the pover and resources Of tie country ,coud
haze attained more than half their present erraordi-
nary proportions but for this much reviled nsfi-
on Of sIdUary. SIR, your rich and Uqried commerce,
external and infernali your navigation your CONNER
ciaI marine The rwssy Of he military; your ample
reDen9es; The public credit; your manufactures, your
rich populous and splendid eities-II all may trace
10 fhis institution 20 Their iceiLsprsng, their present
qgarstic roportioassouished and built up 70 their
present dmdzilg height and grandeur by the great
staples Of The South-the products of sldUe labor.
"Yet slavery, in every form in which it has ex
isted from heprimitive period of organized society
from its earliest and patriarchal form to this time
in every quarter of the globe-and all its results,
eUen The magnificent results Of african SLAVERY in the
United Stdtes declared to be against the law of
nature Though contributing in hundred various
forms and modes, through periodsof years, to the
amelioration of the condition of mankind generally
though sometimes abused, ali human Institutions
even those of religion still contributing TO ad
vance the cause of civilization; though, if you
working out general good; yet slavery and all
its bcnifcent results are pronounced against the
will Of God by those who claim a superior iumi-
nation upon the subject This may be 50, but
must say that this conclusion, so confidently an
nounced, is not arrived at in accordance with the
Baconian method of reasoning by which we are
taught that from a great many particular aud well
established facts in the physical economy may safely
deduce general law of physical nature, and so of
morals and government. 1t seems to my weak fa-
cultes that it is rather an arrogant and presumpu
ons arraignment of the ways of Providence, mys-
terious as we know them to be- for feeble men to
declare that that which has been permitted to exist
and prosper from the beginning among men and
nations is contrary to his will"
We ask now, in all candor and justice, what higher
ground has any Southern man. of either party, ever
taken the essential question of Southern slavery?
Who win now be desperate and unscrupulous
enough even 10 insinuate that John Bell is unsound
on the subject of slavery2 Who will now have the
brazcn efrontery to intimate that John Bell is not
to be trusted by the Southern people?
We conclude with one other brief extract from
the same speech, which is in these words:
at is contended that tho South is secured in the
full benefit of the doctrine held by some of the most
distinguished champions of its rights who maintain
that the Constitution, propro pgore that the flag of
the Union protects the citizen in the enjoyment of
MS rights Of property of every description, recog-
nzed as such in any of the States, on every sea,
and in every Territory of the Union. Thesoundness
Of hegeneraL doctrine held on this poin think
not nell be questioned dsproved and If The Quesfon
related 10 territory situated Oregon chen the
United States into possession Of IL property IN
SidCes tvould be emitted 10 Tie protection Of The Lars
and Constitution Of The United States.'
Did John C. Calhoun himself ever take higher
ground than that?
But while such are Mr.. Bells views on the ques-
ton of slavery and the Constitutional power of Con-
gress in relation thereto he has yet unncees
sarily or Extensively thrust those views in the face
of his Northern brethren. lie is a national man, i'll
the widest and noblest of the term opposed to
all sectional agitation and strife, and in favor of
lasting peace and harmony between the States and
among the people Of the States. And if elected, he
will know no North, no South, no East, no West
but his country his whole country, and nothing but
his country In his administration Of the Govern
ment lie will be neither pro-slavery anti
slavery man, but a National and Unon-loving man,
looking to the welfare of all portions of the Con-
ederacy with equal eye, and to the preservation of
the Union in the spirit of the Constitution, as the
paramount object of all his hopes and efforts Who
then, whether Wing or Democrat, or whether living
in the North the South, may not vote for such o
man, with hearty good will, and thank God for
the nri village