Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-08-11

TO remove therefrom such as might come
within those limits contrary to such prohi-
bition.
The yeas and nays upon the adoption of
this amendment were as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Aichison, Badger, BELL,
| Berrien, Butler, Davis of Mississippi, Daw-
son, Dickinson, Downs. Hunter, King. Mason.
| Morton. Pratt. Rnsk, Sebastian, Soule, Tur-
ney, and Yulee.-29.
NAYs-Messrs. Baldwin. Benton. Bradbury.
Chase. Clarke, Clay, Davis of Massachusetts,
| Dayton, Dodge of Wisconsin. Dodge of
Iowa, Ewing, Fitch, Fremont. Greene. Spru-
ance, Sturgeon. underwood, Wales, Walker.
| and Winthrop.-2S.-[See same book and
page.l
1t was III support of theme amendments
that Mr.. Bell rose to speak. He commenced
! by saying he would like to reason" with the
Senator from Ohio Mr.. Ewingl on the sub
| Ject OF the amendments. They were, as we
have seen, all voted down-the Northern Sen
ators. with one or two exceptions, being OPP
posed to them on principe. Other Senators,
/ among whom was Mr.. Clay, voted against
them because clearly apparent that their
adoption would occasion the defeat of the
entire bill. Mr.. Clay argued that the amend
ments, with some slight notifications, if in
| troduccd in separate bills. could be passed
either at that or the next session of Congress.
Mr.. Bell said hc would not be SO tenacious
about them, ii he could foresee that they
oc0uId pass, if introduced as separate mea-
sures. But, having no confidence that they
could be thus passed, he adhered to them, in
Difference to what he believed the Interests"
Of the South demanded, even when it was
seen that, if adopted, they would certainly
defeat the passage of the bill: and because
they were not adopted, he finally voted
against the bill on its passage-on which &C.
casion the yeas aud nays were as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Baldwin. Benton Bright,
Cas-, Chase, Clarke, tClay, Cooper, Davis of
Massachusetts, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of
Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing
Fitch, Fremont, Green, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin,
Houston, Joues, Norris. Seward. Shields,
Spruanee. Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales,
Walker, Whitcomb, and WintbrOp-33.
NAYs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Barn.
well, Bell, Berrien, Butler, Davis of Mis-
sissippi, Dawson, Downs, Hunter, King,
Mangum, Mason, Norton, Pratt, Sebastian
Soule, Turney, aud Yulee-19.
Thus does the record exhibit Mr.. Bell as
acting. in every single vote he gave in the
progress of this bill, with the entire body of
Democratic Senators from the South. Thus
does it present him as being governed in
those votes by a vigilant aud jealous care for
the '.interests" of the South, and by sincere
and manly respect for the sensibilities of the
South.
The practical question before the Senate
was the suppression of the practice of bring
ing slaves into the District of Columbia to
sell again. Incidental to it, the question OF
the abolition of slavery in theDistrict was dis
cussed by several Senators, among whom was
Mr.. Bell. His remarks in regard to it were
purely of speculative character, and, to be
understood and appreciated, must be read
with those which Immediately preceded
them on the over-estimate of the strength
of the Union which prevailed at the North.
and the inevitable destruction which the ag-
ftation of the slavery question would, if per-
sisted in, bring upon it. Mr.. Bell said:
Il do not regret, in the slightest degree,
the six, seven or eight months discussion, we
have so lately passed; and if our time was
not so very short, should not care to see
the debate extended on this subject for a
week or two, or even month. 1t is an i'm
portant subject, rich one. fraught with most
important considerations and interests to
both sides of this Chamber and both sections
of this country. | regard the time spent in
these discussions, and the embarrassments
thereby thrown in the way of other great in
torres 1S thn tll III hot
has been or can be offered to the country,
aud especially to the North, against all inter-
meddling on their part with the slave ques-
ton. | regard it as the most potent argu-
meut that can be presented to bring the rea-
sOnable, moderate portion of the North to
their rcfection-their serious sober refec-
ton. | would not have cared at all if there
had been further and yet protracted discus
sion. and still more serious embarrassments
thrown in the way of public business. even
to the extent vi embarrassing the Govern
ment itself in its operations.
The argument would then have been
strengthened and the fact demonstrated that
this Government cannot stand; that it will
become impracticable if these dissensions
shall be continued. We might then hope
Ito use the language employed by a great
magistrate on a celebrated OccasiOn) to stun
the North into their srnses upon the subject.
L mean those who think shey may say and do
what they please, that no degree of eXasper-
alton, no degree of dissatisfaction, nor OF ex
ctement on the part of the South will be
sufficient to cause them TO rise up and say
that they prefer something else to the con-
tinuance of the Union on such terms; or that
the system of Government established by
the Constitution can receive no detriment
from the anti-slavery faction. That is not
my opinion. Allow me here to express an
other sentiment. Sir, one of the greatest
misfortunes of the times is that the Union is
deemed so strong; not that it is strong in
reality, but that it is thought to be stronger
than il Is. 1t would seem to be a common
sentiment at the North that the Union is i'm
pregnabie to all assaults; that faction North
aud South, may hold its perpetual reyels;
fanaticism pursue its mad projects; personal
ambition seek its qualification in exciting
sectional jealOusies, promoting a spirit Of
sectional domination, that all these excuses
may be INDUCED in with impunity, and with
out sundering the strong bonds of the Union.
L repeat that / consider it great misfortune
that the Union is thought to be so strong. /
do nut regret that it is strong in fact; but L
lament that its strength should be SO over
rated. Strong as the cords are which hold it,
L still think them destructible, and they may
be worn away, and that they are wearing
apace under this eternal agitation on the
subject of slavery"
With this solemn admonition 10 the North,
against over-estimating the strength of the
Union, and with the expression of his ear
nest belief that the continued agitation of the
slavery question would infallibly result in
the overthrow of the Union. Mr. Bell went
on TO remark, in effect, that, to avert that
dire calamity, he would be willing to see
slavery abolished in the District of Columbia.
Immediately following the remark last
quoted. Mr. Bell proceeded to say:
with regard to the constitutional power
of Congress over this subject, would say
that the only doubt have of the existence
of the power either to suppress the slave
trade or to abolish slavery in this District,