Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-06-08
TERMs or ApYERTIsING.
From tne Richmond Whig.] ]
Mr.. Bell on Slavery.

subject of slavery No charge Of unsoundness, on
the 'vital issue can he laid at his door He is not
only sound, but he occupies ground, in relation to
the moral, economical and political aspects of Ari-
can slavery as it exists in the Southern States OF
this Union, which places him far above and beyond
even the breath of suspicion. Nor are his opinions
on this subject, of recent formation; but they are
the identical opinions which he has held, and boldly
proclaimed throughout tho whole course Of his po-
litical life which has extended through period of
upward of thirty years.
He has never held, as the present Democratic
Governor of Virginia held, only eight or ten years
ago that slavery is ga great social and political
villa C yellow fever and black vomit which
is attacking the very vitals of Virginia, and the
other Southern States, and degrading and destroy
ing them all. Nothing Of this sort On the con-
trary he has always maintained, and still maintains
that slavery is moral, social, and political bless
ing-that to its benign influence, in great mea-
sure, is due the wonderful growth and abounding
prosperity OF the United States and the civilization
and advancement of nearly all other nations ancient
or modern. That is, his belief is that slavery, in
some form, has always existed, will always exist,
ana ought always to exist-that it is sanctioned by
the Bible, that it is recognized in the Constitution,
and that it must be sustained and protected, as it
exists in the Southern States, by all the Constu-
tional power, and all the energies Of the Federal
Government In n word no man in the south, of
MI btiilouh
has ever approved aud endorsed the institution of
slavery, in stronger, more explicit, and more en-
phatic language than JOHN BELL, of Tennessee, the
candidate of the Constitutional Union party for the
Presidency of the United States. We confess to
some surprise ourselves at finding his record this
vital question so ceH, SO bright so entirely salts
factory, and perfectly in accordance with the adj
vanced views now generally held on this subject in
the Southern States-for without any intimate fa-
milarity with his antecedents, we have heretofore
entertained vague and indefinite impression that
his opinions Of slavery coincded, in good degree,
with those held by nearly all Southern statesmen
some twenty-five or thirty years ago--that is, we
were under the impression that he believed slavery
an evil to be tolerated, and not blessing to be
cherished sustained, protected and perpetuated--
But we rejoice to find that such impression is al
together and radically erroneous On this question
Of Slavery, no Southern man of any party occupies
sounder, higher more commanding, and more i'm
pregnablc ground then JOHN Bella ground which
defes all manner Of assault and challenges un-
qualified admiration. In fine the skirts of our able,
patriotic, and distinguished candidate for the Presi-
dency, are free from even the slightest tant of un-
soundness the great question of Southern instit-
tions and Southtrl rights. Their friend, admirer,
and defender, he stands erect before the people of
the South, and shrinks from scrutiny into his
record and no discussion Of his opinions. There he
is, people of Virginia, Safe reliable, honest able
man, and in the name of the South and of our
common country, we ask for him your suffrages,
and your warm, earnest, enthusiastic support.
DESTROYS Of impressing upon the minds Of our
Virginia and Southern readers of all parties, the
Thoroughly sound and orthodox views of Mr.. Bell on
the vital question of slavery we make apology
FLOR reproducing two extracts from his speech
on the Compromise measures in 1885, which we
published, in part, week ago, In that speech he
took the very highest Southern ground nvowing
hi -
slavery, but expressing desire to see it extended
into such Territories as might be adapted to it.
Take the following extract read it attentively, lay
1t by, and then read it again, and tell us frankly,
whether any Southern man has ever endorsed
slavery portrayed its beneficial effects in stronger
and clearer terms-tel us whether any Southern
man has repudatcd and repelled the idea that sav-
cry is wrong and sin, with more force and dis
| tinctness. Read the extract:
"As to the lawfuness or sinfuness of the institu-
tuition ofsavery-whetherfr frenzied fanatic priests
or more learned and rational divines may preach
whatever they may affirm of Christian prccepts
of moral and religious duties and responsibilities
whatever Interpretation of the law of nature OF
of Almighty God they may announce, whatever
doctrines or theories of the equality of human
rights and of the various races of mankind diversi
hed as they arc by complexion to physical formation
and mental Development the disciples of transcen-
dental creed Of any kind may bold or teach; how
ever they may dogmatize upon this hypothesis, and
declare it to be violation Of the law by nature by
any one race, with whatever superiority of mental
or physical faculties they may be endued to subju-
gate those OF an inferior race, and make them the
instruments Of Improvement and ameloration in
their own condition. and in that of their masters
and conquerers, in carrying forward the great work
of civilization-until we shall be enlightened by
revelation from higher source than themselves,
must claim the privilege of Interpreting the law o
nature by what revealed in the history of man
kind from the earliest period Of recorded time un-
contradcted by Divine authority, ] must interpret
that Jaw according to the prominent facts connected
with this subject they have stood out in the past
and rs they stand out before us at this day. Look
ing through the eyes Of history, have seen slavery
or involuntary servitude the instrument and hand
maid of Hindoo, Egyptian, Asyrian, Jewish Greek
and Roman civilization. ! have seen the nstitu-
ton recognized by the theocratic government of the
Jews, the chosen depositaries of the Word of Life
by Democratic Athens and Republican Rome
have seen, upon the overthrow of Roman civiliza
ton by the savage hordes Of the North that thesC
new masters Of Western Europe, and their success
sors, adopted and continued to uphold the same ia.
stituton, under various notifications adapted 10 thC
changing condition Of both slave and master, anC
still under an advancing civilization, until com
paratively recent period. the same institution
tolerated and maintained in Eastern Europe at thi
day. / see the native race of all British India a
this moment bowing the neck under a system o
quasi slavery. But above all, have seen here oil
this continent and in these United States the origi
nal lords Of the soil mbdued-some of them reduced
To slavery, others expelled--drivcn out-and tn
remnant still In subordination; and all this unde
an Interpretation OF tho law of nature which hold
good at this day among our Northern brethren AM
have yet in reserve that great fact 10 which hav
already alluded-three millions of the African race
kYhose labor is subject TO the win of masters unde
such circumstances that their condition cannot b
changed though their masters should win IL with
out destruction alike to the interest and welfare
both master and slave. These are the lights b.
which read and understand tho law OF nature
Having read that carefully, we desire you to rea
still another extract stl more carefully. In th
same speech, Mr. Bell showed the beneficial effect
of slavery ON The socicty In which it exists, and