The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-08-30
The Challenge.

Clay, Calhoun and Webster; he was among the \
foremost in those days when there were giants t
in the land While he has ever been true to 2
bis action, he has been ever devoted to his
country. We say to our friends, his record is \
before you /; it is not written in water. Chal- s
lenge investigation!"
The above extract is taken from the address I
Of the estate Executive Committee Of the I
National Constitutional Union party" signed 1
by M. Musson, Chairman, and Thomas Curry,
Secretary. T.o s
The following extracts are taken from let {
ter written by John Bell on the 25th of July, Ii
1860, in answer to j. W. Echols and others, a |,
Committee appointed to address him by the
convention at Selma, Alabama, which nomi-
mated the Electoral ticket in this State for
Bell and Everett:
81 determined to postpone any answer until
collection or compilation could be made of
such of my speeches, etc., or of extracts from
them as would sufficiently illustrate my course,
and exhibit the views and principles hereto
quiry in the letters addressed to me and especi-
ally on the subject Of slavery. 4
II believed that it would be more respect
full as well as more satisfactory to you to ac-
company my answer with such an exposition Of
my past course, inasmuch as the. only reply I |
make to all such letters would be but little |
more than reference to it, consistently with |
the position occupy before the public.
The public are respectfully requested to ex-
anime the following specimens of the political
opinions of j ohm Bell, an extract from those
speeches so ostentatiously referred to us evil |
dences Of his presentopinions:
ON THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE
TRADE IN THE DISTRICT oE COLUMBIA.
In the discussion upon this bill, Mr.. Bell
placed himselfupon the record SO as to leave
no doubt whatever to his sentiments not only
upon the suppression of the slave trade, but
the abolition ofslavcry in the District of CO.
lumbia. In the discussion of the bill to sup
press the slave trade in the District of Colunl-
bia, cone of the compromise measures) on the
18th of of September, 1850, Mr. Bell said ESee
Appcndx to the Congressional Globe, vol %,
page 1861
5With 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 the District. is inspired by
the respect have for the opinions Of so many
distinguished and eminent men, both in and
out of Congress, who hold that Congress has no
such power Reading the Constitution for my
self, I believe that Congress has all the power
over the subject in this District which the
States have within their respective jurisdiction.
** But, however great my res
pcct may be for the opinons OF others on the
question of power, there arc sone considerations Of
such hq1 account as in myjudgmcM to maize 1t desl-
raJe that, uazess By common consent the project Of
abolition shall be ,rhoAy given up and abandoned,
THE REMNANT OF SLAVERY EXISTING IN THE DIS
TR1cr SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AT ONCE; at the
present moment, however, the excited state OF
public sentiment in the south, growing out Of
territorial questions, may seem to forbid such
a course. For myself if the sentiment Of the
adjacent States and of the South generally
were less nflamed, WOULD PREFER THAT
COURSE TO KEEPING IT AN OPEN QUESTION:
"I,cougd bcgzad to sec all caaseof disturbance and
couteatton IN tic District ,choly reorea but let
me say that this can never be done by the
abolition of slavery, unless it be accompanied
bv some adequate provision for the removal or
the effective control OF the slaves after they
rhall be emancipoted. With this qualification
and in order to test the determination OF the
North in regard to any further and continued
AGGRESSION upon southern feelings and the secu
TENT TO SEE SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT ABoLlsH
EpTo DAY. In one aspect of the subject, an
not sure that it would be A GREAT CoNsERvA
TIVE MEASURE, both as regards the Union ant
interest Of the South"
~ believe that gradual and progressive
ameloration in the condition OF the slave
of the South such as took place in the progres
of Roman civilization in softening the rigor 0
the scrvile population, would, before now hav
marked the legislation of the Southern State
upon.this subject, but for the otlicious lnterven
tion Of Northcrcn fanaticism. allude to sue
ameliorations as forbid the separation OF taml
lies, the separation of husband and wife, paren
and child, either by voluntary act Of the mas
ter or by judicial process tie right ofuse slaV
under certain circumstances, and ,cIh proper limit
1op to choose nec master, and to pass to him at
APPRAISED palue verify believe that these in
gropements in the condition of the slave woul
have been effected or in progress years ago,
many, if not all Of the slave States, but for tn
ill,ndged agitation at the North"
What think you, slaye-owners, OF any
your slaves having the right to choose a ne'
master and you being compelled to sell at
nppratsad value, to be fixed by others? II
sAacertun circumstances and the "proper Tint
fion'' would be always made to oder when
discontcnted slave and covetous neighb
chose to conspire to rob you Of your propert
Is it not manifest that the existence Of a.
such right in the slave is inconsistent WI
slavery, and subversive Of the institution
Further extracts FROM the same speech
Mr.. Bell: ,:o.
slavery from the District, and at the same til
provide proper securities for the removal
elective control of the free colored populate
AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY THAT THE ooo
RESIST THIS MEASURE
.With regard to the proposition to suppr
the slave trade in the District as already S
ted, IuAp MADE ur MY MIND THAT IT OUGHT
pE DONE ON SEVERAL GROUNDS. In the fl
nlace it is known that the slave trade, an in
dent Of the unrestrained right of property
slavesIis the most ofensivs feature Of the insti
tion. 1t is so regarded in the South as we'll
in the North. y But SIR ,cere menbe'
a'chv rto,vn council, think I should not hesi
to qiue my voice for the suppression of these Stare
pots or SLAVE PENS, as they are called, 'rah'n
precincts of the corporation.
81 would Danish them at least from put
views"
# to sell slaves be so hcinous and dete
ble an offence, will some logician. skilled
metaphysic lore, tell us how much less is
offanc OF buying slaves?
Every one conversant withe the political
tory of the country knows that most, if not
of the Southern States, had resolved that
abolition of slavery in the District of Col
bia by Congress would be OF itself sulfic
cause for the immediate dissolution OF the un
NEBRASKA BILL AND REPEAL OF THE MISS
COMPROMISE.
The vote on the final passage OF this bill
be found reported in the Congressional Gl
vol. 2s, part LIST, p. 532.
The vote stood thirty-seven yeas ags
fourteen nays.
All of the Southern Senators present, .
Ill