Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-19
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENTS.

MONTGOMERY, ALA, July 5On, looO.
Editor Mobile Adertiser: On the 9Th instant l ad-
dressed to the Hon. John Bell the following nerroga
tories:
First Does Territorial Legislature possess the power
to inhibt or establish slrveryg
Second. Does Congress possess such power?
Third Ia the of slave property in the Terrific
ries entitled to the protection by the Federal Gov
ernment in the peaceful enjoyment of bis slave property
that the owner of any property isl To which he has
responded as follows:
NASHVILLE July 90, 1860
Dear Sir Your letter OF the 7h Instant duty hand but
nasnueh the only could make T. the inqaes
tained In your letter. consistently with the obligation am under
respect the view, Of those who placed the posion
occupy before the public would be TO rer and these whom
heretofore expressed by upon questions any
connected With the utc of inquiries concluded
un could accompany Il with collection OF such OF ry
speeches or Of extract. from them as could saheeny Illus
hereof expressed and ayoTed by me 1t equred NOR, ae
compilation Idf and hence my answer letter has been
delayed byoud my expectation 1t nov, however c1mplet'd
and published Unon the 2ist instant ~
Of triich Asrei6iA transmit
desire that, declining to make FUR
he different letter. Than simply TO you Ia
ay past political course au not controlled exclusively oy the
authority Convention which noIinsted me
their candidate for he Presidency concur fully and most heart
B the conclusion which they ha IL was insxpeoitnt
and unWe TO adopt platform Of principles beyond u. mpe
Union the Lava Permit me the hope that you vii
end h declaration opupos BY the conyentn snd Ia the
authentic exposition Of past political course, sufficient and sat
ctory that the my election The Pres
people othe states will upheld power
Executive Department Of The Government
IN WIN S''A' ''''''' ''' JOHN BILL
ANDREW II H. DAWSON, ISL, Chairman, etc.
In this compilation Of his speeches and votes which lac
enclosed me- and by special reference to the same
made part of his to my letter, find that, in
speech made by him the 2ith and 25th of May, 1854
and which is published in the 29tb volume Of the Con-
grcssional Globe, pages 9-95S, he uttered the follow
ing language, TO wit:
say that Ia III late contest between Gen Taylor and the honoTn
BILE and distinguished Senator from Michigan Gen C'ss vas
distinctly brought rgard sle before the pie
see la that contest, in common with she south
6anafu any ofinhabitan Territory the Untcd
states should have the grsn'd TO them ~ Congesso reg
uatng iher domestic Institutions and n their dseron to dey
to the ccn Of one section Of the Unlon the pSwe TO enjoy his
set aside the ptevogly esiabed practice aId doelv o. he
Government ro 1889 10 that time We tolld peace,
qllei end o agitation that 10 resu from such
Ne thous II territorial legislature should In
years esablN abolish slavery the agitation the question o
still advocating principles and doctrin Ills sub
jec approved N all the southern states The pfncpt then con
tended that the people Of territory when they q
fcm their State Constitution and then cn we qualified to e'
tabiAh thsr Domestic institutions ."
Ca tue 9Th day OF June, 1880 Mr. Bcrrieu of Geor-
ga offered in the Senate Of the United States the follow
ing amendment to the compromise measures then under
consideration
But no law sal he passed interfering with the prInary disposal
OF theson, establsngo pohiotng African .isyery.
Mr.. Bell voted for the amendment-Page !, lSi Con.
Globe, vol. 2ist.
Here then, an answer to rst question, which Is
fall distinct and emphatic.
y;On the lth day Of December 1888 Mr. Atherton OF
New Hampshire, offered the following resolution in the
House. 10 wit:
Rorsl therefore That attempts part the Congress
slavery the htct Of COu La the Territories
prohibit the removal Of slaves from state ste, ds
crnlnae hSeen he Institutions q portion OF the 1onisdea
cy and another with the views Aforesaid In violation Of the
Constitution, destructive Of the undsms tai principles which
tbs uniono these states rests aad beyond The Of Con-
gress
On this resolution Mr. Bevo yea, which amounted
TO direct clear and conclusive answer to my second
question.
On the 27th day of May 1850, Mr. Davis offered the
following amendment in the United Senate TO the then
pending compromise measures:
Proridd nothing herein contained shall
prevent said Territorial Legislature from such laws
NAV be necessary the protection OF the rights OF property OF
10 aad laws Of tn United held
duced into sad Territory Mr. Davis also preiacei this proylo
with remarks dec airing object be 10 assert the duty Of
the Government to protect slavery "
On this proviso Mr. Bell voted yea thus asserting
der OATH the duty Of protection, when necessary.
He has answered. then with remarkable point perspic
uousness and power Let those who doubt his devotion
the South read and study his answer, and they
never doubt again.
In this same record which he has recently had repub-
lished and thereby declared be his opinions nop fud
elaborate, able and unanswerabe defence OF the in
stuton Of slavery, attrioung he does to this much
abused institution the grandeur and glory to which
have attained a nation Upon the extension Of slavery,
he says "humanity to the slave, not less than Justice 10
he master recommends the policy of diffusion and
tension into any territory adapted to his condition"
Upon this subject what says Mr. Breckenridge? 81 be-
long party which has for its object the extension
of slavery" Southern Shareholders choose ye between
them.
Respectfully,
ANDREW II II DAWSON