The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-09-01

doors is wrong course: it is aftrontlng to
them and in my view violation Of the Con-
stilution. 1t rcver will end agitation either
here or elsewhere. therefore, would besccch
and cntrcat Of the South to change the ques-
tion. pray them to consider and respect
the right Of petition"
The resembling Of the rule was strongly
advocated by another distinguished Demo-
crat. the Hon. j. A WRIGHT, of Indiana, now
United States Minister at Berlin, who was at
ttlut time member Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, and who used the following Ian.
gAage:
ssst' You now see. since the adoption of this
rule in 1910, these miserable fanatics and
enthusiasts going through the country. set.
ting up their notices and plucards, large as
Ute. and in all these announcements, they are
far lectures to be given on the right of petition
--tix right Of petition. Thus we have an
issue made wholly different from that of
abolition. And now ask gentlemen to say
whether they insist on this false issue! =
Will they press the question in this shape
| ask them to change, and to meet the ques-
ton in some other way-either, as Mr..
Grundy says, by rejecting the prayer of the
petition. after the reception. or by some direct
vote putting the matter to rest. For one,
am determined to vote so as to give this ques-
tion its true appearance. have sovereign
contempt for these wild, deluded, en,husias-
tic abolitonist; yet cannot vote for the
rule. l rant 10 Take this aceapon out Of their
hands. and let them stand forth on their own
principles and if they had not this rule, or
the question of the right of petition, Connect.
ed Us it is with their moXements) they would
not be worth in shol ~ me passing notice.
~ hope that gentlemen see this ques ton
as understood by the people; that it is not
regarded as one of abolitionism. bit one of
petition. And it becomes the duty of this
House to change the issue. 1t is now re.
garded by the great mass of the people of the
free States as blow struck at what they
consider as the right of every citizen in this
Countrywide RIGHT 10 be heard.
Upon these grounds. thus earnestly urged
by the Democratic leaders ofthe free STATE
the famous Twenty First Rule, after four
years trial, was rescned by House of Rep
resentatives numbering two democrats for
every Wing And it was in this way. hy
actual results, and the votes of an overwhelm.
ingly Democratic House. that the course of
MIR. Bell on the subject of abolition petitions
was most sgnally indicated
1t is particularly worthy Of notice, that
MIR. Bells traducers have nerer assailed any
sentiment, doctrine, or principle announced
by him on the subject of slavery. Their Oh
jcctions lie, and are limited
l. To his votes in favor of receiving and
acting upon abolition petitions, as matter of
sound policy on the part Of the representa-
tives from the South, and in view of the injuri-
Gus results which he believed would follow
the adoption of the opposite policy. The
results turned out to be what he thought and
said they would ; and his course was ulti-
mately vindicated. in the fullest manner. by
the repeal of the " Twenty First Rule after
an experience of four years, by House of
Representatives numbering two Democrats
to one Wing!
3 To his opposition to the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, which he based solely
upon what he toresaw and predicted would
be the " result" lie could find no warrant
in the Constitution for the clause in the act
Of 1920, restricting slavery by the line of
$50. lie regarded such restriction as
unjust to the South, and in violation of the
treaty by which the territory was acquired
from France. He had voted in 1850 to rrreal
the Mexican laws prohibiting slavery in New
Mexico, which were in force at the time
of the acquisition. But when it came to vot-
ing for the repeal Of the Missouri Colnpro-
mise. which had been peacefully acquis ced in
for thirty years, he apprehended dangerous
consequences to the South and to the whole
country from the adoption of the measn,e.-
lie looked at the probable results of the
measure. and guided, as he expressly declar-
cd, entirely by the conclusion which his mind
came to as to what those results would be,
he voted against the repeal, and in so voting,
as the results proved, he voted against the
creation of the Republican party! 1t would
he gross libel on the ma jorty who repealed
the Missouri Compromise. to suppose they
would have done it, had they been gifted with
the foresight of Mr.. Bell, and seen, as his
far-reachng sagacity enabled him to do. the
deploratle consequences which followed from
it.
No higher tribute could be rendered to any
man than that which is UNIV ,ttngly paid to
MIR. Bell by the entire array, vast as it is, of
Democratic leaders, speakers and writers
throughout the South. when they call the
people of the South. as they are every day
doing, by uniting undsr the Democratic flag,
tn intcrpose barrier to the onward march
of Republlcanism-they expatiate upon the
ment's falling into the hands of the Republic
cans-when they proclaim that danger to be
so great, that the South ought never submit
to the Inauguration of the Republican candi-
date. if elected. Had Mr.. Bells prudent
counscls-.his wise admonitions-his earnest
circumstances been heedtd. there would
this day have been no Republican party. and
the country would now be in the enjoyment
Of that repose and freedom from slavery agl-
tation which President Pierce congratulated
it upon possessing at the date off installa-
tiun into the Presidential Office.
). To his vote against the Lecompton Con-
stitution Bill. lie voted his accnsers say,
against admitting Kansas Into the Union as
slave State. "A slave State!" The Demo-
Gratis Of Tennessee know. and will give ready
credence to General Whitfield, their former
ftllow.citizen and active co-laborer in the
cause of Democracy, who removed to Kan
sas at an early day. In his speech against
the Lecompton bill, Mr.. Bell quoted the fol.
lowing extract of letter, written by Gen.
Whitfield to the editor Of the Washington
Union, dated Washington City September 9,
1858.
Il have seen the letter addressed By DR..
Tebbs to gentleman in this city. His letter
fully and fairly represents the condition of
parties in Kansas, both before and after the
advent of Governor Walker; and have been
perfectly astoni>hcd. upon my arrival here.
to find the crusade from the South upon Gov.
Walker, charging him with an attempt to
aboliionize Kansas" 1t required no
action from Governor Walker to make Kan.
vt,l -, t. II