The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-12
LETTER FROM HoN. JOHN BELL,

letter from Hon. Jno. Bell, OF Tenn. TO q
mass meeting In Mississippi, Is published
he recounts the wrongs inflicted on the South
oy the success Of a sectional party, but does
not think Mr.. L!ncoln's election suficien I
to dissolve the .Confsderacy, for the follow
| ing reasons:
l. Mr.. Lincoln, 1t is well known, does not
mold extreme opinions on the subject of sIa-
very. 1t Ia certain that he has expressed a de-
cided opinion that the South has a constitu-
tional right TO demand the faithful execu lion
OF me Fugitive Slave Law, and that uxoer
certain circumstances he would feel il his
duty not 10 oppose the admission OF a new
| slave State into the Union. His declaration
on this point is little satisfactory to the Sou h
Dut hellher tnat declaration nor the opinion
expressed by him on the subject of the Fagi.
tive Slave Law, Is 81 all satisfactory TO the
extremists Of his own party.
Upon the whole, if Mr.. Lincoln's public a.
ciarations on the subject of slavery are to be
considered the true exponents of his future
policy, and II he possesses the moral courage
u adhere TO them in opposition 10 The coun-
seis of the extreme men OF his party, land il is
Just and fair to presume that he does possess
mat virtue no serious mischief need be ap.
pretended during his administration, except
the usual evils attending the perpetual agita.
ton OF the slavery issaeS.
Z. But IL Is assumed by some that Mr. Lin
coin has disguised his true sentiments; that
his true character has not been undsrst tcod
and tnat he will be under the control Of the
worst men OF his party. l do not think So
L nave every confidence that his future policy
will be found TO be in strict Conformity with
his past declarations. But apart from this It
is now generally known that he will be pow.
erless for mlscbief, except to q very limited
extent, during the first two years Of his ad-
miniStratIon, unless the Southern Senators
and Representatives elected TO the next Com
Sress should rashly, and, as l think, inexcusa-
bly, resign their seats or retire from Congress-
and hnR vol fNtnr 4 ilun laS.
both Houses to the Republican party, which
surely they will not do. With both Houses
opposed to him, MIR. Lincoln cannot appoint
his Cabinet ministers or ill any effices of high
grade without the assent OF the Senate or in
deed OF any inferior grade above that of a
clerk or petty deputy postmaster. He will be
able to carry no measure connected with the
subject of slavery which does not commend
Itself to the South and the conservative me en-
bers from the North.
J. As to any apprehensions that the kepub-
HoaD party, encouraged ami stimulated to fur
theT efforts BY their late success, may be so
reDgthened in the result Of the elections Of
Senators and Representatives, in The mean
time rs to OBTAIN Il malority in both Houses
OF the 35th Congress-tnat is, during the last
Two years OF Mr. LIncOln's admins trAliOn-
while 1t may be we'll 10 regard sucn an event
cs possible, the strongest reasons exist for the
contident belief that no such unfortunate re-
suit Will attend the elections in the North
which are TO decide the complexion OF the IS n
Congress.
Or the whole number of votes cast for Mr.
Lincoln III the recent election, from my own
personal knowledge, and from information re-
ceiyeG from other sources Of the cen nLiments OF
ths South, and especially OF thOsa OF the NJ i'd
die States and the States north of th3 OHIO
am sure l hazard nothing in stating that q
large number-at least one third-are devoted
to Inc Union, and, although opposed to slavery
IN The abstract, have but little sympathy with
the Republican party. and wUuld Ge sincerely
glad 10 hee The slavery controversy between
toe TWO great sections of the country speedily
terminated. They supported the Republican
candidate IN the late election, mainly infiu.
Snced by their strong and III veterate feelings
OF opposition TO the Democratic party, be-
lieving that Mr.. Llncoln was the only availa-
Bile candidate In the field to defeat that party.
am also well satisfied that not more than
ons-third part OF Mr.. Lihcoln's supper teri
are SO extreme in their antl-slavery senti-
ments and are animated by SO intense hatred
of the South, as to be either wholly Indifferent
to he effect upon the Union OF The policy OF
the EepuSllcaH party, or actually desirous Of
q separation OF The tree from the slave States
OF the remaining third OF Mr.. L,ncuiu's sup
p0Tteis, l think l am warranted ia saying
that they are attached to The Union, though
anti-SliSe cry in their entlments. They jOiued
| the Repnbllc party as retaiIatOIy mea-
sure, edopted In resentment OF the repea OF the
| Missouri Compromise, which they regarded as
| little less sacred and binding than the Consti-
tuition, and IN Iurther resentment of the at
tempt 10 force the LecomptoI CoastItu ton
upon the people Of Kansas. Bat nosv that
/ they have SO slgnaiIy triuuiphed in the late
| election, and In view of the evils already in
tilcted upon the country, aud the still greater
| evils 10 be apprehended, they will be content
| 10 cease The war upon Southern interests and
feelings.
| For the foregoing reasons l feel confident
that the ssh Congress Will exhibit falling of
| In the strength OF The Republican party, in
stead of an increase.
1. All OF the existing grievances OF which
ha S.,n a 10 har
dressed i'll the Union. As TO The indignity
not to say insult, offered TO the South, ofnomi.
mating and electing the candidates tor the two
| highest offices OF the Government by Sec
| tivnal party, on PRINCIPLES which practically
| excluded the Southern States from a voice in
the election, contrary TO es ablished usage and
in violation of the spirit of the Constitution
| they may be pa!doned for the sake of peace
and harmony, and IN consideration that The
South has not been guiltless of having conLri-
| onted, and mat in ne small degree, TO increase
| the violence and asper! les of Tue slavery con-
| troVersy between the TIVE sections.
| In expressing the opinion thai all grievances
| may be redressed in the Union, l intended 10
| exclude other greater offences which have
| been apprehended from Republican DONNA
| ton, and which are of possible occurrence
How they shall be red reesed, should they un-
| happily occur, will call for new counsals bui
| sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
| The existing grievances are the obstructions
interposed by some OF The non-siaveholding
| States 10 the prompt and faithful execution OF
| the Fugitive Slave Law, by what are called
Personal Liberty Laws. and the refusal Of the
Governors Of several OF those States 10 sur
render fugItiVeS from justice from the slave
| holding States in those cases IN which The
| crime imputed 70 the fnStiyes is the ahduc-
| ton or stealing of slaves. Some further le-
| gisiatlon by Congress may be required 10 se-
| cure the surrender of such fugitlves, bat the
| due enforcement OF the Fugitive Slave Law is
| oil that is req uired 10 redress The grievances
arising from the escape and abduction OF
slaves from the Southern States. The Pres-
dent Is armed with sufficient power and
means 10 enforce the law in defiance of all OBJ.
| structions which may be thrown in the way
| TO defeat 1t. If he neglects or fails TO see i,
| executed, he is liable to Impeachment. ..
| He argues against the right Of secession, and
| thinks it was never contemplated that any
| State OF the Oonfederacy should secede when.
| ever it thought proper He concludes thus:
| Viewing the subject in every light in which
| 1t can be presented, l am constrained to say
| that by no principle OF public law, by no code
of morals, by no law of earth or Heaven
would Mississippi or any other State be iusti-
! fed, under existing circumstances, In with
| drawing from the Union. i confidently be-
| lieve that the happiest consequences would
result from Conference of all the Southern
| States. l as confidently believe that majori.
| ~ OF the people OF the North are this day
prepared to agree TO any fair aud reasonab bic
| plan of adjustment which such Il Conference
| of the Southern States would propose.
purposely abstain from suggesting what, in
| my opinion, should be the basis Of such plan
| of adjustment.
Alter what have written Oh the precedi u 2
pages OF this letter. 1t is scarcely necessary u
| say that am resolved to adhere to the Union
will not say that in no peSS15le c0ntingsHc '
would Consent TO Il separation Of the States
But l would exhaust every constitutional
means for the redress of our grievances before
l would think of dissolying the Union. / am
not willing that one STATE should be with.
drawn from the Union-that one star should
| be stricken from the bright cluster which now
emblazons the national flag.
Ihave long foreseen the probable occurrence
of 4 crisis like The present, and shIunk from