Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-02
John BeIl,s Slavery Record.

untrue to the institution of slavery. Though
Southern man, born, and all his life identified
WITH by association and individual interest, the
institution of slavery-though for twenty years
the representative and agent OF slaveholdlng
community in the councils of the country-he
is still denounced as an Abolitionist, traitor to
tue South, and an afiator with the Republicans
of the North. The atsurdity of these charges is
apparent upon their very face, and yet they are
persisted in in the South, especially by Breckin-
ridge orators who go about the State speaking
without any competition.
In order, once for all, to put quietus to those
charges, and afford our friends advocating the
claims of Col. Bell evidence from the record, at
once efectual and indisputable, we re-publsh
the following compilation of Mr.. Bells Uotes upon
questions involving the institution of slavery,
which we found prepared to our hand by the
Georgia Southern Watchman.
If this record does not effectually dispose of
the false charges brought against Mr.. Bell, at
least to the satisfaction of all fair minded men,
we are sadly mistaken.
June 26th, 1S4S-On Mr.. Hale's motion to
instruct the Committee on the District of Colum-
bia, to bring in bill to abolish slavery there, Mr.
Bell voted Congressional Globe, Vol. Is,
page 872
July 2eth, 1s4s.-When the Clayton Compro-
mise was before the Senate, Mr.. Davis, of Massa-
chusetts, moved an amendment excluding slavery
from Oregon. On this motion Mr.. Bell voted
No. Congressional Globe, Vol. 18, page 1902
August 10th, ls48.-On the Oregon bill, Mr.
Douglas moved an amendment embracing the
Missouri Compromise. Mr.. Bell voted YEA,
with Messrs. Berrien, Calhoun, II. V. johnson,
Hunter, and others.-[ Congressional Globe, Vol.
Is, page 1861.
August 18th, 184S-On a motion that the
Senate recede from the Missouri Compromise
Amendment to the Oregon Bill, Mr.. Bell voted
No, in the same company. Congressional
Globe, Vol. Is, page 1918.
January 10th. 1S5O.-Mr. Seward presented
petition for the Abolition of slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Mr.. Berrien moved to lay
on the table the question of reception-in other
words, to refuse to entertain the petition. On
Mr.. Berrien's motion, Mr.. Bell voted YEA.-
Congressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 164.
February 7th, 1850.-Upon a similar motion
in relation to Petition against new Slave
States and Territories, Mr.. Bell voted YEA.-
Congressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 3lO
Apri 10th, 1850.-Upon similar motion in
relation to petition to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia, Mr.. Bell again voted YEA.
-fOungressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 779
June 9th, 185O-On Mr.. Chase's amendment
to the Compromise Bill, "that nothing herein
contained shall be construed as authorizing or
permitting the Introduction of slavery, or the
holding OF persons as property within the said
Territory" Mr.. Bell voted No.-[Congressional
Globe, Vol. 81, page 1884 and 1884.
June 9th, 1S5O.-Mr. Berrien offered an a.
mendment to the Compromise Bill, that ''no
law shall be passed (by the Territorial Legisla-
ture) establishing or prohibiting African slavery"
This was against Squatter Sovereignty. Bell
voted -[Congressional Globe, VOL "a, page
1884.
June 9th, 1850.-Mr. Hale moved to amend
the Bill further, by inserting the word, ''allow-
ing," which would have the effect of preventing
the Territorial Legislature from protecting, or
otherwise recognizing slavery. On this motion
Mr.. Bell voted -[Opngressionai Globe, Vol.
2l, page 1125.
June 9Th, 1s5o.-Mr. Stewards amendment
forbidding slavery in New Mexico and Utah
Mr.. Bell voted No.--[Congressiona Globe, Vol.
81, page 1874.
June 9th, 185O.-Mr. Davis, of Mississippi,
had offered an amendment to the Compromise
Bill, in these words: provided, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed SO as to pre-
vent said Territorial Legislature from passing
such laws as may be necessary for the protec
tion Of the rights Of property OF every kind,
which may have been, or may be hereafter,
conformably to the Constitution and laws of the
United States, held in, or introduced into, said
Territory" On this amendment Mr.. Bell voted
YEA.--[Oongressiona Globe, Vol. 81, pages
1914 and 1884
June 9th. ls5o.-Mr. Yulee moved an amend
ment to a compromise bill, extending the Con-
sttution and the laws of the United States over
the Territory Of Utah. This, according to Mr..
BelPs doctrine, would recognize the right to
carry slaves there, and he voted YEA.-lOoD-
gressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 1146.
June 9th, 1S5O.-Mr. Baldwin moved an
amendment, continuing in force in the Territory
of Utah the Mexican laws prohibiting slavery,
till they be altered or repealed by Congress-
Mr.. Bell voted No. Congressional Globe, Vol.
21, page 1148.
June 18th, 185O-Upon the motion of Mr..
Soule to amend the BILL by providing that the
Territories, when admitted as States, should "be
received into the Union, with or without slavery,
as their Constitutions may prescribe" Mr.. Bell
voted Yea Congressional Globe, Vol. 21, page
1899.
June 10th, 1850.-On the amendment proposed
by Mr.. Davis, Of Mississippi, repeating all laws
pre-existing in the Territories which restricted
the full enjoyment of any right of person or
property OF any citizen of the United States"
Mr.. Bell voted YEA Congressional Globe, Vol.
81, page 1854. The effect of this would be to
repeal the anti slavery laws of Mexico.
August 23rd, 1850.-On the passage of the
Fugitive Slave Bill, Mr.. Bell voted Yea.-[Con-
gressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 1647.
September 10th, 185O.-The bill to abolish
the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia
was before the Senate. The penalty for violat-
ing the law was the emancipation OF the slave.
This penalty was disliked by the Southern men
who were willing that slaves should be manu-
mitted by authority OF Congress for any purpose.
Mr.. Pearce moved to change the penalty to a
fine of $500. On this motion Mr.. Bell voted
Yea.-[Congressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 1874
September 18th, 185O.-Mr. Seward moved
to amend the Bill by abolishing slavery in the
District of Columbia, if a majority of the peo-
pie upon vote taken for that purpose, should
be in favor of it. Mr.. Bell voted No. Con-
gressional Globe, Vol. 81, pages 1874 and 1Sl0
September 18th, 1850.--The bill to prevent
the enticing away of slaves in the District of
Columbia was before the Senate. Mr.. Hale
moved to recommit it, with instructions to the
Committee to report bill abolishing slavery in
the District On this motion, Mr.. Bell voted
No. Congressional Globe, Vol. 81, page 1852
September 28th, 1850.-An amendment was
moved to the bill prohibiting the Slave Trade
in the District, giving power to the Corporation
OF Washington and Georgetown to prevent free
negroes from settling there. Mr.. Bell voted for
the amendment.-[Appendix to Congressional
Globe, Vol. 81, page 1074.
September 28th, 185O.-Mr. Bell voted against
the Bill to abolish the Slave Trade in the Dis
trict, having first tried in vain to make it more
acceptable to the South in three particulars, viz :
bV changing the penalty from emancipatiOn by