Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-29
A rHoROuen pRO.sLlvEaY PLATFORM.
JOHN BELL
In Favor of the Institution in all its Aspects
SLAVERY GREAT CIVIL MORAL SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS, AND
POLITICAL INSTITUTION.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND sTATESMAN-LIKE VIEW
OF SLAVERY.

Il
would seek to deprecate but it can only be regard
3D. under all the circumstances Of the case, as mere
act of grace extended without the surrender OF any OF
the principles and positions OF the North
THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES
Ii contended that the South is secured in the full
benet of the doctrine held by some OF the dstn
guished champions Of its right who maintain the Constr
tution proprio vigore that the flag OF the Union pro-
tecs the citizen in the enjoyment Of his rights OF pro-
perry Of every description recognized as SUCH In any
of the States on every aud in every Territory OF the
Union The soundness of the general doctrine held Oh
this point think cannot well be questioned or disap-
proved; aud if the question related TO Territory situa
ted Oregon was when the United States came into
possession OF it. property in slaves would be entitled Ia
the protection Of the Laws and Constitution of the Uni
| ted States.
Is IN FAvoR OF A CONSTITUTIONAL UNION, AID NOT A
UNION OF PORcE.
The cause OF freedom in the South as well as IN the
North is wrapped up in the Constitution aud in the
Union. These broken down, anarchy and military
despotism become our Inheritance. We have arrived
at point Of time in history which will constitute au
epoch to which the future historian will REFER and from
il deduce the Of our decline a nation, Of n-
creased prosperity aud grandeur. Sir no man who loves
his couut:y, who has any just pride in the re-
lection that he is American citizen, but must desire
that these dssensons should cease. IL is mere
question whether we should preserve the Union. The
question is whether mutual trust aud confidence shall
continue to animate and encourage mutual effort in pro-
noting and multiplying common benefits; or whether
mutual hatred aud distrus shall step in and check all
progress TO distract and conound all joint endeavors
for the welfare; in fine, TO entail upon the
try all the evils Of endless discord. That's the question
And when you present that issue to me- say at once,
give separation; give me anything in preference to
a Union sustained only by power; by cOnslitutionaes
and LOCALITIES, without confidence
Is IN Favor OF THE DIFFUSION AND EXTENSION or,
SLAVERY.
am not to be deuded, Mr. President by the appeals
of the North, upon the subject of human wrongs and
the violation Of human rights am not to be misled
TO the true grounds of the anaYe extension policy OF
the North by the fine sentiments so often expressed
the subject of freedom and the claims Of humanity
know sir, that however sincere aud conscientious the
aut-savery element at the North may be, neither the
OF freedom. sentiment of humanity, is the
active principle OF the nouextenson policy of the North
Were proposed by tue South to impose the chains Of
serytude upon single human being now free, there is
no man living to whom such proposition would be
more revolving than 10 myself But sir, humanity 10
the slave less than justice TO the MASTER recon-
mends the policy OF diffusion and extension into any
territory adapted to his condition. aud the
are TOO obvious be misunderstood by the dulest intel
lect. No, sir it is not principle Of humanity that die.
tates the anti-extension policy Of the North It's deep
ly founded in the ambition of sectional ascendeney die
lated in part by the Jealousy of Southern Influence and
control aud the recollection of the long line of South
ern chiefs who have succeeded TO the Executive mantle
any Others have decided the policy Of the North
upon this subject. But however natural and
inevitable the existence Of such passions and influences
under the peculiar circumstances of our system Jet me
invoke the or5earlncc of my Northern friends, If not
their justice by consideration for the passions and
seusbilites naturally incident TO the South under the
prospect Of their declining power and Influence in the
conlederacy, which sares them in the face While
that prOtraced domination of the South which has been
so long and keenly felt at the North always more
lginary than real--no Southern man having a.
tanned the Presidency except by the concurrence of Of
tentimes than half and always Of large division
OF the Nort-yet now, IL cannot be disguised that the
period OF Southern ascendency, If il ever had real
sience approaches its termination Political power and
ascendency, in sectional view have indeed almost
passed away from tho South forever And this is
st that Senator, who spoke in this debate could not
orbea tauning the South with the prospect of their de-
clinug fortunes "A great change has taken place in
the political vocabulary" IL is longer be exultny
excaus "the South and the North j; Is the North
and the South" The South Nc President needs not 10
be reminded by the triumphant North OF her decayed
power And when the people OF the South have pros
pec the admission Of eight ten additional free States
in rapid succession without the equivalent OF single
slave State ths North head R92E how the
pse that they should be looking around for guar
antee-soms additional protection to their peculiar
dit;On AID Institutions.
TO tbs CONSTITUTION.
But sir to myself shall hold fast to the COnstiu-
ton until that it no longer opposes barrier to ab
soutc aggression; and trust that some hual adj
ment OF all these disrao;ing questions will yet be devised
audadopted upon basis just and reasonable not
y TO stay the progress OF dsacon but furnish 20 the
world that highest evidence that no diversity local in.
situiOns OF sectional interests any other Of
occasional discussion, will be powerful for mis-.
icf to sundeF the ties that now bind us together
one people.
is InENTIFIED WITH THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY
Mr.. President cannot conclude my remarks without
taxing the indulgence Of the Senate yet further in saying
few words upon the jet OF that institution for the
extension of which the new Territories some gentle
IN manifest great horror Il has been denounced
in this debate great moral ard political evil grew
Gus wrong and oppression the which are the SUBJ
ects Of blight and curse to the country which toe-
rates it, and sin upon the conscences Of the in
dviduay. To impart additional gravity to these denun-
Citations il is announced that the civy world l. grray-
ed against slavery ! am identified with this SO much
abused institution, by my representative position in this
chamber in association In character and in responsible
ty to the tribunal Of public sentiment is therefore nat
ura that should desire take brief notice OF this
accusing spirit Of my Northern cOunTymen.
SLAVERY HAS CIVILIZED AND cHRIsTIASlzsD 1HE MICRO
For the purpose OF my argument the origin and pro-
gress Of slavery in the United States may BE- briefly
rated Without pretending to accuracy of detail may
be stated with suen conformity to historical facts that
some century and half ago, a little more, few
thousand natives of Africa, in form and mind stamped
only with the rudiments of the Caucasian
scarcely bearing impress Of the human face divine
savage in their habits both OF and peace erocous
as the wild beasts OF their own native hauuts, were
caught up transported to these shores reduced to a
Of bondage end they apd their descendants held
in slavery until ths day. But what do we behold
These few thousand savages have become great peo-
pe-numberng three millions of souls; civilized, chris
tianize1 each generation developing improved
features, mental and physical and indicating fur
Their approximation to the Of their masters Search
the annals of all history and where do you find fact
striking aud Wonderful and one worthy the contem-
plion of the philosopher the statesman the christian
and the philanthropst9 This fact stand out boldly be-
fore the world and in the impressive language of the
Senator from Missouri mr. Benton it stands for az an
swer and il stand for answer. Sir il can
never DO successfully answered Has humanity cause to
drop tear the record OF this great iactg Has
Africa any cause TO mourn?
Du, there are some other and subordinate facts fairly
dedueibe from the greater and more prominent one
which may likewise defy contradiction answer The
rapid multiplication and improved lineaments Of this
people attest the fact that the yoke OF bondage has
pressed but lightly upon them and that they have shared
freely with their masters OF the fat OF the land Co.
repeat and search the pages of history and where will
you find fact comparable TO this? The history Of the
Hebrew bondage presents parallc-nothing so won
derful. The family of Jacob (he gem OF the Hebrew
naton) were oil superior race, and civilized There Is
singular analogy however besides that of bondage
which may be traced in the history of these two people,
While the religious institutions oil the one forbade any
Indignation social political with their masters aud
surrounding nations nature by laws stringent and
nexorate, forbds TO the other any equality social or
POLITICAL with The which holds them ip bondage
SLAVERY RIGHT MORALLY, POLITICALLY, ASD
RELIGiOUsLY,
As to the awluness snluness OF the institution Of
slavery, whatever phenzied or fanatic priests or more
learned and rational dvines may preach, whatever they
may Affirm OF Christian precepts moral and religious