Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-08-17
John Bells Platform.

which nominated Bell and Everett, anon,
! other things, declared that they repudiate'
! platforms, and refused to make any speci6
declaration Of their principles, and referred
; the people to the lives and speeches of thei
standard-bearers, Messrs. Bell and Everett, a
J the most legitimate and authoritative exposi
] ton of the sentiments of the party, and th'
|policy, if successful, that it might be expected
to pursue. Now, this method of ascertaininl
the probable policy Of party that aspires t.
; the government of the country, and which
refuses to make any distinctive declaration O
/ its principles, is certainly rational one. And
4 we find the Southern opposition acting upon
! that suggestion, and taking the party at thei,
word, by obtaining from Mr.. Bell, and those
authorized to speak for him, declaration ol
his principles.
Mr.. Clemens, distinguished Bell man Of
Alabama, recently wrote letter, of which we
published an extract, defining Mr.. Bells
position on the slavery question to be identi.
cal with that of Mr.. Breckenridge. We have
kept look out for these announcements, as
we are desirous to learn and present to our
readers an authentic and correct statement Of
Mr. Bells position. And, when we find Mr..
Bell and his friends in the South, where the
strength of the party resides, publishing
declarations of his principles on which they
rely to gain votes for him there, we are GER
tainly justifiable, if they are honest, in taking
these declarations as toreshadowing the
principles and policy that wil gouern Mr.
Bells administration, should he be elected
President. Now, we ask the candid attention
of the Bell men Of this county to the following
letter of Mr.. Bell to Mr.. Thomas H. Watts,
of Montgomery, Alabama, a leader of the Bell
party in that State, and to Watts announce
ment to the people of Alabama of Mr.. Bells
principles, as he gathers them from Er BELLS
oon writings, UhicA Mr.. BELL himssIf fur.
nishes for that vsry purpose. Mr.. Watts
writes to Mr.. Bell, requesting "his views on
the more prominent questions at issue in the
pending canvass" Mr.. Bell answers as
follows:
.. NASHVILLE. July %, 1860.
DEAR SIR:-Your letter of the 9th inst.
was received ten days since, and it is due to
you, as we'll as myself, to state the causes
which delayed my answer to this late
day, to explain what otherwise might be
imputed as discourtasy. Such statement
is due to numerous ether gentlemen aoho, in
the last month or sic soeeks, have addressed
letters of inquiry to me, from, different quar-
ters OF the country, Gs to my uieus and
opinions on the more prominent questions
at issue in the pending canuass, ana which
have received no answer.
"To the inquiries in all such letters, there
was but one reply, as l conceived, which
could, consistently and properly, be made
under the circumstances of my position,
which was, to refer the ,oriters to my past
course !; to the oie,os and opinions haze
heretofore held and expressed on the subjects
or questions embraced in their letters But
it appeared to me that a reply, containing
nothing more than such general reference,
without pointing ont t'e particular v0tes,
speeches, and. other evidences Of what Ihad
said or done IN connection With the questioaes
made the subject Of inquiry, or stating Uhere
they aoers found, would be ungrac Gus, to
say the least of it. To make such references
in my answers would far exceed the ordinary
limits of a letter, and l concluded that it
would be more convenient and satisfactory
to both parties, to accompany my ans,oers
scih q printed collection Of such Of ma
speeches and letters as haze q direct bearing
upon the subjects Of feontroversy;: or of such
copious extracts theretrom, as 10 lsave moth
ing to be supplied by further quotations from
them. The preparation of such o compilation
was Immediately commenced, by member
of the Central Union Committed of Tennes
SEQ. 1t is now completed, and transmit,
herea0iih. a copy Of 1t, printed in the Ma
tiondt Union. 1t was issued from the press
week later than was anticipated by me,
and hence, my answer to Your letter, as
we'll as to others, has been delayed q week
beyond the time had proposed to myself to
answer them.
!" For the reasons which impel me to de.
cline further answer to the inquiries in your
letter, refer you to the first enl second
pages of the National Union. You will
observe that the ground there taken is, that
it would be Inconsistent with the declared
uieaos Of the Convention which placed me in
the position l now occupy befors the public,
to make any nev declaration Of principles
But do not choose to shelter myself under
the authority Of the nominating Convention
against any reproach may incur in conss-
quence of the course have Thoughts it my
duty to pursue in relation to this subject
Had I been member of the Convention,
should have resisted the adoption of any
platform, or other declaration Of principles,
not embraced or implied in the three tunda-
mental propositions or objects intended to
be maintained and secured by the National
Union Party, and which constitute the basis
of its organization The Constitution, the
Union, and the Enforcement of the Laws.
The great aim of the National Uuion Party
is, to restore peace, with justice, to both
sections Of the Union--not to perpetuate
strife.
Whatever may be the policy or design
of others, North and South, who, in their
letters. have insisted upon their right, as
matter of principle, to call upon mo to
declare my views and opinions upon any or
ali of the questions which have become the
subject of controversy in the present can
vass, and contend that cannot refuse COM
pliance with their demands without viola
ton of the obligation they assume to exist
on my part as candidate for public place, I
H0Ce no U1StTuSt ~ your STHCeTtty GH0 yoo0
faith in ndlci'sg the earnest appeals to me
which you do in your letter, to take course
which, l hope you will, upon reflection, per-
ceive would not be in conformity with the
intentions and expectations of those who
chose me to be their leader, and the repre-.
sentative of their policy and principles Nor
d. l doubt your sincere desire to support the
Union Ticket, if you can do so consistent,
with your sense Of public duty. It's, there
fore, with deep regret that find myself
constrained to differ with you in any of your
views, and most of all to have to say to you
that cannot 60 beyond the record of my
political life, in responding to the questions
presented in your letter.
"IF, IN THE AUTHENTIC EXPOSITION OF MY
COURSE UPON THE sUBJEoT OF SLAVERY RUN