Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-23
Give one day to your
country in this its time of
danger. Go and vote.
why n southern WING Cannot SuppOl
Holm RRII.


John Bell.
Hon. FRANCIS F. BARLOW, distinguished Wing and
American of Georgia, (who was rendered place on
the BELL. National Committee, but declined,) an
nounced his determination to support BRECKENRIDGE
in an eloquent speech in Savannah on the 9TH of
September. From that speech we make the follow
ing extract
Though think these reasons are conclusive why
we should refuse support so Mr.. Bell, have
still others which control my course but before
come to them will notice one allegation which is
very confidently made by the supporters of Mr..
Bell. They tell us that though declaration of
principle is made, yet that Mr. Bells record Is as
sound or sounder than Mr. Breckenridge or his plat
form. 1t is worthy OF observation that this argu-
ment is applied to the record of Mr.. Everett.
lApplause.l Now have to say that it is not ncum-
bent upon any man TO examine the musty
journals of the Senate to discover the principles Of
Mr. Bell by examination of this vote or that vote
which he may have given during his Congressional
career, or the sentiments which may from time to
time have been expressed upon questions perhaps
very different from those which agitate the
country. l have a right to ask now if you have
principles in the of Heaven tell me what they
are. Are you afraid if you declare and demand the
rights of the South somebody is going to call you
disuniOnist or a traitor? IApplause.1 | again re-
peat it is the present open and decided declaration
of vital principles brought into ISSUE that the
country has right to expect from the candidates
for its suffrage. Nevertheless | have given some
little attention to this argument. have looked
into the record of Mr. Bell with an anx-
iOus desire TO derive from it, if could. the consoa-
ton which Ay friends have found there, for | deem
it proper to say that has not been without hesita
ton. perhaps vacillatiOn that | have made up my
mind in this matter to pursue different course from
that which has been adopted by many of my most
cherished friends. While l accord to them the ut
most sincerity, have right to claim the same
merit for myself. do not altogether admire Mr..
Bells record, nor do find that it is satisfactory
upon many of the questions now in controversy.
1t is to say the least of it. uncertain and confused
For instance it is asserted that the 18th day of
june 1860, when the compromise measures were
before the Senate, Mr.. Berrien [applausel offered
the following amendment to one of the territorial
bills then under discussion: But no law shall be
passed interfering with the primary disposal of the
soil nor establishing prohibiting African slavery"
This amendment, it is said, against squatter
sovereignty and that John Bell voted yes and thus
endorsed the amendment | find that the amend
mcnt on that vote was adopted by the Senate, but
that subsequently Mr.. Norris, Senator, think,
from New Hampshire, moved TO strike out that
amendment that this question was brought to vote,
l think, on the Seth Of July of the same year, and
that John Bell the question TO strike out, voted
yes Thus while he had voted the amendment IN, he
has also voted it out. [Applause.] do not know
his reasons, for he made no explanations but do
know that ne voted to strike out this amendment in
the face of a debate, in which Mr.. Cass advocated
his doctrine Of squatter sovereignty IN connection
with this very amendment and Mr. Berrien, of GeOr
ga declared that vote to strike out was equivalent
to an affirmance of this very doctrine of squatter
sovereignty, and resisted it with all his power.
1t is said also that Mr. Bell at the time voted
against the WimOt provisO, which had been offered
by Mr.. Seward. This is true but can give you no
extraordinary merit to Mr.. Bell for that cote for
do not believe any Southern man would have dared
at that time to vote for the WilmOt prOviso. His
friends say that Mr.. Bell does not believe that Con
gress has the constitutional power to exclude slave
~ from the Territories. That may be so. but the
record upon that subject is satisfactory because
find him to have been the advocate of Gen TaylOrs
plan for settling these territorial questions
When they first became the subject of much agi
tatiOn in 1850 Gen Taylors plan to leave these
counties acquired from Mexico without territorial
government by Congress- and to admit them rapidly
States into this Union upon the precedent of Cal
ifornia. The Southern people had complained loud
ly of the admission Of California under the circum-
stances in which she came into this Union, a yiO
lation of the Constitution and invasion of their
rights. It's admission stigmatized practical
recognition by Congress of the worst features Of
squatter sovereignty. 1t justified by the neces
sty of the and the continued refusal of Con-
gress to provide constitutional government for
Territory placed in the most extraordinary crcum
stances But no such necessity existed in regard 10
New Mexico and Utah, and yet Gen. ToylOr
proposed without this necessity TO leave them with
out a government provided by Congress TO follow
charged whether justly or unjusty do not stop to
inquire that General Taylor desired to eyade the
question Of the WilmOt provIsO coming before the
Congress, and TO avoid the responsibility OF giving
it his approval disapprOva in case it was passed
At that conjunCture Mr.. Clay called to the Sen
ate of the United States and took the lead in OppO
ston to the plan of the President and succeeded in
passing those measures known tire compromise
bill of 1850 One thing is certain, that the measures
of General Taylor in reference to these territorial
questions failed to the cooperation Of the
Southern Wing party, and that at the period Of
his death that party opposed TO his admnistra-
ton But think the record shows that Mr.. Bell
did approve his plans and cooperate with him.
Upon that subject think him open to just censure.
[Applause.l
This subject is a large and comprehensive one
and my own time and consideration for this audi
ence compel me to pass over many topics of inter
esting inquiry. l repeat do not charge Mr.. Bell
with unsoundness on the question OF slavery; that
IS not the question. We want man equal to this
emergency, firm decided. and out-spoken in his
views; and do not think that Mr.. Bell is such
man. [Applause.l