Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-10-13
THE PUBLIC RECORD
PAST HISTORY
John Bell and Edward Everett

lie pOlltlcal paftleS WHICH nave GlN1utQ
the country, when they met in National
Conventions to nominate candidates for
President and Vice President of the
United States, to lay down platform of
principles upon which they asked the
support of the American people. The
vote of the citizen was given in accor-
dance with his views of public policy
and measures, and decided in favor of
one or the other party as their prnci
pies of political action agreed with his
Men We're supported only as the repre-
sentatlves Of principle. In this canvass,
however, one of the political parties has
deemed it proper or expedient to depart
from this salutary custem, and has alb
solutely refused to declare the political
principles by which its supporters will
be guided, or the political measures they
will seek to enact, should they be in
stalled in power. We have only gen
era! and unmeaning declaration in favor
of the Union, the Constitution, and a
faithful execution of the laws" to which
even Abraham Lincoln, the candidate of
the Black Republicans, full y subscribes.
They make no issue with any Of the other
political parties, not even the Black Re
pnblicans. They refuse to inform us of
their construction of the Constitution
whether 1t warrants squatter soverei gn-
ty in the Territories, or guarantees to
every citizen in them the full protection
Of his property. We are left in the dark
as to whether, according to their inter
pretation, this Constitutions is d Know
Nothing Constitution, OF proclaims civil
and religious liberty to every man Nor
are we informed what laws" they pro-
pose to enact and enforce. All is vague
and rnmeaning. They differ from no.
body SO as to get the vote of Everybody
From all we know, their views may not
materially differ from those of the sup
porters Of Lincoln and Hamlin.. Indeed,
if the past record" of the opinions of
their candidates is any index, we can
see no material difference between
them. aat s# a4#4@ 9Aa8.5
Nor are their candidates more explicit
OR disposed to furnish information of
their views upon the exciting questions
of the day. They have both refused to
declare their sentiments, but refer us
back to their "past history" Mr.. Bell,
in his letter Of acceptance, uses this Ian
guage: 2 @&
"The Convention, in disregarding the
use Of platforms, exacts no pledge from
those whom they deem worthy of the
highest trusts under the Government,
wisely considering that the surest guar,
anty OF mans future, usefulness and
fidelity to the great interests of the
country, in any official station to which
he may be chosen, is to be found in his
past history connected with the public
service" .
And his home organ reiterates his
language, and says: "Mr. Bell can re-
fer only to his life and to his opinions,
already expressed. To these opinions
he has nothing to add: from them he
has nothing to take away" The only
mode, therefore, for the citizen to learn
the views of these candidates is to refer
to their "past history connected with
the public service" to which they are
invited To the record, then, let us go.
: AS the slavery question is the: para
mount issue in this canvass, let us first
take up the record of Mr.. Bell in refer
ence to it, before proceeding to other
matters. 2fsea# E
JOHN BELL ON ABOLITION PETITIONS.
Up to the 23d Congress. Mr.. Bell had
been the firm friend and supporter Of
General Jackson. He represented the
district in which General Jackson lived
in Tennessee, and the General knew him
well. Up to this time be. had voted uni
formly with his party against the agita-
ton OF the slavery question in Congress
through the presentation OF Abolition
petitions But after abandoning Gener-
al jackson, and consorting with the Abo-
litionists, FederaIists, and disappointed
Democrats, in order to reach the Speak
er's chair, all Of which Will be more full
ly explained hereafter, we find him
abandoning, by degrees, his opposition
to the Abolitionists, and at last voting
Win tnein, ana receiving tnetF p!auuits
During the oath Congress, the Aboli,
tionists and Fcderalists Of New England
first conceived the idea of annoying Con
gress by the presentation of large patches
OF Abolition petitions, praying for the
abolition Of slavery in the States, and in
the District OF Columbia. Mr.. John G.
Adams, of Massachusetts, and Mr..Slade,
of Vermont, were their chosen mouth
pieces. These gentlemen would present
these petitions, and then deliver long
harangues upon them. To stop this ag-
itation and waste of the public time, it
was usual to lay these resc clntions on
the table. Accordingly, on the 18th Of
December, 1885, when petition for the.
abolition of sla"~---
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