Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-07
8 He'll n PrODhpf 2

Is Bell a Pr0phet2
Some assign the fact that Bell voted against
that 'cheat and swindle," the Kansas N ebraska
bill, as an objection to him. He did wise act
when he did SO. as the troubles into which the
adoption OF that bill has thrown the country
amply shows. He had the firmness and patriot
ism to separate from his personal and political
friends, and vote as the dictates of bis judgement
prompted, though it required the sacrifice of
popularity for the time, as others were not wise
enough to see that he was right. What his
Judgment told him would be its dreadful prac-
tlcal operation, time has established to be true
His predictions in reference to it now read like
prophecy. The following is an extract from
speech of his delivered in the Senate, when that
bill was under discussion, on the 3rd of March,
1854:
"How can this measure furnish any new guar
antee for the preservation of the Union or how
transfer to the Territories, and take away from
Congress, those distracting and sectional ques
tions which 60 often intrude themselves here p
And, above all, how will the passage of this Bill
remove the source of those slavery agitations at
the North which have heretofore, upon two
memorable occasions, filed the country with
alarm for the safety of the Union? Is there no
danger that instead of staunching, you will open
afresh this bleeding wound of the countrys
'Mr. President, take the provisions OF the Bill
as it stands amended, and suppose the lnhablt
ants less or more in number, of one OF these
Territories, as soon as their government is or
ganized, should establish slavery by law, would
that quiet agitation at the North? Or would
it not be more rational to conclude that it would
be sounding of the tocsin for general rally of
all the worst elements of the Abolition faction
at the North, stimulated and supported by great
numbers OF Northern citizens who have hereto
fore given no countenance to their excuses p
Would NOT more widely difused, and more
intense anti-slavery sentiment be awakened than
has ever existed at any former period prepared
and determined when the proper time should
come, to resist the application of new slave
State to be admitted iEto the Union?
But, let US now suppose that slavery shall
not be introduced into either of these territories
under the sanction of a territorial law-and it
is the general opinion of those who have spoken
in this debate that it will not-,yll agitation
then ceases Is there no ground to apprehend
that the impression produced by the repeal Of
Missouri Compromise upon the people of the
North will settle down into more decided and
deep-rooted hostility to slavery and the whole
South, than could, under any other circumstan-
ces, likely to occur in future, be provokeds l
speak not now of the class of Northern citizens
to whom the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr.
Sumner) and the Senator from Ohio Mr.. Chase
and their followers belong professional agita-
tors who avow their purpose of continued agi-
tation, and whether this bill passes or not, they
will do their utmost to fan the fires of fanaticism
and inhame every anti Southern feeling in the
North And let me say that nothing we could
do would more painfully disturb the present
cofdence of the gentlemen-nO more fatal blow
to their present prospects could be given-than
to reject this bill. But was speaking OF the
probable effect of the passage of this bill upon
far different class of n Northern citizens. allude
to that body of sober minded and rejecting cit
zens who, though anti-slaverY In their senti
ments, have never approved the fanatical raw
ings and mischievous Vaccinations of the vari-
GUS abolition societies and sects, who have had
no disposition to disturb or evade any OF the
compromises or guarantees OF the Constitution
for the protection Of the rights of the Shareholder
but who may yet entertain feelings OF decided
hostility to the introduction of slavery into any
territories heretofore considered free territory.
Is there no just ground to apprehend that the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, which,
whether constitutional or not, for more than
thirty years has been regarded in the North as q
valid settlement of line north of which slavery
could never go-I repeat, is there no danger to
apprehended that the repeal of that settlement
will impart a stronger and deeper complexion to
the antislavery sentiment of this class of North
ern citizens?"
"Mr. Bell then adverts TO the little probability
that slavery could take root in this terrific
ry, and the worthlessness to the South, praeti-
cally, of the proposed repeal, and asks:
ssIs it for this poor boon-if my friends will
allow the expression-this phantom, that we are
called upon to sanction a measure which will
impart life and vigor, arm with new head and
fangs, the now half conquered Hydra of the
North 2 Is it for this that we are called upon
to give promise of better day to those political
agtators at the North who have staked their
whole fortune upon the successful formation Of a
great Northern sectional party, the last and
| most fatal evil that can befall the country; for
its consummation will be the destruction of the
constitution and the extinction of public liberty
Is it tor this that we are called upon to supply
new weapons of warfare, and to invite combi-
nation of Wing freesoilers, soft shsll and indie
pendent Democrats, liberty men, abolitionists,
socialists and atheists, founded upon no COM
mon principle but hatred to the Soqth-no COM
mon object but the acquisition of power and the
spoils 2"
| SOUND AS A DoLLAR.-As far back as the
III Dill IL 4. u