Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-09-27
THE PUBLIC RECORD AND PAST HISTORY
JOHN BELL AND EDWARD EVERETT

National Convention to nominate candidates for the
President and Vice President OF the United States to
lay down platform of principles upon which they ask
ed the support OF the American people. The vote of
the citizen was given In accordance with his views of
public policy and measures and decided in favor of
or the other party as their principles of political action
agreed with his Men were supported only the re-
preventative of principle In this canvass however, one
of the political parties has deemed it proper expedent
to depart from this sautary CUSTOM and has absolutely
refused to declare the political principles by which its
supporters will be guided the political measures they
will seek to enact should they be installed in power
We have only general and unmeanng declaration in
favor of the Union, the Constitution and q faithful
execution of the laws" to which even Abraham Lin
con the candidate of the Black Republicans fully sub
scribes. They make issue with any of the other po
litical parties, not even the Black Republicans. They
refuse to inform of their construction of the Const
tutonWhether it warrants squatter sovereignty in the
Territories or guarantees to every citizen in them the
full protection of his property We are left in the dark
to whether according to their interpretation this
Constitution is Known othing Constitution or pro-
claims civil and religious liberty to every man. Nor
are we informed what laws they propose to enact
and enforce. All is vague and unmeaning. They differ
from nobody, so to get the vote of everybody For
all We know, their views may not materially differ from
those of the supporters of Lincoln and Hamlin In
deed if the past record Of the opinions of their can
didates any index, no material difference
between them.
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 de-
clare their sentiments but refer back to their past
history" Mr.. Bell in his letter of acceptance, used
this language:
"The convention in disregarding the of platforms
exacts pledge from those whom they deem worthy of
the highest trusts under the Government wisely considering
that the surest guarantee of usefulness and
fidelity to the great interests of the country in any official
past history connected withIthe public service
And his home organ reiterates bis language, and says
Mr.. Bell refer only to his life and his opinions al
lo
add from them he has nothing to take array" The
only mode, therefore, for the citizen to learn the views
of these candidates is to refer to their history con-
nected with the public service to which they are in
vited. To the record, then, let US 60.
AS the slavery question is the paramount issue in
this canvass let first take up the record of Mr.. Bell
in reference to it, before proceeding to other matters
JOHN BELL ON ABOLITION PETITIONS.
Up to the 23d Congress- Mr. Bell had been the firm
friend and supporter of General Jackson. He repre-
sented the district in which General Jackson lived in
Tennessee and the General knew him we'll Up to this
time he had voted uniformly with his party against the
agitation of the slavery question in Congress through
the presentation of Abolition petitions But after
hardening General jackson, and consOrting with the
Abolitionists Federass and disappointed Democrats,
in order to reach the Speakers chair, all Of which will
be fully explained hereafter we find him abandon
ing, by Degrees his opposition to the Aboonsts, and
at last voting with them and receiving their plauds.
During the oath Congress- the Abolitionists and Fed
eralists of New England first conceived the idea of
congress 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 Q. Adams, of Massachusetts, and Mr.. Slade, Of
Vermont, were their chosen mouth-peces These gen
temen would present these petitions and then deliver
long harangues upon them. TO stop this agitation and
waste of the public tme it usual to lay these
lutons the table. Accordingly CD the 18th of De
cember 1885, when petition for the immediate aboli
ton of slavery in the District of Columbia pre-
sented, motion was made to lay it on the table, DIR.
Bell Voted an the negative qUih MesSrS Adans &ade i
Co-(See page BIZ
Again, on the 2lst of September, when similar pc
tton was presented and motion made to lay 1t on the
table, which carried by ayes l40, noes Is, find
Mr.. Bell voting with Adams Sade q Co., against the
motion.-(Pa 39)
The frequency of the presentation of these petitions,
and the time wasted in their discussion to the great de-
trment of the public interest," called for decisive
action OF the part of the House. Consequently, Mr..
Owens of Georgia. moved to suspend the rules in order
to introduce the following resolutions
ReSotUed That in the opinion of this House, the ques
ton Of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
ought not to be entertained by Congress.
praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
be hereafter presented is the deliberate opinion of this
House that the same ought be laid upon the table without
reading"
Mr.: Bell voted with Adams, Sade & Co., and defeat
ed the motion to suspend the rules, twothrds being
cessary for that purpose.-(Page 49,
In order to dispose OF this NATTER Mr.. Plnckney, OF
South Carolina, moved resolution providing for the
appointment of committee, with instructions to re-
port that Congress- possesses constitutional power to
interfere in any way with slavery in any of the States of
this Confederacy and that in the opinion of this House.
Congress ought not to interfere in any way with slavery
in the District of Columbia because it would be VIC
ation of the public aith unwise impotc, and danger
to the Union" On the motion to suspend the rules
for the purpose of Offering this resolution the yeas
1885, noes IS. Mr.. Blu vo'ed an the negative. He al
voted against ordering the main question to be put
to bring the House to vote the resolutions but
he yet lacked the nerve to vote against them.-Pages
ITO, III.
During the month of May, Mr.. Pinckney from this
committee, reported series of resolutions, the first Of
which the following:
power to interfere in any Way With the institution Of slavery
in any Of the States of this Confederacy.'
The question then required upon bringing the House
to vote the resolutions by ordering the main ques
ton to be put, when we find Mr.. Bell voting with
Adams, Slade, & Co. to stave off vote. They did not
succeed however, and the question recurring the
solution ITSELF we find Mr. Bell lodging the vote He
did not desire to offend his Abolition friends one of
whom (Mr. Adams said in reference to the resolution
the House would allow five minutes time, pledge
myself to prove that resolution false and utterly
Finding by the above vote that they could not defeat
the other resolutions the Aboitonsts then srOve to
stave of a vote them by factious motions. They
would move to adjourn, and then while that question
was being taken another OF them when his name was
called, would ask to be excused from voting. The
Speaker decided, while the yeas and nays being
called member could interrupt the proceedings by
motion to be excused from voting. An appeal was ia
ken from the decision of the Chair which was sustained
ayes l38, noes 46, Mr.. Bell voting with Adams, Sade
& Co. in the negative against the decision But their
efforts did not prevail and they were brought to vote
upon the others of the series of resolutions the last of
which was in these words
And whereas it is extremely important and desirable
that the agitation of this subject should be finally arrested
for the purpose of restoring tranquility the public mind
your committee respectfully recommend the adoption the
following additional resolutions, viz
heSotced, That all petitions, memorials, resolutions,
proposnons or papers relating in any way any
nfsJauo