Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-15
BELL and Douglas in 1850.

Whoever reads the Congressional record o.
! the great contest of 1850 over the mode OF
regulating the new Territories acquired from
| Mexico, will observe the prominent fact that
one class of politicians 1--WE refer not to party
names. for they were lost sight of in sectional
divisions) were persistently trying to impose
| or to retain some restriction that would ex-
clude slavery; while another class were equal
| ly intent on keeping the Territories open
| alike to the Southern emigrant and his slave
property and to the Northern settler with his
free "notions." Aud if the reader scans this
record with a view to the positions of men
now prominent before the country, he ill
| find that John Bell was undeviatingly true
to the policy of the class last mentioned, and
that Stephen A. Douglas was equally bent on
obtaining triumph Tor the restrictive policy
first named. We have only time, Just now
to refer particularl7 to a few of their votes
disclosing this antagonism.
On the 9Th June. 1880. in the Senate the
vote was taken on the following amendment,
offered by Mr.. Chase Chen Freesoil and un-
til recently Black Republican Senator from
OhiO) to The Compromise bill:
That nothing herein contained shall be
construed as authorizing or permitting the
Introduction of slavery or the holding of
persons as property within said Territorv."
For this amendment. Seward Chase, Day
ton and every other Freesoiler voted, and
with them was Stephen a. Douglas. Anon,
the nays was John Bell.
On the same day, hr. Seward moved the
"Wiimot Proviso." in the following words:
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servi
tude, otherwise than upon conviction for
crimes, shall ever be allowed in either OF
said Territories of Utah and New Mexico.D
Again Douglas voted with Seward, Chase
Dayton aud others in the affirmative. or TO-
the proyiso; and again John Bell voted agains
it.
On the same day, an amendment was pro
posed by Mr.. Berrien, forbidding the Terri
torial Legislature to pass any act either .'es
tablishing or prohibiting African slavery:
Mr.. Hale (he same old "Jack'') moved e
amend the amendment by adding the word
''or clLOecing," which would clearly have for
hidden any Territorial protection of slave
property when carried there. Douglas voted
with Hale, Seward, Chase, and others of thai
stripe, for Hale's amendment, and Bell voteu
with Berrien against it.
On the next day, the vote was taken on an
amendment offered by Mr. Walker-"thai
peon slavery is forever abolished and pro-
bibited;" Douglas voted for III, with all the
other Freesoilers; and Bell against it.
On the same day, Mr.. Baldwin moved an
amendment, that the Mexican laws abolish
ing African slavery in New Mexico and Utah
should be considered as still in force. and
should SO remain until repealed bg Congress
(thus restraining the Territorial Legislature,
from removing restrictions against slayery.)
Douglas voted for Baldwin's amendment, anu
Bell against it. 49,.
We might refer to other votes of similar
character, but these will do for the present.
And in the face Of records such as this
some Southern Democrats persist in assert
ing that Douglas is as sound a man as Bell
on questions affecting slavery in the Terrific
ries !-C Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer.