The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-01
John pell,s Slavery Record.

The Nashville Union mentions that the
Patriot of that city gives prominence to the
following
A FALSE STATEMENT am
bilious young friend Of ours, in speech re-
Mr.. Bell on the ground that the record show
ed him unreliable on the slavery question. AS
the charge has been made far and wide by
Democraticspresses and orators, it is well that
the matter should be placed right.
The charge is made that Mr.. Bell voted in
favor Of the abolition of the slave trade in the
District Of Columbia.
On page 1910, Congressional Globe, vol. Fl.
appears the following proceedings:
1Mr. Hale-Mr. President, rise to inquire
what is the question before the Senate p
ssThe President--It is On the passage of the
bill ITO suppress the slave trade in the District
of Columbia"
Mr.. Mason called for the yeas and nays on
the passage, and they were ordered, and were
as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Baldwin, Benton, Bright,
Czss, Chase, Clark, Clay, Cooper, Davis, OF
Mass, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge, of Wiscon-
sin, Dodge, of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing, Fetch,
Fremont, Greene Gt0iR, Hale, Hamlin, Hous-
ton, Jones, Harris, Seward, Shields, Spraunce,
Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales, Walker and
Winthrop-33.
NAys-Messrs. Atchison. Badger, Barn
well. BELL, Berrien, Butler, Davis, of Mis-
sisspp, Dawson, Downs, Hunter King, Man
gum, Mason, Martin, Pratt, Sebastian, Soule,
Turner and Yulee-19.
We have noted, among the yeas, in italics,
the names of Democrats now in full fellow
ship with both branches of the Democracy
Mr.. Bell is innocent of the charge. Yet they
reject him and hold on to men who are guilty.
| If Gas we bslieve) they are honorable, candid
men, they will retract the charge And il
| they are sincere, in their denunciation of this
measure and its supporters, they ought to cut
| loose from such men as Douglas, Bright, Cass,
| Dickinson and Gwin, who forced this "great
outrage" upon the South, but who are now
| in full communion with one or the other OF
the great national Democratic parties.-Set-
ma (Ala.) Reporter.
The Union adds that in the discussion of
this bill Mr.. Bell placed himself upon the re-
cord so as to leave no doubt whatever as TO
his sentiments not only upon the suppression
of the slave trade, but the abolition Of slave
~ in the District of Columbia. In the dis
cussion of the bill to suppress the slave trade
in the District of Columbia Zone of the Com
promise measures on the 14th of September,
1850, Mr. Bell said: (See Appendix to the
Congressional Globe, vol %, page 1861
With regard to the constitutional power Of
Congress over this subject, / would say that
the only doubt have of the existence Of the
1
abolish slavery in this District, is inspired by
the respect 1 have for the opinions of SO
many distinguished and eminent men, both in
and out of Congress, who hold that Congress
has no such power. Reading the Constitu-
ton for myself, believe that Congress has al
the power over the subject in this district
which the States have within their respective
Jurisdictions. - !
But, however great my respect may be for the
opinions Of others on the question of power
d,ere are some considerations of such high ac.
c0uat as, III nag judgment, to male IL desirable
that unless By common consent the project q
abolition shall be wholly given up and alan
doned. THE REMNANT OF SLAVERY EXISTING
II THE DISTRICT SHOULD BE ABOLISH
Ed AT ONCE at the present moment, how
ever, the excited state Of public sentiment in
the South, growing out of territorial ques-
tons NAV seem to forbid such course. Fol-
myself, if the sentiment of the adjacent States
and of the South generally were less infamed
WOULD PREFER THAT COURSE TO
KEEPING IT AN OPEN QUESTION
Slavery in the District of Columbia is now
the only remaining ground of contention
the only remaining point of objection and as
sault on the part of the anti-slavery North.
DO not include the fanatics. They mil be
satisfied NTH nothing short of the extinction Of
slavery ia the States; but all others at the
North disclaim any intention, or design, or
any constitutional power to interfere with
slavery anywhere but in the District Of Co
lumbia. l arouyd be glad to see all cause of
disturbance and contention in the District arloL-
Ia removed but let me say that this can new
er be done by the abolition of slavery, unless
it be accompanied by some adequate provision
for the removal or the effective control Of the
slaves after they shall he emancipated. With
this qualification. and in order to test the de-
termination of the North in regard to any fur
Their and continued aggressions upon southern
feelings and the security of Southern proper
| SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT ABOL-
| ISHED TODAY. In one aspect of the sub
iect l am not sure that it would not be A
GREAT CONSERVATIVE MEASURE,
both as regards the Union and the interests of
the South. The District once relieved Of all
sources of dissension, we would be speedily
enlightened upon the question whether the
North would stop there, or raise new and
more dangerous issues. If all agitation should
cease, then would the whole country, in all its
sections and interests, experience the blessings
of repose from this distracting controversy /;
on the other hand, should The North manifest
| a determination to continue the strife, bg IT.
tocking other points, the uncertainty aChicb
noso hangs oUer tie fortunes Of the South s0ill
be dispelied and the people toould then have tie
| option Of deciding their 0tcn destiny tUtthott
| further delay. They could either make up
their minds to submit in quiet and with be-
coming grace, to whatever the North may de-
cree, or to take steps for successful resistance.
| If, sir, it were proposed now TO eradicate
| slavery from the District and at the same
| time provide proper securities for the removal
or effective control of the free colored popu-
lation, l AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY
THAT THE SOUTH SHOULD RESIST
THE MEASURE.
With regard to the proposition to suppress
the slave trade in the District, as already sta
ted, l HAD MADE UP MY MIND THAT
IT OUGHT TO BE DONE ON SEVERAL
GROUNDS. In the first place, it is known
that the Stare trade, an incident of the unre-
strained right of property in slaves, Is the most
offensive feature of the institution. 1t is SO
regarded in the Southas well as in the North.
49, = = &E1a& say
But, sir, acre a member of touu1 On. city
council, I think should not hesitate to giUe
nSy voice for the suppression Of these slage de-
pots. or SLAVE PENS, as they are called, scithin
the precincts Of he corporation.
1t will thus be seen that Mr.. Bell clearly
and unequivocally committed himself to the
suppression of the slave trade in the District
of Columbia, notwithstanding he voted against
the bill for that purpose. His vote was, there
fore, not influenced by any opposition to, the !
principle of the bill ~
But the worst feature is, that Mr.. Bell COM
mitted himself to the abolition of slavery III
tie District of Colttmbia.
Now read what Mr. Bell said in his letter
accepting the nomination for the Presidency
The Convention, in discatding the use Of
platforms, exacts no pledges from those whom
they deem worthy of the highest trusts under
liz GaEssassss,i zEiscly considering that THE
SuREsT GUARANTY OF MATS. > SgssRfE.-S-SE-
FULNEss AND FIpEIITY TO THE GREAT IN
TEREsTs OF THE COUNTRY, in any official stu. |
ton to which he may be chosen, Is TO BE
FOUND IN HIS PAST HISTORY CONNECTED WIN |
THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
The VIcksburg Wing Admits the
Charge.