Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-02
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1Aeo.
join BELL:
&, Past History Connected with the Public
sSerVice.D

JOHN BELL:
g Past History Connected with the Public
:SrrVice.''
The very great favor with which this document
has been received by the people of Tennessee and
other Southern States, has entirely exhausted our
first edition. We will however have ready for dis
tribution in day or two second edition. In look
ing over the first edition we have found quite a
number Of typographical errors some of them in
the references to the records On page "a, second
column, 2lst line from bottom, instead of Cong
Globe, Vol. IL, 2I7, it should read Appendix to
Cong Globe, % Session, 29th Congress, p. PIP On
page 25, first column, where reference is made to
the speech of Mr.. BELL to be found in Appendix to
Congressional Globe LIST Session, 3Oth Congress. in
stead of middle column of Goth page" it should
be . middle column of l90th page" The third line
of the second column of the 25th page should be
omitted entirely. There may be other errors of
similar character which We Eave not yet detected.
President Polk and Thomas Ritchie on the
Question of the Territories, and the
Equality of tie States.
Few men in their time have exercised greater in
huence upon their party, or done more to deserve
its confidence and respect, than JAMES K Polk, and
the editor of the Metropolitan organ of hts Admin
istration, THOMAS RrTCHIE. These men, like Mr.. JET
PERSON, foresaw the dangers with which Northern
sectionalism had long threaenened the country and
which were daily and hourly increasing. There
foreit was that upon the immediate acquisition of
our Mexican Territories they industriously exerted
themselves, in their respective spheres to have
some basis agreed upon that would settle the CUES
ton Of slavery in relation thereto. They united
with Senator BRIGHT and other conservative states.
men. North and South, to have the Missouri Com
promise line extended to the Pacific. Failing in this
they zealously to the support of the PROPOSE
ton of Mr.. CLAYTON, a Wing Senator from Della
ware, organizing the Territories and submitting all
constitutional and legal questions to the decision
of the Supreme Court While they did not press
their individual opinions upon these questions they
did not hesitate to make them known, and to insist
upon some settlement that would be in accordance
with tdirdediiHg and the equality Of the States. Their
views thus expressed are in striking harmony with
the policy and principles of their party the pres
ent time as shown by the resolutions adopted by the
Convention nominating BRECKNEIDGE and LANE.
The last great act in the ilustuous administra-
ton of Mr.. Polk was his annual message to Con-
gress of Dec. >, lS4S. 1t might be appropriately
termed his farewell address to his countrymen.
With reference to these territories and the questions
growing out of them. he said:
a. Our gallant forces in Mexico, by whose patriot
ISM and unparalleled deeds OF arms we obtained
these possessions an indemnity for our Just de-
mands against Mexico, were composed of citizens
who belonged to no one State or section of our
Union. They were men from slaveholdng and non.
slavehoding States, from the North and from the
South. from the East and the West They were all
companions in arms and fellow-citZens of the same
common country. engaged in the same common
cause. When prosecuting that war. they were
brethren and friends, and shared alike with each
other common tolls. dangers and suherings Now,
when their work is ended, when peace is restored.
and they return again 20 their homes. put of the
habiliments war. take their places in society and
resume their pursuits in civil life. surely spirit of
harmony and concession and of equal regard the
rights of all and of all sections of the Union ought to
prevail in providing governments for the acquired
territOries-the fruits of their common service.
The whole people Of the United States and of every
State contributed defray the expenses of that war;
and COJdd not be Just for any section 20 ebcde GnO
er from participation in the acquired territory This
would not be in with the just system of
government which the trainers of the constitution
adopted.
The question is believed to be rather abstract
than practical, whether slavery would
exist in Pny portion of the acquired territory.
If il were left to the option of the slaVeholding
States themselves. From the nature of the climate
and productions. in much the larger portion of it. it
is certain II could exist; and IN the remain
der the probabilities are il would not But hOlceUer
this Hlug De. the question INVOLVING AS IT DOES PRIN
cIP1E OF EQUALITY OF RIGHTS Of the seperdte and
several States equal cOpdrtRerS IA the cOltederGcy,
SHOULD NOT BE DIsREGARDED.
In organizing governments over these Terrific
ries, no duty imposed on Congress by the Consttu-
non requires that they should legisate the sub
iect of slavery while their power to do So is not
only seriously questioned but denied by many of
the st undest eXp0unders of that instrument Whether
Congress shall legslate not tie people OF the &C
quired Territories luhen assembled IA Contention 10
form State Constitutions. will possess the SOLE ana
EXCLUSIVE power TO determine for themselves
whether slavery shall or shall not exist within their
limits. If Congress shall abstain from interfering
with the question. the people OF those territories
will be left free to adjust il they may think proper
when they apply for admission into The Omon'
If Congress- instead of observing the course OF
non interference. leaving the adoption OF their own
domestic institutions TO the people VINO may lnha0lt
these Territories; or, If, instead OF eNtenunS inc
Missouri Compromise line TO the Paelhc, snail pre-
fer TO submit the legal and constitutional questions
which may arise TO the decision of the Judicial trl-
bunals, proposed in bill (the Clayton Oonl-
pTomise) which passed the Senate at the lasl ses-
sion. adjustment may be effected IN this MODE
If the whole subject be referred to the JUDI
ciarY, al parts Of the Union should cheeUdAg Gc-
glteSe IN e 6Rai decision Of the tribunal created oy
the Constitution for the settlement Of all questions 'oach
may arise under the Constitution, tedtleS ana 'doS %
ue United States Haa
1t viii be observed that in the opinion Of this cool
and dispassionate statesman this question relating
to the Territories, owed its Importance mainly TO
the fact that it involved "a principle Of equality o.
rights OF tie separate and several States as equal Co
partners ia He Cotederacy," and therefore, ''shoSd
so' be disreyarled'
1t will further be observed that he expressed 1t
as his OPINION that the time at which the people OF
the Territories would be authorized to determine the
question is, 'when assembled in Convention to form
state Constitutions" and "when they shall apply |
Tor admission into the Union" But if nothing could |
Dc agreed upon that would harmonic the North |
and the South, and the whole subject be referred
to the Judlciary' he said al parts of the UIaioH
Shood chesJ'dy GcQueSce IN the final decision of the
tribunal created by the Constitution for the settle
ment OF all questions which NAV arise under the
Constitution"
What would Mr.. Polk have thought then If told
that upon the future decision Of this Question r.
this tribunal ae,r doctrine would be esDousoa A.
Mr. DOUGLAS and his friends, that whatever the S,I-
preme Court may decide, determining the right oF
the Slave States to emigrate to these Territories
with their property, yetby unfriendy legislation
they NAV be rightfully" deprived of the enjoyment
of that property? Could he have believed that any
nan originating and advocating such a heresy,
coGld ever be seriously thought of by any honest |
portion Of the people of Tennessee for the respon
sible and dgaifed position which he then held? To
think so would be to question his confidence in the
intelligence or integrity of the people.
Few men in the history of our politics have con-
tributed much-and none have contributed more