Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1860-08-18
1MpoRTANr CORRESPONDENTS.
4 Letter from John Bell.

In the Mobile .Ad:ertiser, we find a letter
from John Bell, dated July 23d, 1860, writ
ten in reply to one from Mr.. A. Fl. II. Daw.
son, Of Montgomery, propoundins the follow
ing interrogatories:
First, Does a Territorial Legislature pos
sess the power to inhibit or establish slavery
Second, Does Congress possess such power!
Third. Is the owner Of slave property III
the Territories entitled to the same Protec-
ton bv the Federal Government III the
peaceful enjoyment of his slave property that
the owner of any property is!
To With he responds by referring to a
compilation prepared by himselD of such OF
his speeches and votes in Congress as illus
rate his views in reference to these subjects
and which he declares to be his opinions
now. Mr.. Bell transmits a copy OF this COL
lection, and says:
desire it to be understood that on declin
ing to make any further or different answer
to your letter, than simply to refer YOU to my
past political course. | am not controlled exclu-
sively by the authority and views of the
Convention which nominated me as their
candidate Tor the Presidency. | concur fully
and most heartily in the'conclusioL to which
they came. that it was inexpedlent and un-
wise to adopt any platform of principles be.
You'd the simple declaration OF their purpose
to maintain the Constitution. the Union. and
the Laws. Permit me to express the hope
that you will find in this declaration of pur-
pose by the Convention, snd in the authentic
exposition Of my past political course, sufi-
cient and satisfactory assurances that in the
event OF my election to the Presidency. a!l
the constitutional rights. whether Of the
States or CT the people Of the States. will be
upheld to the full extent of the power and
influence Of the Executive Department of the
Government. | am, with great respect. your
fellow-citizcn. JNo. BEL1.
A. H. H Dawson, Esq, Chairman, etc.
In answer to a part of Mr.. Dawson's letter
Mr.. Bell makes sTecial reference to a speech
made by him Oh the Gath aud 25th of Nav.
1854, published in the Goth va. Cong. Globe.
pages 947-95s. in which he uttered the fol-
lowing language:
A. to the principles Of "sqcatter sovereign.
ty' wish further to say, that in the late
contest between General TAYLOR and the
honorable and distinguished Senator from
Michigan, lMr. Cass], it was distinctly
brought forward as an issue before the people
OF Tennessee. \ + Tn that con-
test, in common with the South generally.
they 1.-The people of TENNESSEE repudiated
the idea that a handful, or any number OF in
habltapts, in Territory of the United States
should have the power granted to them by
Congrss s o. regulating their domestic %institu.
tions, and at their discretion to dem to the
citizens Of one section of the Union the yousr 10
eyoy %s 'tght Of property IN slares. We
could see no peace, no quiet, no end of agita-
ton THAT was to result from such a source.
We thought that If a Ter. iiorial Legislature
shouldi IN one or two years, establish or aboi- |
ish slavery, the agitation Of the question of
slavery would still so on. We, in Tennessee.
at that: time believed we were advocating
principles anc doctrines on this subject ap- ;
proved in al! the Southe,h States. The pin
ople teen con ended for vas that the peopIe
OF a Territory, 'chen they cane TO form their
nfate Constitution, AND THEN ONLY. were Quail
,hed TO establish their domestic institutions.
On the 5th day of June. 1850. Mr.. Helr;en.
Of Georgia, offered in the Senate of the UAi-
ted States the following amendment to the
compromise measures then under consiaela-
ton: /
But no law shall be passed interfering with
the primary disposal of the SOL, nor establish
ing or prohibiting African slavery.
Mr.. Bell voted for the amendment.-Pag.
1884 Cong. Globe, vol. q.
Here, then, is an answer to the first ques-
ZION Of Mr.. Dawson. which is full, distinct,
and emphatic. On the 18th day of Decem-
Der, 1888, Mr.. Anterior. Of New Hampshire.
offered the following resolution in the House,
so-wit.
Resolved, therefore, That all attempts on the
part q Congress TO abolish slarery in the Dis
tr!et Of Columbia or the 1err1tories. or to pro-
a'o't tie removal of Slaves from State to State, or
to discriminate betmeen The institutions of one
port'o" Of the conJederaey and another nth the
u.e~s aforesaid, are in r,olotion of the Constitu-
non, destructive Of the fundamental principle on
wn'ch TIE union Of these States rests, and beyond
meJ"risdiction Of Congress.
On this resolution Mr.. Bell voted yea,
which amounts to a direct. clear, and conclu-
n'e answer to the second question. On the
9th day of May, 1850, Mr.. Davis offered the
following amendment in the United States
Senate to the then pending compromise
measures:
Provided, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed so as to prevent said Ter
r'torial Legislature from passing such laus as
may be necessary for the protection of the rights
Of property Of every kind, which may have
been or may be hereafter, conformab;y to
the Constitution and laws Of the United
States, held In, or introduced into said Terri
tory. Mr.. Davis also prefaced this proviso
with some remarks, declaring his object to
be to assert the duty Of the government to
protect slavery.
On this proviso Mr.. Bell voted yes, thus
asserting, under oath, the duty of protection,
when necessary. He has answered. then
with remarkable point. rerspicuousness, and