Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-21

| be vote for the reception of this petition,
which. he comedies, prays the Senate to pass
law in violation Of the Constitution"
In the following winter (1s37 and 1881
the same gentleman brought forward his cell
ebrated abolition resolutions in the Senate,
which need not qnote, since they are SO
generally known.
| 1t is necessary to the proper understanding
OF this subject. that yon should now have
your attention drawn TO the course of Mr..
Clay in relation TO it. That gentleman, from
the first, took ground in favor Of the reeep-
ton and reference of abolition petitions, as
| the most safe and judicious mode of treating
the excitement that existed at the North on
the subject of slavery. This, OF course, laid
him open to the attacks of those Jealous
champions of Southern interests. who could
rot, at that time, tolerate the right of petit
ton in such case, much less the power of
Congress to abolish slavery in the District.
Without changing his opinion in relation to
the proper mode of disposing of abolition DE-
titlons, Mr.. Clay, in the month of February.
1889, took occasion TO express his views very
much at large, and very strongly in opposi-
ton to the designs of the abolitionists. His
views upon the whole subject were so manly,
just and commendable, that when he ceased
his speech, Mr.. Calhoun rose and expressed
his entire appreciation of it. lie did more.
He thought the occasion proper one to an
nounee to the whole country that the aboli-
ton movement was at an end But what
was then said by Mr.. Calhoun on this subject
is of too much importance to be passed over
without giving his sentiment The advantage
of his own language:
@Sir, lsaid Mr.. Calhoun) this is a good
| epoch in our political history OF all the
dangers to which we have been exposed, this
| has been the greatest. We may now con-
| slider it as past. The resolutions TO which
| he referred, meaning his anti-aboli,ion resolu-
tions of 1878. with the following move
ment, meaning the Democratic address signed
| by MIR. Niles, as Chairman,) gave the fatal
| blow, to which the position now assumed
| by the Senator from Kentucky gave the
| finishing stroke.'
1t would seem, in the opinion Of Mr.. Cal
houn expressed as late as February, 1889,
| that he and his associates. Mr.. Niles and
| others, of the admi nistration party. had al
ready given the fatal blow to abolition and
| that Mr.. Clay could do no more than pre-
cipitate its extinction. Not the least re-
markable result of this formal announcement
| that the terms of abolition had ceased, was,
that besides the comparative quiet that en-
sued in the South, the supporters of the Adj
ministration every where thought it perfectly
allowable to court the abolitionists. Their
numbers were then admitted to be too small
to become formidable to the interests of the
| South, and there was, of course, no impro-
priety in securing their votes to Mr. Van
Buren,. Mr.. Clay, after his speech in the
Senate, could not expect their united support
and Mr.. Van Buren,. without scruple or
hesitation. began his courtship by the ap-
pointment of William Leggett, one of The
most cherished advocates of their doctrines
in the State of New York, to a station of dis
tinction and bonor.
| How it has fallen out that the idea of abo-
| lition voters has once more become so alb
horrent to the feelings of gentlemen who so
recently saw nothing Objectionable in them,
it is not nece ssary to explain. The public
will perceive the reason at once.
But since it is deemed important again to
impress the South with a sense of impending
danger from the abolition movement. some
explanation will he required TO show why it
is that the admission of The poacsr Of Congress to
abolish slacery an The District IS Tess tatal 10 tie
| South at THIS time than in 1886. The power is
admitted by Mr.. Van Buren,. and yet he re-
|
considered his doctrine fatal to their interests.
| will bring my letter to a close by stating,
| that l have been driven TO adopt this mode
of giving the explanation of my course aid
opinions on this subject by the habitual gag
in the House of Representatives whenever
desire to speak.
| am. sir, with unfeigned respect.
Your obedient servant,
JOHN BELL.