Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-08-11
From the National Union, August /,
MIR. BELL.

The Nashville Union and american quotes
certain passages from Mr.. Bells speech: IN
1880, on the bill to suppress the Slave Trade
in the District of Columbia, and says:
at will thus be seen that Mr. Bell clearly
and unequiyOcally 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, therefore, not influenced by any oppose
ton to the principle of the bill
But the worst feature is, that Mr.. Bell
committed himself TO the abolition of slavery
in the District of Columbia"
Now. would it not have been just and fair
to let the public know the reasons, as assign
ed by himself in this very speech, which d'd
Influence Mr.. Bells vote? We think it
would; and so will think every candid man
to whom an opportunity shall be afforded OF
understanding those reasons That oPpor-
tunity we shall now proceed to furnish TO the
readers of this journal:
The bill in question was the last OF the
series of compromise" bills, reported 10y the
Senate's Committee OF Thirteen. As origin
ally reported, and as it finally passed, it con-
sisted of two sections
The first section prohibited the bringing
into the District of Columbia of any slave
whatever, for the purpose of being sold, or
for the purpose OF being placed in depot, to
be subsequently transferred to any other
State or place to be sold as merchandise"
This section further provided that, If any
slave should be brought into the District by
its owner, or by the authority aud consent OF
its owner. contrary 10 the provisions of the
act, such slave should thereupon become
liberated and free.
The second section authorized the Corpora
lions OF the cities of Washington and George
town to abolish any depot, or place of con-
finement of slaves brought into the District
contrary to the provisions of the act.
As one of the Committee of Thirteen,
Mr.. Bell had acquiesced in Che policy of
this n,easure. In bis speech on the subject
he say
..Wftl -arl to the proposition to sup
press tI,- slave trade ia the District, al
ready stated, had made up my mind that it
on zht 10 be done On several grounds In the
place. II Is known that the slave trade,
lcideni of the unrestrailed right of pro-
N slaves. is the most offensive feature
of L. institution. 1t is SO regarded in the
SOutL as well as in the North. Southern
gentlemen have their sensibiiities upon this
subject "a we'll as Northern gentlemen They
know. indeed, that it cannot be altogether
prohibited in the States; but perhaps it cOuld
be regulated SO as TO become less offensive TO
popular sensibilities- Aud | believe that,
but for this baueiul and mischievOus agita-
ton at the North, not only the sale and trans
fer of slaves in the States would have been
subjected to limitations, making the exercise
of the right less repugnant to our own feel
ings in the South, but that many other and
still greater ameliOratiOns in the condition
of the slave would have been effected long
since by State legislation. / believe that u
gradual and progressive amelioration in the
condition OF the slaves of the South, such as
took place in the progress of Roman civiliZa-
tiO0, in sOitening the rigOrs of the servile
population. would, before now, have marked
the legislation of the Southern States upon
this subject, but for the Oficious Intervention
of Northern fanaticism. l allude to such
ameliOrations as forbid the separation of
families, the separation of husband and wife.
of parent and child, either by the voluntary
act of the master, or by Judicial process-the
right OF the slave, under certain c;reumstan-
ces and with proper limitations, to choose
new master, and 10 pass to him at an APP
praised value. / verify believe that these
improvements in the condition of the slave
would have been effected or in progress years
ago, in many if not in all the slave States,
but for this Ill judge agitation at the North.
The consequence of this agitation, however,
has been that, instead of these ameliorations.
we have been compelled to impose new re-
straints upon the slave-to rivet more strong
ly the chains that bind him. We're mem
Der of the Legislature of my own State at
this period, and under the present excited
state of public feeling, would not dare to
b propose any relaxation of existing restraints,
or any ameiioration of the general condition
of the slave. But, sir, were ] a member of
town or city council, think | should not
/ hesitate to give my voice for the suppression
. of these slave depots or sIaUe pms, as they are
called, within the precincts Of the corpora
Ition; / would Danish them. at least, from
lpubIic view; nor would suppose that was
Thereby iniiicting any wound upon the insti-
Tuition of slavery. Sun, even such a pro-
tceeding as this, in these distracted times,
emight be misunderstood; and j would no;
think it expedient to pass this bill in any
shape at this time, but for the connection In