Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-12
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER u, 1850
John HeII,. Black Record.

with regard to the constitutional power OF
congress over this subject, | would say that
the only doubt have Of the existence of the
power, either to suppress the slave trade or to
abolish Slavery in this District, is inspired by
the respect have for the opinions of so many
distinguished and eminent men, both in and
out oil Congress, who hold that Congress has
ne such power. Reading the Constitution for
myself, I5elieue that Congress has all the 1,oao-
or ocer the subject in This district ,rAicA the
States hare cithin their respectics jurisdic.
tons Congressional Globe eol. % p. 1868.
John Bells Speech.
Again:
but, however great my respect may be for
tho opinions Of others on the question OF
power, there are some considerations Of such
high account as i'll my Judgment to make it de-
siTa6ie that, unless by common consent the pro-
ject of abolition shall be wholly given mp and
abandoned, the remnant IF slarery existing in
tho District should be abolished at once; ut the
present moment, however, the excited state Of
public sentiment in the South, growing out OF
the territorial questions, may seem to forbid
such course. - [I5id.
And again
VI would be glad to see all cause Of dis
turbance and contention in the District wholly
removed; but let me say that this never can 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 be cmancipatel With
this qualification and in order to test the dc.
Of the North in regard 10 any fur
thar and continued aggression upon the South
ern feelings and the security Of Southern pro-
perty, lmoud be CONTENT To SEE SLAVERY in the
District ABOLISHED TO-DAY did,
On the abolition Of the slave trade in that
District he said:
with regard to tho proposition to suppress
the slave trade in the District as already stated
7 hal matie up my mind that ii ouyht to be
lone, on several good grounds Ibid
In the Senate August eS, 1850, pending the
bill to abolish the slave trade in the District OF
Columbia, and by which any slave, whatever
brought into the District for sale, or placed
there to be transferred to any other place and
sold, was to become liberated and free, Mr..
Atchison, Of No., as he stated at the time, by
way OF Il test vote in relation to the I'LL, moved
to lay it on the table and thus kill it. And
JOHN BELL voted NO!-C0ng. GloJe, 1st
session, 3+A Cong. p. 1890.
Subsequently, Sept TO- 1850, pending the
same bill, which was kept alive in part by John
Bells vote of August 2Sth, Mr. Mason, Of Va,
moved to strike ont the first two sections Of the
bill, and said: "Thc first Of these sections pro.
hibitS the introduction Of any slave into the
District Of Columbia for the purpose Of being
soll or placed in depots to be subsequently
to another market"
Remember, Mr.. Mason moved to strike this
section from the bill, and JOHN BELL voted
NO, with Chase and Seward-C0Rg. Globe,
Let session, 3lst C0ag. p. 1894.
Mr. Mason continued:
"rhe second section provides for the ABO-
LITION Of the dcpots themsclves,'i ain which the
slaves are confined in the District Of Columbia" "
Mr. Mason moved to strike this section out Of
the bill and JOHN BELL voted NO, with
Chase and Seward. Cony. GlO6e lst session
3l1 Congress, p. 1874.
IL John Bell Truthful DEanl
The subjoincd are the proceedings of the
Tennessee Legislature requesting Mr.. Bell to
redeem a solemn pledge he made before the
Senate and the country. But he did not re-
sign, Notwithstanding these instructions from
the Legislature Of his State, but held on until
he was subsequently elected out-remaining
as long as he could to give aid and comfort
to his reesoil brethren:
JOINT RESOLUTIONS,
WHEREAS, The act Of $50, commonly call
ed the Missouri Compromise act, was incon-
sistent with the principles declared and laid
down in the acts of 1850, better known rs the
acts of that year;
And pherrus, The Missouri Compromise act
was palpablc wrong done to the people Of the
slavcholding States, and should have been re-
pealcd;
And srhertas, The principles Of the Kansas
bill meet our unqualified appro-
baton, and should have received the cordial
support of our Senators and Representatives
in Congress.
WHEREAS, One Of these Senators, Hon. John
Bell in speech delivered against the Kansas
Nebraska bill, May 25 lS54, said:
"A noble, generous, and hgh-mindcd Scna-
tor from the South, within the last few days
before the final vote was taken on the bill, up
pcalrd to Inc in manner which cannot mar
rate, and which affected me most deeply. The
recollection Of it affects and influences my feel
ings now, and ever will told that honorable
Senator that there was one feature in the bill
which made it impossible that should vote for
it, If I waived all other objections. | said to
others who made appeals TO me on the subject,
that while it would afford Inc great pleasure to
be sustained BY my constituents, yet if wus
I IN
found my course upon this subject was not
10 them. As for my standing as q
public man, and whatever prospects public
man Of long service in the councils Of the
might be supposed to have, would
resign them all with pleasure. told that gen.
tlcmun that if upon this or any other great
question, affecting the interests Of the South,
| should hnd my views conflicting materially
with what should appear to be the settled SEN
tilnent of that section, should feel it my I'M
perative duty to retire.
~ declare here to-day, that if my country
men in Tcnncssce shall declare against my
course on this subject, and that shall be ascer-
taincd to L reasonable certainty, will not be
seen in the Senate day afterwards"
Therefore be it resolved by the General AS
sernbly Of the State Of Tennessee, That We full
ly concur with the Hon. John Bell, as to the
duty Of Senator, when the voice OF his con.
has decided against him on ques'
ton materially affecting their interests.
Be it further resolved, That in our opinion
the voice of Mr.. Bells countrymen of Tennes-
see, in the recent elections, has declared against
his course on the Kansas Nebraska bill, ques-
ton Of vital Importance to the South.
Be it further resolved, That our Senator's in
the Congress of the United States, are hereby
instructed and requested, 10 vote for the admis-
sion Of Kansas as an independent State, under
what is termed the Lecompton Constitution,
to the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives, in Congress assembled, by'Presl,
dent Buchanan, in his message to them, dated
the I'd February, 1858.
BE it further resolved, That the Governor oi
this State forward certified copy Of these res
olutions to our Senators and Representatives in
the Congress Of the United States.
DANIEL S. DONELSOS,
Speaker Of the House of Representatives.
JOHN c. BURCH,
Speaker OF the Senate
Adopted February 10, 1853.