Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-20
Armagh.
Ml9a31AAAN(l Is : .
John Bell on the Crisis.


John Bell, has written letter on the
present state Of affairs, from which we
make an extract:
lst Mr. Lincoln it is we'll known, does
not hold extreme opinions on the subject
ot slavery. 1t is certain that he has ex-
pressed decided opinion that the South
has constitutional right to demand the
faithful execution of the fugitive slave law;
and that under certain circumstances he
would feel it his duty not to oppose the ad-
mission Qf a new Slave State into the I'm
ion.
Upon the whole, if Mr. Lincoln's pub
lie declarations upon the subject Of slavery
are to be considered as the true exponents
of his future policy, and if he possesses
the moral eourdge to adhere to them in op-
position to the counsels of the extreme
men of his party, (and it is just and fair
to presume that he does possess that virtue
no serious mischief can be apprehended
dgring his administration, except the US
ual evils attending the perpetual agitation
Of the slavery issues.
ID. That it is assumed by some that Mr..
Lincoln has disguised his true sentiments;
that his true character has not been under
stood and that he will be under the con-
trol Of the worst men Of his party | do
not think SO. ] have every confidence that
his future policy will be found to be in
trict conformity with his past declarations
But, apart from this, it is now generally
known that he will be powerless for mis-
chief, except to very little extent, during
the first two years Of his administration,
unless the southern Senators and Repre-
sentatives elected to The next Congress
should rashly, and, as think, inexcusably
resign their seats, or retire from Congress,
and thus voluntarily surrender the control
in both Houses to the Republican party,
which surely they will not do With both
Houses opposed to him, Mr. Lincoln can.
not appoint his Cabinet Ministers to Gil any
offices of high grade without the assent of
the Senate, or, indeed, of any inferior grade
above that Of clerk or petty deputy post
master He will be able to carry no NETS
ure connected with the subject of slavery
which does not commend itself to the South
and the conservative members from the
North.
3D. As TO any apprchensons that the
Republican party, encouraged and stimuia
ted to further effects by their late success
may be SO strengthened in the result Of
the election of Senators and Representa-
tives, in the meantime, as to obtain ma
jority in both Houses of the thirty eighth
Congress, that is, during the last two gears
Of Mr. Lincoln's administration-while it
may be well to regard such an event as
possible, the strongest reasons exist tor tho
confident belief shat no such unfortunate
result gill attend the elections in the Nolth
which arc TO decide the complexion Of the
thirty eighth Congress.
Of the whole number Of votes cast for
Mr. Lincoln in the recent election, from
my OWN personal knowledge, and from in
formation received from other sources, OF
tie sentiments of the South, and those of
thc middle States, and the States north oi
tho Ohio, l am su.e i hazard aothinu III
stating that large punher-at least one
third-are devoted to the Union, and, al
though opposed 10 slavery in the abstract,
have but little sympathy with the Repub-
lican party.
am, also, satisfied that not more than
Que third part Of Mr. Lincoln's supporters
are 50 extreme in their ant-slavery senti-
ments as 10 be wholly indifferent as 70 the
effect upon the Union of tae policy Of the
Republican party.
OF the remaining third OF Mr. Lincoln's
supporters, think / am warranted in say
ing that they are attched to the Union
though anti-slaveTy in their sentimeHts,-
l feel confident that the thirty eighth Con
gress will exhibit falling of IN the
strength Of the Republican party, Instead
of ali increase.
4th. All Of the existing grievances, of