Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1860-09-01

|
| aug 1:}v. PIPER & BRADFORD.
| LETTER FROM HON. JOHN BELL.
HE DECLINES TO MAKE ANY NEW DECLARATION
OF PRINCIPLES.
Hon. John Bell has written the following
! letter to Col. Thomas H. Watts. of Mon.-
gomesy, Ala, who addressed hin! a note of
inquiry regarding his Endorsement of the
American and Whig platform in February,
1856:
NASHVILLE. July %, 1860
DrAR SIR Your letter of tie 9th inst. was
received ten days since. and it is due to you,
| as well as myseIf to state the causes which
| have delayed my answer to this late date. to
| explain what OF herwi ise might be imputed to
| me disconrtesy. Such a statement is due
| to numerous other gentlemen, who, ln the
| last month or six weeks have addressed let
| tiers of inquiry to my vNws and opinions on
| the more prominent questions at issue in the
| pending canvass, and which have received no
answer
To the inquiries in all snch letters there
vas but one reply, as l conceived which
could consistently and properly be nude under
the circn- stances Of my position which
Has to retps writer's to my past course to the
views and opinions | have heretofore held
and expressed on Tthe subjects or questions
embraced in their letters. But it appeared
to me that reply. containing nothing more
| than such general referance. without point
| Ing out the regular votes, speeches, ard other
evidences of what | lad said or done incon-
| nection with the questions made the subjects
of inquiry-or stating where they were to be
found. would be ngracious. to say the least of
1t. 10 make such references in my answers
would far exceed the ordinary limits of a let
ter. and ] concluded it would be more conve-
nlent and satisfactory to both parties to ac-
ompany my answers with a printed co'lec-
tlon OF such OF my speeches and letters as
have direct bearing upon the subjects of
controversy, or of such coplous extracts there
from as 10 leave nothing to be supplied by
further quotations from them. The prepara-
ton of such a com pilation was Immediately
commenced by a member OF the CortraI
Union Committee OF Tennessee. It is now
completed, and transmit herewith a copy of
it, printed in the National Cnion7 1t was
issued from the press week later than was
anticipated by me. und hence my answer TO
your letter as we'll as to others, has been de-
ayed week beyond the time had propos-
GU " III sell ~ answer tEetu.
For the reasons which impel me to decline
any further answer to the inquiries in your
letter, refer you to the first and second
pages OF the National Union You will OBJ
serve that the ground there taken is, that
it would be Inconsistent with the declared
views OF tie Convention which placed me in
the position how occupy before the public,
to make any new declaration of principles.
R.rt | do tIlfr rhnnco T. h,f{
the authority of the nominating Convention
against any reproach may incur in conse-
quence of the course | have thought it my
duty to pursue in relation to this subject.
Had | been member of the Convention
would have resisted the adoption OF any plat
form or other declaration of princip pies not
embraced or implied in the three 1uniamen-
tai propositions or objects intended to be
maintained and secured by the National Union
party, and winch constitute the basis OF ITS
organization "Ihe Constitution, The Union. |
and the Enforcement of the Laws" The |
great aim of the National Union party is to |
restore peace: with justice to both sections Of
the Union-not to perpetuate strife.
Whatever may be the policy or designs OF
others, North and South, who in their letters
have insisted upon their right, as matter OF
prIuclple, to call up n me to declare ny
views ana opinions upon any or all OF the
questions which nave become the subject Of
controversy in the present canvass and con-
tend that ! cannot refuse compliance with
their demands without violation OF the OBJ
legation they assume to exist on my part. as
candidate for public place, I have no dis
trnst of your sincerity and good faith in max
ing the earnest appeals to me, which You do |
in Your letter. to take a course which hope |
YOU will. upon reflection, perceive would not |
be in conformity with the intentions and ex-
pectations of those who chose ne to be tier
leader, and the representative of thei, policy |
and principles; nor do I doubt your sincrre
desire to support the Union ticket, il you can !
do so consistently with your sense OF public |
duty. 1t is, therefore, with deep regret that |
find myself constrained to differ with you |
in any of your views, and most of all, to have |
to say to you that | cannot 60 beyond the
record of my political lite in responding to
the questions presented in your letter,
If, in the authentic exposition of my |
course upon the subject of slavery, rnnnlng
through period Of twenty-five years, you
can find nothing to inspire you with conf
dence that, in the event of my election. |
wonId SO employ the power and influence Of |
the Executive Department of the Govern
ment as to give no just ground OF complaint |
to the South or any other section of the |