Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-17

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The Baltimore Patriot and the St Louis Ne,ss are
warmly urging the nomination Of Mr. BATEs by the
Baltimore and Chicago Conventions. They assert
says the Patriot of this city chat the doctrines enun
ciated by Mr. Bates in his letter to the St Louis
Republicans, are identical with those Of Mr.. CLAY,
and give extracts from speeches Of Mr.. c. to sustain
the assertion. It is needless to say that these ex-
tracts are unfair and mrepresent the great states
man. TIE Nashville Patriot thus comments on the /
position Of the Distinguished MissOurian:
Mr. BATES in his letter avows his opposition to the
extension Of slavery and declares that the spirit
and policy of the government ought to be against Its
extension This is the sum and substance Of Re /
publcansm in its most Objectionable form. Acting
upon this principle Mr.. BATES would be bound 10
do if elected TO the Presidency he would bring the
whole influence and power of the general govern
ment so far as he could. to bear against the extern
sion of slavery; and if Congress should pass law
aboishing prohibiting slavery IN any territory,
would approve and execute it None but the most |
inveterate abOitOnists ask more than tins hepuD-
Hcanism may aim at more ultimately, but this Is all
it asks at present
The Patriot then defines and we think, correctly,
she position Of Mr.. CLAY the question Of slavery
in the Territories.
IF Mr. Clay were President" says the Patriot
he J10ud not use the influence Of his position
to prevent the extension of slavery. He would
hold himself entirely neutral and permit the
people Of the territories, When they come to
form a State Government, TO settle the question OF
slavery to their own satisfaction. He could not
therefore, approve law prohibiting slavery IN any
territory.
Here is the legacy he left 1t should be written
in letters Of gold upon the hearts OF the American
people:
has iuHis ch bp
and closed; and that to avoid IN ALL FUTURE
TINE the agitations which must be produced by the
conflict Of opinions the slavery question, existing
as this institution does in Of the states and
prohibited as it is in others, the true principle t1ch
ought 10 regulate the action Of Congress IN ToITalg ter
ri0Tdl gOUerHHets for IelCy acquired d0HdHtS 10 re
train from LEGISLATION On TIE SUBJECT, az ne Ter
CrRf dcylETGd so lOHq retains the territorial form
Of qOUerJuaet-LEAvING TITO THE PEOPLE OF SUCH TER
RIT0RY. WHEN THEY HAVE ATTAINED TO CONDITION
WHICH ENTITIES THEN To ADMISSION AS A STATE, TO De
eide FOR THEMSELVES THE ALLOWANCE OR PROHIBITION
OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY.
..Tbis is the doctrine of Mr. Clay 1t it an extract
from his report as Chairman Of the Committee OF
Thrteeni in 1850. It is the doctrine which was
practically inaugurated in the territorial bills OF
Utah and New Mexico. 1t Is express rejection
of the ides of the Wilmot Proyiso and Mr. Bates
doctrine THAI the spirit and policy Of the govern
ment ought to be against the extension OF slavery.
Il declares that the spirit and policy OF the govern
ment ought TO be- and tie true doctrine Is, TO re-
frain from all legislation on the sUbject-to let the
people Immediately interested settle the matter
for themselves. This is the doctrine Of the C0itSlit
tj0nal Union Party, and 40 man oto does not subscribe
to IT, need epect 10 recsiUg the Baltimore nOljncti0R
We italicise the concluding lines Of the above
quotation and invite TO it the attention Of Mr. BELL
and all other aspirants for the Baltimore nomina-
nation. The Patriot has the name Of Mr.. BELL at the
head of its columns. It might therefore very readi-
Iy he supposed by the distant reader that Mr. BELL
fully endorses "the doctrine Of the Constitutions
Union Party as defined by the Patriot But 1t Is
believed about here that the Patriot is not SO cor
rect a reflex Of the sentiments of Mr. BELL as some
other Of the journals Of that party. If the Nash
vile Banner had said that mo man who does no
subscribe to this doctrine Of the Constitutions
Union Party need expect TO receive the Ballmor
nomination" then we might have supposed that Mr.
Bell. endorsed the doctrine thus stated.
The leading organs of the Southern Opposition
marty are supposed to know something Of the inter
tons of its duly appointed delegates to the Conven
tion which is to enunciate the political views OF the
and TO select candidate whowill carryout thel
views. if elected We ask If the Patriot entertain
the belief that the Baltimore Convention Will adop
in its platform the doctrine of Mr.. CLAY. rs declare
in the foregoing extract from his report as Chan
man of the Committee Of Thirteen We ask # tn
Patriot can Jy authority, state that its choice for th
Presidency, Mr.. BELL, subscribes to this doctrine {
Mr. CLAY We ask if the Patriot can state, by dtdho
i,,. that Mr. BELL would veto an act Of Congress
prohibiting slavery in the Territories We ask tn
Banner if it agrees with the Patriot no ma
who does not subscribe to the doctrine Of Mr.. CLA
as enunciated in the foregoing extract from ms r
port. " need expect to receive the Baltimore nomin
ton" We ask If the Banner can state whether N
BELL. if elected to the Presidency, would veto q
act Of Congress prohibiting slavery in the IerTlt
ries. Mr. BELL being prominent aspirant for tn
Presidency, these are questions which should
answered before the meeting of the Baltimore Coz
vention The Black Republicans have the power
the House of Representatives; there is chance Il
them to have It in the Senate before the close OF al
other Presidential term. Hence, the Importance {
the South's knowing what the Executive would q
in the event of the passage Of a bill to proml
slavery in the Territories, is greatly increase
Again we ask here does Mr.. BELL stand:
,-l,,u, yvs m,