The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-09-27
TO MY FELLOW.CITlZENS OF
TENNESSEE

The following pages of a late
speech, delivered in the Senate of the
United States, contain matter which |
have deemed worthy of separate
publication.
! can, with some confidence, com.
mend not casual reading only, but
the study Of the chain Of facts pre-,
scented, in the brief sketch have at,
tempted, Of the party history of the
country. IfIa am not greatly mistaken,
the reader will find in those facts a
sufficient and ample explanation of the
causes Of those disscnsions between
the North and the South which have
given rise, of late, to such painful ap.
prehension in the public mind; oh.
structed, for nine months, national
legislation upon all other subjects of
public concern. and brought the coun.
try to verge of domestic convulsion.
The crisis is not past; nor can per-
feet harmony be restored to the coun.
try until the North shall cease to vex
the South upon the suhjec OF slavery;
and that can never be, while the ami.
mating principle of party organization
and cohesion continues without change
or modification. The excuses to
which the spirit of party and personal
ambition, when most chastcncd, con.
stantly tend in all popular govern.
mcnts, have always been regarded as
the most formidable danger to which
our system is exposed. This danger
assumes more serious and threaten,
ing aspect when. from the ignobIc
objects for which parties contend,
they lose their dignity and degenerate
into factions; but the danger becomes
imminent and extreme when sectional
interests-scctional lcalousies inAam-
cd by diversity of social relations
become elements Of political strife.
| do not despair of the Republics:
but as long as millions of money,
under the disguise of official patron
age, shall continue, as now, by the
practice of the Government, to opc-
rate as a standing premium to suc-
ccssful faction, and mischievous agi.
tation upon all subjects and questions
of an inhammatory nature, shall
regard no part of our system as fixed,
or settled upon sure foundation.
lam no alarmist; | do not think
myself subject to needless alarms;
indced, | feel no alarm as to any i'm.
mediate results of a violent or revo.
sutionary nature; but would be
fa'ttless to the trust which | hold, if
l failed TO declare to my constituents
my conviction that the times are
eminenty critical as to the cast of the
great future which is opening upon
the Republic. Whether that future
shall be distinguished by uninterrupt-
ed domestic tranquility and still
advancing prosperity, or by discord.
civil convuIsiou. and intestine war.
will! depend, in high degree, upon
the wisdom Or the folly whick shall
mark the passing period. But what.
ever may come; whatever questions
or conflicts may arise. in giving conn
plexion to the future, the State of
Tennessee, from her geographical ,
position, and the character of her ,
popu!ation--pub|ic spirited, energetic, =
and resOlute can act no subordinate
or unimportant part in the drama. | ,
trust that her sons will consider well {
the course which it will become them !
to adopt in any exigency which may =
arise-that they will cultivate spirit f
of harmony among themselves. and =
be prepared, when the occasion shall +
demand. to speak with one voice and T
one purpose. 1
| am no ultraist. and favor no ex. q,
IRENE measures. A spirit OF conciI!a. q
lion and forbcarance is demanded by T
patriotism and the exigencies of the T
lines, rs we'll on the part Of the South.
as on that of the North; but there is
n difference between policy dictated n
by spirit of forbearance. and a Il
yuietism which may seem to approve, =,
ind would, inevitably invite agrees 7
lion JOHN BELL. :,