Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-14
SENATOR BELL AND HIS PLEDGES.

on the Kansas Nebraska bill are aware that no
member of either House was so troubled about
his position as Senator BELL, of Tennessee. The
Wing members of the Senate from the Southern
States including Col BeR-met in csucuss and
agreed unanimously, as stated on the floor by Sen.
ator BADGER and others, to support the measure.
Col BELL claimed to have been misrepresented,
and, after many anxious days and sleepless nights
of uncertainty and doubt, he at last of all the
Southern members Of that body, marched, solitary
and alone, into the column of the enemy, and lent
his most earnest efforts to the defeat of that meas
ure. The spectacle was humiliatng one TO his
old associates and friends, and resulted in the
exchange of bitter words and the open renuncia-
ton of long existing friendships. Painful must
have been the feelings of Tennesseans to have
o. been there at that moment-while national and
sectional men, forgetting party, were srraying
themselves for the fierce struggle, and seen their
own Senator, rise from his seat, and with angry
words to his Southern associates, march boldly
over to the line of the enemy, striking hands with
SEWARD, SUMNER, HALE and others, who well
coined him with greeting of unusual fervor.
1t was not to be supposed, however, that so old
aud sdroit tscticisn as Col. BELL would forget
that there was Sovereign Power at homes tri-
bunAl, before whom, sooner or later, he must sp-
pear and answer for the wanton disregard of his
duty and his trust. Or if be was disposed TO for
get it there were those present who were not
slow in pointing him to Tennessee, and the evil
dences OF popular sentiment that were coming up
from every quarter of the State. In alluson to
this fact and impelled by the urgent necessity of
iortfying himself against the embsrr assing cir.
cumstances that were enveloping him like dark
and portentious cloud, be said:
al said to him "a high-miuded democratic Sem
ator of the South,) as l said to Others who had
made appeals to me on the subject, that while it
would afford me great pleasure to be sustained by
my constituents, yet If a0as not, I aOOuld resign
ma seat and Leave The moment I found that my
course, ON THIS SUBJECT, t0ds not acceptable TO
them" III told that gentleman that, if, upon this
or any other great question eiecting the interest
of the South, l should find my views conflicting
materially with what should appear TO be the set
tied sentiment of that section, / should feel Il my
IMPERATIVE DUTY to retire" 81 declare here
to-day, that If my oOHntryTnen Of tennessee shall
declare against my course on this subject and that
shall be ascertsned to reasonable certainty,
gu WILL NOT BE IN THE SENATE A
DA1 AT IbItn AA1JO. ~GS1
Time rolled by and Congressional election
came on in Tennessee The Kansas bill was made
an express issue in the canvass. Out of the ten
members elected, but one was returned opposed to
that measure; and even that district in more
recent election has gone with the Democratic
party.
Senator BELL understood and felt the force Of
,or,,Iar and IN hriaf TINA
from his own outgivings, or the natural expecta.
ton of the country-reckonlng npon his express
pedges-it was currently rumored at Washington,
and through the papers, that be was about to re-
sign his seat and come home. Some placed it on
the ground of l-bealth. After few weeks of
uncertainty in the public mind there came posi-
tive and, apparently, authorized, contradiction of
r the rumor. 1t was made by the Washington cor
respondent of the New York Tribune, edited by
Horace Greedy, the organ Of the Black Republican,
anti Kansas forces. 1t was in these words:
"The story which some newspaper has put in
circulation that John Bell, of Tennessee, is about
70 retire from the Senate on account OF il-heslth
is wholly unfounded, and must have originated in
misspprehenson. He is ss robust and bale to
day as when he bearded and conquered the old
Hon-Andrew Jackson-in Lis den, and reSO
le and ready to do service as 1Chen, single handed
He BRAvELY ENCOUNTERED TIE WHOLE SoUTH UPON
THE NEBRASKA BILL, AND CARRIED TERROR
INTO THEIR RANKS " The wisdom and
experience OF a man so eminent and pure is of no
ordinary value at this time, when the country is
convulsed with the war of faction, and the spirit
OF SuJjugation abroad, threatening to oTershadow
new land of PROMISE Kansas.
We can readily appreciate the estimate which
G,oal, barc placad tha MIC and ay-
perience of so eminent and pure a man" at that
time, in special consideration that he WIS "ss
yesoluts and ready to do service q when single
handed, he brAvely encountered the whole South
upon the Nebraska BILL and carried terrorll into
their ranks " II! But it is well understood that
Huch feats of craftsmanship as would make the
New York Tribune applaud, would make his con-
stituents in Tennessee grieve.
When the last Presidential election came on,
Senator Bell, with becoming courage, threw HIM
self into the breach and made the issue Direct
Coming home, and placing such men as Zollico1er
and Ready behind him, he took the lead and with
the strength of political gladiator, dragged bis
party in Tennessee from its Southern position to
the Black Republican side Of the Kansas question
Barbecues were prepared for him in different
Counties that he might be unattended by any
Democratic speaker, and have the better opportu-
nifty of adjusting the public mind in Tennessee 10
suit bis own position. His speeches were all about
himself and the Kansas question. His defence was
seldom less than four hours in delivery. The
people listened with sober attention, and, when
the day of election came, voted by seven thousand
five hundred majority that Senator Bell and the
New York Tribune were wrong.
In view of these facts, and his solemn and de-
fberate pledges, attested by an assembled Senate,
how can he remain longer in his seat at Washing
ton consistent with TRUTH honor, or justice If
there is any way to reconcile these things We
know that his long practiced ingenuity Of mind
has studied il out, and that his organs are pre-.
pared for his defence. The public may expec: it
soon.
e. We were handed yesterday very fine
cane, the massive gold head of which bears the
Ill q G. D-e-