Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-18
WEDNESDAY, JUNE IS, 1855.
Hon. John BELL.

busy OF late, IN attempting to connect the
name of Tennessee's great Senator with the
Black Republican movement. The most
trivial occurrences have been seized on, and
circulated as evidence of his sympathy
with this purely sectional organization Not
syllable has been shown from him, or 10y
the authority of any friend, which gives the
faintest color to the statement, yet, in the
absence of all these things, there are men
INSCRIPTIONS enough to accuse him of con-
duct at war with his whole previous public
career. We have frequently met in our ex-
changes, with the rumor that Mr.. Bell
would consent to the use of his name as a
candidate on the Black Republican ticket.
We are at loss to conceive how any
one conversant with Mr. Bells political
life, could for moment entertain such an
opinion. Every one who knows the man,
is prepared at once to give the rumor,
whatever may be its source, a fiat and
unqualified contradiction. Since his first
entrance into public life, the marked fea-
ture Of Mr.. Bells craftsmanship has been
his conservatism. From the time, thirty
years ago, when mere STRIPPING, he encoun-
tered and conquered the lamented GRUMPY
in this congressional district, down to his
last effort in the American Senate, his re-
cord shows a consistent and unwavering
conservatism on every question upon which
he has been called to act. Patient in in
vestigation and mature in elaboration, with
high sense of patriotic duty the guiding
motive of his conduct, by the aid of an in
tellect Of comprehensive grasp and profun-
dity, he has distinguished himself as the adj
vocate Of a policy which it would have, to-
day, been well for the country, had its ru-
lerS pursued. The general policy which
Mr. Bell has favored, by the scheming of
reckless and ambitious demagogues has
failed, and the present deplorable condi-
ton of the country is the result It's
wisdom asserts itself, and receives its JUS
LITIGATION even in its defeat. Had John
Bells prudent conservative counsel, pre-
vailed, instead of sectional division and civ
il war, the country would be in the enjoy
ment of peace and quiet, and saved from
the dishonor Of intestine broilS But he
and the honest men who have striven with
him, have been overcome, and demagogues
and sectonalists rule the hour.
Mr. Bell has ever been the unfinching
opponent of sectionalism, whether it appear
ed in the North or at the South Twenty
years ago he had the honesty and boldness
as Southern man to oppose the intempe
rate policy proposed by Southern men,
against the then feeble efforts Of anti-slave-
ry-a policy which he thought more likely
to give those efforts strength than to crush
them out while at the same time he fear
lessly rebuked the fanatical views which
were being preached at the North. He
stood like peace-maker then, between the
combatants, and it has been in this spirit
that he has treated the question ever since
The groundwork of these rumors so pre-
judicial to bis reputation is to be found in
his opposition to the Nebraska Kansas act
In this Mr. Bell was consistent with his
whole course on the slavery question. On
all occasions he deprecated its useless dis
turbance, and in a speech of great power
he forcibly stated his reasons for thinking
it could but be productive Of evil, and as
with the tongue of prophecy graphically
foretold its direful consequences. What
dangers his prudent craftsmanship foresaw.
the whole country now sees and feels TO be
imminent. But his enemies have seized on
the very measure which Vindicates his patri-
otism and sagacity as q means of impairing
his influence on the public mind, and injur-
ing his reputation. Because he could not
approve the repeal Of the Missouri compro-
mise, he has been characterized as an enemy
sympathy and utilization with an organiza-
tioa which sprung from the loins Of a mea
sure which he opposed, and which had his
counsel been needed, would never have had
an existence. If Mr. Bells ambitious hopes
are with Northern sectional organization,
he showed very little Judgment in opposing
the very act which gave that organization
its being,--for it cannot be denied that had
there been no repeal Of the compromise,
there woald be no Black Republican party.
We undertake to say that the leaders Of
the Black Republican movement have met
with no encouragement from Mr. Bell.
Had be no higher motive for refusing to Co
operate with a sectional party, his self
respect and care for his reputation would
prevent him from lending his influence 10
project so reprehensible. He has achieved
fame as profound aud prudent states
man, which he will not trife away for the
handle of Presidential or Vice-Presidential
honors purchased At the sacrifice OF his
country's peace, and at the hands Of Sec
tionaI party. Those Of bis enemies who
have hoped that the gods would thns mad.
den him. the better to destroy him, may dis
miss their expectations, Those Of bis friends
who have had fears that in the riPeness