Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-11
SENATOR BELL AND HIS PLEDGES.

5ENA1Oh BELL AND HIS PLkDdhS-
We had occasion to remark on yesterday, that
of no other State ia the Union had the well-de-
6ned sentiment of the people been SO pslpsbly
and persistently disregsrded by their public ser
wants as that OF Tennessee.
We have striking instance of the truth and
force of this remark 10 the case of our present
Senator, the Hon. JOHN BELL. We do not mean
in this to impugn the motives or honor OF that
distinguished gentleman; but simply to speAk Of
facts and their consequences, to which public stten-
ton cannot be too often referred.
While Senator in Congress is not intended as
a mere sutomaton, or weather-cock, to be varied
in his motion by every tickle breeze, but is expect
ed in the main to abide by his own convictions of
reason and right; still, on all occasions, be is the
representative of a State, composed of sovereign
people, and in that capacity is tound by every
obligation where great fundamental questions are
at issue, upon which the constituent will can be
known, to faithfully and fully represent it in his
official action, or surrender his trust to those who
gave 1t, to be filled by one whose opinions OF
public policy accord with their own. This we IN
derstsnd to be the commonly received doctrine OF
all parties relstve to the position of representa-
tive or public servant. Mr.. BELL, himself, sub
stantislly assumed this position in the Senate in
his debate on the Ksnsas-Nebraska bill, May 20,
1854.
That was q grave and vital measure; involving,
as he declared, "great principles" which nothing
but the aggregate will of the American people
could determine. This measure and bis connec.
ton with it, viii sfford ample means OF illustrating
and enforcing our point.
Mr.. BELL, when this great question came up,
found himself, as on similar occasions, standing
opposed to the popular sentiment of Tennessee, as
far as that sentiment had been Rscertaned. Trust
ing, however, to his own ability to check and de.
termine its eventual direction, he adhered to his
antsgonistic position, and gave that measure the
strongest opposition he could furnish. In doing
so he was alarmed at home and abroad by politi-
cal friends as well as by political adversaries. In
response to these friendly remonstrances, he took
position, manly if observed, unmsnly and insin-
oere if iisregarded Here are his own words:
"a noble, generous high-minded democratic
Senator from the South, within the last few hours
before the final vote was taken on the bill, appealed
TO me in manner which l cannot narrate, and
which affected me most deeply. The recollection
of it affects and Influences my feelings now and
ever WILL told that honorable Senator that there
was one feature in the bill which made it impos-
sble that should vote for it, if waived all other
objections I said 10 him as said 10 others qOhO
had made appeals to me on the subject, that uhle 1t
sooald oord me great pleasure to be sustained By
8ay constituents, get If 1UQs not, I 1Oould resign
ma seat ana leave the moment I found that 8ly
course on his subject not acceptable TO them.-
As for my standing as public man, and whatever
prospects public man il long service in the &C
ellis Of the country might be supposed to have l
4uould resign them all t0ih pleasure. / told that
gentleman that, if upon tits or any other great
question effectug the interest Of the South, L
should find nay Viel0s conflicting materially aOih
achat should appear 10 be the settled sentiment of that
section, shollla feel It my IMPERATIVE Duty
to retire
Tdsclars here TO day, that If my countrynen Of Ten.
aessse shall declare against my cooTe this subject
and that shall be asosrtaiEed to reasonable certain
IT,. TWILL NOT BE IN THE SENATEA DAY
AFTERWARDS"
This is strong language Of Senator BELLS; but
not stronger than the necessities of the occasion
required. He was assuming sposihon of sntagon-
ism to bill which even Gen. ZoLLIooTFER in the
other end of Capitol, but few days previous, mad
said as "eminently sound and national, and of
s,ital importance 10 tie South ;" he was taking
positon which this same gentleman had said was
occupied by +" all the Aboltionists-all the men
who have spit upon compromises--sll the Free
soilers-All those who have broken faith with the
constitutions rights of the South, in al times past,
when they felt that they could strike at US fatally
position antagonistic TO the very Legislature that
had, but few months previous, elected him. 1t
was proper therefore, that be should have felt the
necessity Of terrifying himself by The strongest
declarations.
Two years and upwards have since elapsed in
which two popular elections have taken place be-
fore that constituency TO whom be held himself
responsible. Each time this Kansas question was
an element In the late election it was the great
ana absorbing issue, with Mr.. BELL himself before
the people to vindcate his course. A signal de.
feat of his party has pronounced, in unmlstakabe
terms, the popular condemnation against him.
There can be no misunderstanding it. And now
the honorable Senator must wilfully continue to
mis- represent the State Of Tennessee, in shameful
violation Of his own solemn pledges, made to his
outraged constituents in the presence of all his
copeers or resign that trust into the hands of the
Sovereignty that gave il. Which will he dc? We
must admit that our estimate of Mr.. BELL will not
allow US to anticipate compliance with his solemn
pledge and duty. And yet there can be no honor
in holding his position by mere legal tenure in
defiance of the popular will and in mOckery of our
republican theory and practice of government.
What sad misfortune that men, from long habit
should grow SO welded to the trappings of Office,
as to become powerless to the nobler impulses of
personal dignity and public duty. If Mr.. BELL
should show himself above this sad fate Of many by
the popular fat, observing his solemn
pledge, and rendering back the trust confded to his
keeping, we shall feel that we have not done JUS
tice in our present estimate Of the man.
SUPREME COURT.
EQUITY DECKER, 4rH CIRCUT-JnO Young, Ex-
ecutor. ct 81, vs. Thos T. Crowder ct sL-Opinicn