Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-01-15
goHN ELL AKp FHE PREsIDENOY


q Boston audience in Fsneuil Hall, pledging
that Tennessee would stand shoulder to shoulder
with Massachusetts in the future political his
tory Of the country. Men, especially polit-
clans are seldom more faithful to their promises
or more accurate in their predictions than Col.
BELL has proven in this instance. Tennessee;
from that day until the recent Presidential cleo
ton, has never failed, we believe to vote in
every national contest, as Massachusetts voted
How much our distinguished Senator contributed
to this result, our readers well understand In the
several Presidential canvasses his sdmiring friends
have termed him q the big Bell of Tennessee."-
He has never issued an edict, however bumilistng,
that bis party men have not motioned like puppets
in dumb show. All other lights have been lesser
ones like stars around the great solar centre. No
man in the government has been more thoroughly
successful in the management Of his party in his
respective State, than Col BELL And yet, with
an eye ever upon the higher stations of the coun-
try, Col. BELL has failed to secure g position on
any ticket for the Presidency or Vice Presidency
He has not been, however, without fattering pros
pects and his successive failures served but to shsr-
pen the appetite with which be has long coveted
these honOrs. We think that fcr many years past
there has been DO sacrifice ofopnion no disregard Of
local rights, NJ concession to Northern aggression,
no vasoillstion on any question for which he was
not ready, if it would move him one step nearer
the goal of his ambition. This was shown in his
opposition to Mr.. CLAY on the Compromise meas
uresi in $780, and his more recent course in relation
to the Ksnsas-Nebrasks question.
Col BELL may now, and doubtless does, felici-
tate himself on the near approach of the time
when he will be the candidate of one of two
contending parties of the country for the Presi-
dency.
Whilst disclsiming to be a Black Republican or
Know Nothing, he was a strong man in each of
their last nominating conventions for the Presi-
dency. With Fillmore and Fremont defeated, he
is a stronger man to-day for the nomination of the
two wings Of the opposition in 1860 than either
Of them. No compliments are too high for him
with the New York TiiBune-no man is more in
favor with the Louisville Journal. Seward would
be satisfied to be his primier-C rittenden would
be content with the next highest position on the
round. Having denied being q member of the
Know Nothing order, be yet served it, shrewdly
intending to secure its favor without mourning
the odium of its secret councils Regulating
Black Republicsnism, be yet served and fsttered
It so as to receive the confidence and highest com.
pments of its authorized organs, trusting thereby
to deluds the South whilst pandering to the
North. The result of the recent contest has
greatly favored bis designs. It has served to make
manifest that there is no hope for the opposition
so long as they fight under two banners There
must be union of the forces-the bnilding up Of
new platform--one on which Sumner, Bell, Bur-
liDgame and Etheridge, Gentry and Prentice, can
cordially embrace. The contamination of such q
union, with the leaders, requires but little aber.
Ore will not have far TO advance, the other but
little way to reCede, to find themselves on COM
mon level
Those who have observed with any care the re.
cent discussions in Congress, have doubtless mark
ed ths preparatory steps for such g cons1mmstion.
The Black Republicans have declared with some
emphasis that they are opposed to any interference
with slavery in the States For this, Mr. E:heridge
introduced his famous "anti-slhvs trade" resoTu-
ton. The plot seems to be working handsomely
at Washington, and the subordinates are catching
the cue in different portions of the country.
The Memphis Enquirer in a recent issue, gives
attention to this subject in article the Pres-
dency in 1860. That paper significantly says
1--WE must look around Us for a man who, to the
high qualities 0f head and hesrt-of craftsmanship
and administrative skill-posssssed by Mr.. Fill
more, adds that other qualify, so necessary, in our
candidate, 10 the success Of great prinCiples-the
quality of AVAILABILITY Such man may be found
IN the American party outside Of the State Of
New York. Such a man may be found in Ken.
lucky, in Texas, and other States, North and
South; but, to come nearer home, such man may
be found in Tennessee. His name is 10 HIN BELL
the most profound clear headed far seeing states
man now in the Senate of the United States"
That "otIsr quality" as the Enquirer terms it,
is to be the great consideration in the selection of
a candidate for the Presidency. "To the high
qualities of head and heart, of craftsmanship and
administrative SKILL possessed by Mr.. Fillmore"
be must add that "other quality, aUailability."-
Mr.. Fillmore was q strong man with the Ameri-
can party--FremOntwas entirely acceptable to the
Black Republicans-but there was a equality"
wanting with both Of them to enable them to beat
the Democrats. Fillmore "wanted" something
that would concentrate upon him the Black Re-
publican vote. Fremont "wanted" an appliance
that would bring to him stronger Know Moth
iDg support. It is now supposed that that want
that "Other quality not exist with Col
BELL, by reason of the profound respect which he
commands of both the Black Republicans and
Know NOthings. They have not mistaken their
man. He is admirably qualified aud deserving to
be the candidate Of such cOnglOmeration, such
heterogeneous compound, as would make the new
party consisting of the worst elements of the two
defunCt parties.
We sllude to this subject now, in order to ex-
cite the attention Of our reders to the movements
Of the opposition. If it should so turn out here
after that there shall be no know nothing ror
Black Republican candidate in the field, but one on
new basis they will the better understand, by
observing now, how it was effected and to what
confidence it is entitled.
SUPREME COURT.
Thomas @. Ward, administrator, &C., vs.. Elisha