Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-02


gerry Exposed.
Ii the various representations of the posi-
IONS of JOHN BELL on the subject of alien suf-
rage aud the public lands, made by his adver-
sarles and pursuers were to be fully relied
upon, they would make him out either very
great fool, or a mere political intriguer, with
out sufficient discretion to cover up his tracks
as he wormed along from scheme to scheme
And this too, while they free to aeknowl
edge bis eminent ability, and profess no disre-
spect for him as an upright and honorable gen.
tleman. We have considered it work of su-
pererogation to defend Mr.. BELL in the persist
ent and unremitting attacks upon his political
course, during this canvass; because ir the
first place, he holds such position before the
State and the entire country, that these at
tacks will fall harmless at his feet and in the
next place, we regarded it as but shallow
tifce to lead the people from the merits ofthe
questions, to the examination of the record of
one man. Finding this artifce Intellectual,
they next strive to make it appear that the
land policy advocated by u.s. in the spirit of
the land bill introduced by Mr.. BELL in the
last Congress, is a scheme put on foot by the
"arch intriguer, " as some of them choose to
surname that upright and candid gentleman,
to galvaBize into life and inspire hope in the
fortunes of dying party. Thus is that party
reproached with supposed or assumed weak
ness; and the justice or injustice of public
measures of great moment, decided. Now, we
submit whether this is fair and legitimate
mode of settling such questions, or of enight-
ening the public mind in reference to them.
But we do not wish to be understood as de-
| nyihg the proPriety of referring to the course
of public men as indications of the views of
the party they are supposed to represent If
fairly and fully given they are an index, to
| some extent, of the feelings and sentiments OF
the party with which they act and which sus-
tains them. But to put the whole stress of an
| argument upon such basis, and especially if
such reference is partial and unjust, as is the
case 10 the present instance, it sinks beneath
the dignity of an argument, becomes subter-
fuge, and shows the weakness of that which it
is meant to sustain. Is this the case in what
has been said in reference to Mr.. BELL by his
adversaries2 We showed yesterday, how Mr..
BELL had been misrepresented on the general
subject of distribution, as one of the measures
advocated by the Wing party, by reference to
the facts and circumstances of the transactions
referred to by the Union and american the day
before. We will now present from the record,
the position of Mr.. BELL upon the land meas
ure advocated by the American party; and
which it is said has been suddenly sprung upon
the country for the purpose above alluded to.
i =
cocted for the occasion, but was settled prin-
ciple, warmly advocated by Mr.. BELL, before
the American party ever had distinct and or
ganized existence in the country.
In the early stages of the partial land dona-
ton mania, which had as much support from
the democratic as from any other party, Mr..
BELL we'd the principle which he now ad
vocates. and which his land bill Of the last
Congress embodies. At the Session of l SOL
2, when the bill granting land to Iowa, was
before the Senate, Me-. UNDERWOOD offered an
amendment, giving to certain other Ofthe older
States lands also. Upon that bill and amend
ment, Mr.. BELL said
Al do not propose to oppose this bill of my
friend from Iowa, unless | should find very deci
ded spirit of Injustice pervading the minds of hon
orabIe Senators from the new States. If such
spirit does pervaIe them, then IL may be found
necessary to defeat If possible eUery Of the
kind qlntd those gentlemen be brought to some far
and just consideration of tOhat due to tire other
States Of the UniOn-0f What as due to the achoie
country. II they will not do that, then it will
remain for to consider what means We have IN
our power to coerce-morrally, mean. not physi-
cally-whst considerations we can hold out to them
to do justice to the public generally on this sub
ject.
at may not be in my power, or i'll the power
of all the gentlemen who take different view OF
the Importance OF this question, to create interest
enough in it to bring this body to decision upon
a general proposition establishing oar land policy
upon some just, equitable aud pf1DGnent
foundation; but shall make the attempt to
awaken some deeper interest on the subject" See
appendix to Congressional Globe, 1872, p. 1876.
Again Mr.. BELL said:
"My friend from Kentucky (Mr. UNDERwooD)
offers amendment, proposing to give some
Is, 200 900 $4,000, 600 acres to be distributed
among the old States according to some equitable
rule.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. According to population.
Mr.. BELL. Yes, that is the basis which the
| Senator proposes make this small distribution
OF IA 900 600 acres out OF these 200 900 600 acres
| of unspprOpriated lands in the new Staets.
. Now, out of the 200, 600, 600 acres OF GHsp-
| propriated lands in the new States which have
| already been surveyed; aud which open to set
Jientut, Ue ASK Lltdt untOHy tHe OJfeT states or
| Union Which haze shared part Of the public lands
heretofore, moy be granted soaae IA. 600 900.
!" Gentlemen seem to act upon the principle
that the States being the partners obsolues them from
all the Obtigatsons Of j.stiee-APPs"diz to Con-
grcssiO'dl Globe, 1912, P. 1876.
Mr.. BELL said again:
| But am not arguing for Tennessee alone, but
| for oil the States OF the Union which have pub
| lie lands within their limits, and yet equal
owners aud copartners in the whole public domain
| wanted the S-nator to answer me this: He adj
mits the principle of giving away part of the pub
he lands for the purpose of improving the remain
der; will he whether railroad made
through Tennessee and Kentucky would not add
the value of the public lands IN IllinoisH And If
so, upon what principle oil justice or equity he can
withhold a grant OF land TO Tennessee and Ken
lucky TO enable them to make that roadG VIII
he answerH The public lands Of Illinois are as
much the property Of Tennessee and kentucky as
of inois aud they hare egtia! right to the bea-
chat objects or for aOhat purposes made "-Appen-
dir Congregational Globe, 1872, p 1913.
Such was the position and the language of
Mr.. BELL, on the 10th of February, 1852,
nearly three years before the American party
had an organized existence In Tennessee, and
1--WE years before he introduced the measure
into Congress embodying these views, and
which is now denounced as late thought,
trick to retain place, a straw thrown out tor
a drowning party to catch at. Il is the posi-
ton which Mr.. BILL has consistently held
4 -. Ill. els