Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-10
PRTDAV.moRNING. JuLY 10. 1857.
WHY Mr. BELL WAS OPPOSED TO DIERIBULl
- - TION

WHY Mr.. BELL WAS OPPOSED TO DITRIBUL
TION.
It was well known in 1913 that the old Wing
measures Of Bank, Protective Tariff, Internal I'M
prOvements by the General Government and Dstri-
button of the proceeds of the public lands, had
proven impracticable, and could no longer be made
issues, with any hope of success before the coun-
try. Hence the necessity, so apparent to Mr.. Bell
and Others for the selection of anO-party man, who
had political record and was pledged to no par
tieular policy. Hence his desertion Of Mr.. Clay
and his sudden attachment for Gen. Taylor. Mr..
Bell said in his speeches that he was not Of those
who regarded the old issues as paramount, and that
he did not belong to that school of politicians who
had rather sink with Clay than swim with Tay-
lor." These old issues were transitOry and must
soon pass away, said Mr. Bell t" Distribution, for
instance has erased fo6s question. Because, said
Mr. B., =" the public lands are now pledged for the
payment of the public debt" &c. 1sa5 III
Mr.. Bell,was cOrrect-the public lands had been
pledged by an act Of Congress to pay off the heavy
debts created during the prosecution of the war,
large proportion of which will not be due until
1871. The following is that portion of the act of
1848 to which Mr.. Bell alluded: .rs
SEC. 10. That for the payment of the stock which
may be created under the provisions of this act
THE SALE OF THE PUBLIC LANDS ARE HERE
BY PLEDGED; and it is hereby made the duty of
the Secretary of the Treasury to and apply ALL
monies which may be received into the Treasury for
the SALES OF THE PUBLIC LANDS after the lst
day of January, 1918, first to pay the interest on
all stocks issued by virtue Of this act and secondly
tous the balance of said receipts, after paying the
interest aforesaid, in the purchase of said stocks
their market value, sc. s.--A a
1t was, therefore, consistent in Mr. Bell when Mr.
Dayton made his proposition in 1850, to revive Mr..
Clays distribution bill, vote against it; it was
equally inconsistent for Mr. Bell at the same time to
vote to give away to the Illinois Central Railroad
such large and valuable portion of this land which
he had said pledged" for the payment of the
public debt. s-.,
Why has Mr.. Bell, after having made up for him
self such record this, thought proper to rein
troduce this question into Congress? He admitted in
his speech, made the introduction of his bill into
the Senate, that there is probability of its pas
sage. Congress and the President are Democratic.
and are known to be committed against it. Out of
l69 members now elected to the House, but tsUo of
them are of Mr.. Bells party, and they were not
elected upon the distribution question and would as
likely oppose it. The Patriot has said that one
reason why Mr.. Bell voted against distribution in
1850 was, that there was majority in Congress
opposed 10 it." What then, we ask, was his object
in reviving this old, obsolete and exploded issue?
Our reply is, that it was designed simply as hob
by in the present canvass with the hope of divert
ing public attention and preventing discussion of
the odious and dangerous features of Know Moth
ingism proper, and the hope of thus enticing into
their ranks such of the old line Wings who, from
past prejulices have failed TO unite cordially with
the Democracy, but at the same time have refused
to be contaminated with the leperous touch of the
new order which has inaugurated the reign of Plug
Ugly and Rip Rapism in all the cities where they
have had sway r
Mr.. Bell pledged himself when he so grossly VIC
lated the wishes of his constituents on the Kansas
bill, and "carred terror into their ranks" as the
New York Tribune says, that ifhe was not endorsed
by the people Of Tennessee he would not be found
in the Senate representing them another day after
that fact should have been ascertaned. Two cleo
tiOns have since taken place. in which the Democra-
cy in defence of that bill have signay triumphed,
but the honorable gentleman forgetting his promi-
ses, still holds to his seat at Washington He is
now silently awaiting another verdict from the peo-
pie-not win any view 81 reslgnIng If It should be
against him-but with the purpose, ifupon the hob
by of land distribution or by any other trick the
legislature be secured against the Democracy of
claiming il as endorsement of his Kansas policy
and thereby emitting him to lease for another six
years as a Senator from Tennessee in Congress- |
Such, in our judgement, the arts of an insin-
cere, reckless, gambling politician. If we are mis-
taken in estimate of his public character, it re-
mains for him and for his friends to explain and
reconcile the accumulating evidences of guilt which,
if political offences were made criminal, would, as
they now stand cOnsign him to everlasting dis
grace