Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-30
Hon. John Bell.


The distinguished American Senator, Mr..
BEII. made speech in the Senate. on the
18th of May last on the financial affairs of
the Government We laid il aside for publ
cation at future day, when the people of
Tennessee, beginning to look to the adoption
by the parties which divide then, Of some
policy TO rid the country of the monetary
and financial evils of the day, would not per-
nit its lessons to pass without calm and
thoughtful consideration. Believing that the
time has arrived, shall commence the re-
publication of the speech tomorrow. 1t is
one of the ablest of Mr. BELLS efforts, and
exhibits the far reaching sagacity and states
manship for which he is distinguished among
the public men Of the nation.
The National hetelligencer, on laying this
speech before its readers, said:
I'm spreading before our readers the first
instalment Of the mastery speech delivered in
the Senate by the Hon. JoHN BELL of Ten
nessee, on the Goth of May last while the bill
authorizing the fifteen million loan was pend
ing before that body, we conceive it due both
to the ability of the speech and the import
ance of the subject to depart from our usual
custom by signalling it for the special at
tention of our readers. We are induced by
the marked and solid merits OF the argument
made by the distinguished Senator on the oc-
casion in question to insert it in separate
numbers. as being not only more convenient
to ourselves, but at the same time placing it
more readily in the power of our readers to
give it that attentive study which it will be
found at once to deserve and repay.
ain this speech Mr.. BELL, while discussing
the financial and political evils of the present
time, has sought to trace them to their
ultimate source, not for the mere purposes
of partisan elimination, but with the higher
view Of pointing public attention to the |
remedies demanded by the admitted embar- |
easements OF the Government and the country. !.
That of late years the national finances /
should have fallen somewhat into dlapidation, /
and that the industrial interests Of the land |
should have suffered blight and decay, ought
certainly to excite no surprise in the breast
OF any one who holds that Governments are in
stituted among other objects, for maintain
ing the public credit and promoting the com
mon welfare and prosperity OF their subjects.
For what attention, within the last few years,
h IS been bestowed on those branches? One
of the wisest Of English statesmen has said
that 'nte reUe,ues of the State are the State"
Il political aphorism which superficial thinkers
are accustomed to cite az though Burke in
tended to affirm that the money in the Nation
Traa ali, ,f hi,.h.l
concern in every Government. This is GER
ttinly no unimportant incident of every civil
administration; but when that philosophic
statesman and economist alluded to 'thc
revenues" of the State, he meant to designate
all those great sources of productive industry,
manufacturing enterprise, and commercial
wealth which, in the highest sense. compose
1.-The State" because they comprise all the
activities which tend to make it Opulent and
mighty. These, in his idea, are the objects Of
first concern to every well-organizcd system
Of Government, because upon their healthful
whose interest and protection Governments
are established and maintained.
Now, during the last few years it is noto-
'iOus that the material interests and poitico-
relations of the country have all I
been put in allegiance by an unhappy sec
iOnal strife which has seemed to absorb the ,
political activity of our statesmen, to the d
neglect and consequent dctriment of the gen ?
,ral welfare. While our Federal Legislators +,
nave thus given to party and to section the !
attention and devotion which were due to
'the State" in all its wide and varied inter
.sts, it should surely excite no surprise to
ind that the latter have marked by thcir de
preston the absence of that fostering care
which it is the duty and function of Govern !
nent to afford, in so far as these interests are
ubject to its control within the limits pre- /
cribed by its organization. :
at is the patriotic object of Mr. BELL, in :
his speech to seize the present interval of re- !
ose in our sectional agitations for the pur- '
'ose of impressing on the public mind a :
lmely direction towards those great measures |;
nd questions of public policy which. being |
rational and permanent in their character, ,
re more in conformity with the theory for .
which the Federal Constitution was framed {.
y the founders of this Government. OF the !
manner in which he has discharged this task a
t is unnecessary for us to speak. Whatever t
nay BE- the readers opinion of the distin- :
,uished speakers arguments or conclusions. !
Ill will admit that he has brought To the dis I
'ussion of large and difficult subject the
grasp of n powerful intellect, and the COM /,
prehensive view of one who has SURVEYED !
with equal care and intelligence the whole /
ield within which the various topics of his
emarks are comprised Such a treatment of !
high political themes revves the best rrcol-
ections of craftsmanship" as it was under !
stood and practised in the days which pre-
,cded the advent of the spoils era in politics, :
md the noisy and profi,less agitation of sec y
ional topics. 1t is to b. hoped that it may
lot only mark, but accelerate the dawn of
hat better day which il believed to be already
ising upon the Republic, when the evils
which have sprung up while men slept or fall
cred shall be brought To light and exposed,
o the end that the appropriate remedies may !
e applied in the premises, and that domestic
'eace and prosperity may again reign within
'ur borders"