Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-09
LETTER FRoM sENAToR BELL.

The following letter has been received
from Senator Bell, in reply to an invitation
to public dinner addressed to him by
some of his admirers in New York city:
wAsnNaToN CrTY, JUNE l7tk, 1853,
"Geutlsmen-I am deeply sensible of the
friendly feelings manifested by your letter
Of invitation to public dinner in which
my name is fatteringly associated with
that of the Hon. j. j. Crittenden. Moth
ing but imperative engagements, incident
to the adjournment of Congress, compel
me to forego an honour which, under other
circumstances, would be accepted with pc
culiar satisfaction.
',The compliment is rendered doubly ac-
ceptable on another account. Among the
names subscribed to the invitation | rec
ognise many familiar to the whole country,
as eminent in the various walks of life some
who have been distinguished in the public
service, others who have given tone and
direction to opinion, and others still, who
have but recently stood in comparatively
political antagonism.
"Where these various shades of opinion
are thus blended together, and actuated
by common object, it argues well for the
success of the cause with which they are
Unidentified. In the present posture Of
public affairs, no assurance is more auspi-
cious, than that such men should unite
animated by the same patriotic inspiration,
and act together for that great end by which
the country may be redeemed from the rule
of ultraism; the excuses OF party may be
restrained; stagnant commerce may be re-
vived and suffering industry protected
"And it is especially gratifying that, in
the patriotic effort to bring back the gov
eminent to its ancient and honorable prin-
ciples-an effort which now begins to diff
fuse its moral influence everywhere that
all merely sectional should be discarded,
and the movement should be impelled by a
national impulse, shared alike by North
and South, East and West. 1t is only by
such a course, wisely and literally pursued
ignoring all narrow prejudices and exclu
sive ideas, that this work of redemption
can be consumated. Every patriot mus
see, wherever he may live under the broad
shield of this Union, that the time has
come for great moral revolution in the
administration of the government. AL
the national interests have been sighted
or neglected, as if the prosperity of thirty
millions of people clai3ied no considera
ton. Improvement of rivers and har
bours, upon which internal commerce de
ponds for it's transit and security, has beer
Denied the government Il carried ON by
the use or abuse of public credit all prac
teal legislation has been refused, and at ;
time when every man asks his neighbol
why this universal arrangement and stag
nation of trade has come to pass, neithei
the President nor his advisers have mad,
recommendation or inquiry directed to
wards relief They have either stood still
or exerted their administrative facultie
for the domination of party or the distrac
ton of the Union.
"No wonder, then, they CT of 'change
has gone forth, and that the people are raj
sing up in their own strength to demand il
The North and the South have an equa
stake in the result, and whatever energie
1 can command shall be employed now, a
heretofore, in restoring the government
to its original purity, in strengthening tn
bonds of union, and in promoting thos
moral and material interests by which
alone, as nation, we can be made pros
porous and happy.
am, with great respect, gentlemen,
Your ob't servant,
JOHN BELL.
Messrs L. Bradish, VIM. M. Evarts A
l