Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-08-18
From the Memphis Avalanche. 14h- n~ry


 his bid for the black republican president;a nomination, in the shape of long and windy speech against the south and the Lecomptor consultation, Senator Bell made haste to follow his example, and by making longer and still more windy harangue, sought to wrest from the Willy kentuckian the glittering prize for which he was striving. We thought then that ou, senator was too late-that he had suffered the golden opportunity to pass, and committed g fatal blunder in allowing his Kentucky bro,ba, to take the initiative. Time has but served to strengthen us in this conclusion. Crittander cieariy mas the inside track, and, no matter how oduiy ne may be beaten by his other competi. .ors, cannot Iall to distance the Tennessee horse AS between the two the odds are ten to one in ia'oi oi MT Crttenden. lis name is in every oooy's mouth, whilst MT. Bells, poor mani has scarcely been whispered since the memorable u's U that ne wrote hls atfectionate epistle to Greely, Raymond & Co.
 we are of sympathetic nature. and cannot heip feeling sorry, very sorry. for Mr. Bell. He has ia6ored long and faithfully for the presi- dency; has "wired in and wired out" placing himself first on this side and then on that in the hope of getting into the line of safe pre- cedehts," and finally into the White House. Tn all hlssmovements, during the long years that he has been in Congress, he has "looked to the main chance" and kept an eve single to the house at :" the other end of the Avanue. but Tor the temptress, Ambition, who earilv whispered into hir ear that he might one day become the occupant of that establishment. it Is posslble-we say possible-that MT. Bell might have remained democrat and been vet an honest and honored politician But long years ago he got his head turned with the idea of being President; deserted the democratic party; joined the opposition, and has, ever since. waged an uncompromisiDg war upon his early principles and his old friends Such has been his trucking subservency to northern preiudi. ceS, and such his known anxiety for northern popularity, that he has long been regarded as
 southern man with northern principlesn- sort of political Esua, ever ready to barter hls blrthrght for a mess of abolition pottsga Nobody, therefore, was surprised when Mr Bell arrayed himself by the side of Seward and Glddlngs, on the Lecompton question. though there were those who indulged the idea that he would endeavor by doing his duty on this occasion, to make some amends for the long catalogue of sins which he had committed against the south, and to secure to himself in retiring from the political stage, the consolation of having performed at least one good and ma. tnotc deed during his public career. We. how ever, were not of this number. We had long been close observer of Mir Bells political course; had seen him too often betrav the south and knew too well his love of place and mower to suppose that he would allow policy to yield to patriotism in his last struggle for political existence. We knew that the bait held ont b,, the black republicans was too temptinq for q politician of his ambition and his easy virtue to resist, even granting he had felt disposed so to do. We repeat, therefore, that Mr. Bells course on the Lecompton question did not sur prise us. He did just what we expected him to do, andIust what his antecedents justified all men in supposing he would do. He simply betrayed the south as he had often done before and In doing so bid against Crttenden for the republican leadership in 1860 As was to have been expected, he has failed in his purpose and after all Is without the ghost of chance for the place he perilled his all to secure. Critten- den, and even Humphrey Marshall has the lead of him, and should the republicans come south for candidate, which they are by no means likely to do, Mir Bell. at best. would only have the third chance of being the fortu- nate man. This is too bad-really too much tor poor, weak human nature to bear. and we are not surprised that Mr. Bell keeps his house at Washington, or has retr'd to the peaceful shades of his coal mines in Kentucky. He has no doubt concluded by this time that the way of the transgressor is hard and that he who would purchase place and power at the expense of right and principle must walk thTongh many trials and tribuiatons, and meet many sad dsappointments.
 Though politically opposed to Mr. Bell. we confess that we cannot help feeling sorry for him. He is now an old man and an old politi- clan; he has fought iong and faithfully against the democracy-longer and more faithfully. perhaps, than any southern man now on the political boards. To see him 90, as it is now evident he must go, from the scene of his labors. as broken down and disappointed politician. is indeed melancholy sight, and one upon which we confess we cannot look unmoved. But his Is but another instance of the fate of the hun dreds of political traitors who have preceded him--but another example to those who may come after him, that the brilliant prospects which high talents and great abilities hold out Tn early youth are often forever blasted aud de- stroyed by the follics and mistakes of maturer years John Bell is no ordinary man. and had he remained faithful to his first principles and hls early political associations. or had he even as whig and a know nothing discharged his duty to the south and his constituents. he might yet have been respected for his fidelity, if not rewarded for his services. He chose. however. to take different courSe-to Dot only join the opponents of the democracy, but, in joining them, to ally himself with the enemies of the constitution and the south As necessary con- sequence he has fallen-falen to rise 10 more forever. Let his case serve as a lesson of warn. lug to those who may come after him; and when ambition would seduce them from the path of wisdom and rectitude, let them rememb Der that It was through her counsels that John Bell was politically ruined, and because he followed her promptlngs that he was mum bered in the list of those who We're weighed in the balance and found wanting"
 lNFORMATION N aNTsn . Oc .L. LII H.