Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-26
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT.
W.sHrrnror. March 19. 1855


Editors Of The Union and american:
GENTLEMEN: You have heard Of the viper which,
when warmed into life, struck its poisonous fang
into the bosom of its benefactOr. Our own noble
State has nursed viper in her bosom, and shs has
felt he fang.
!, last night, heard JOHN BELL Of Tennessee, on
the foor Of the American Senate, surrounded by
Black Republicans, prompted and encouraged by
HAZE and WIsoS-stimulated by their smiles, and
animated by their appreciation, oOolly and deliber-
ately announce his reachery to the soil which has
nourished him, and to the generous people who have
cOnfded their interests to his keeping. heard him
reoite the lesson which he had learned from SUMNER
and SEwARD,-I heard him lisp over the soft per-
suasive sentences, which he had caught from their
lips to subdue Southern men into submission,-I
heard him repeat their SANDERS, and reaffrm their
falsehoods, and finally heard him conclude with the
same cheap snd oanting professions of patriotism
and devotion to the Union, which they are wont to
utter The characteristic features Of his speech
were its i'll suppressed venom and artful dissimua-
ton. He blended the herceness Of the savage with
the whining hypocrisy Of the puritan. While purring
softy in the face Of the South, his claws we're fixed
upon its yitals.
He breathed his devotion to the Union in the
tones Of lover kueeling at the shrine of his lady
love- but he acts with it's enemies and aids those who
have oonspired to destroy it. He rebuked the ex-
IRENE and designating views of the abolition sem
stors Of the North; but some Of those senators con-
graduated him at the conclusion Of his speech, evil
IDENTIFY satisfied with his substantial support and
willing to dispense with his unsuJstaattaI compi-
ments. He did speak Of 90 those pestiferous Free
Sellers" but in a tone Of Cancellation, and not Of
oensure. He did venture TO say that the Republican
party SECTIONAL but he spOlogized for the harsh
expression, and Mr. Wade Of Ohio, consoled him
with the suggestion that it is now tapping over into
the South. I suppose Mr. Bell felt complimeuted
by the implied utilization.
There was evidently throughout an excellent I'M
derstandiug between his Black Republican neigh
bOrs and himself Wade and Trumbun nodded sp-
probation he proceeded, and several Abolition
members congratulated him at the conclusion. He
was sustained and supported by them from the be-
ginning to the end Of his speech. Wilson supplied
him with statistics, and Hale with whisky.
When be sat down, gentleman who was appa-
rently not posted" in obituary information, re-
marked to me, Il suppose that is Bell Of New
Hampshire" The mistake was SO natural, and my
pride, as a Tcnnesseesn, so much wounded, that j
could not undeceiye him.
John Bell has now done his worst. He has won
for himself immortal infsmy. His name will de-
scend to posteriiy on that blaOkened scroll, where
the names Of Arnold aud other traitors are written
Let him not hope to be forgotten. Tennessee will
enbalm him in her indignant memory, and her
sons in distant generations, as they gather around
the grave Of the old Hero of the Hermitage, will
heap curses upon the man who betrayed him while
living, and now betrays the State when his sacred
ashes slumber. -