Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-16
mr.. BEN and his lassai1ants.

Whatisit that the Democratic organs of Tennessee
do notaoeuse John Bell Of Their guilty consoienees
are constantly suggesting to them John Bell in some
new shape, Keeping them in a continual, unceasing
state Of dread and alarm. PQtri0t
without stopping to enquire into the secret Of the
newborn real Of the Patriot in defending Mr. BELL,
or to expose the exaggerated terms in which it would
depict the injustice done him BY the assaults Of his
adVersaries, we desire respectfully to suggest that
there is Recognised umpire, high tribunal of final
resort before whom it is the duty as It has been the
practice, Of public to appear and ask for justice
whenever falsely accused and unjustly assaulted by
an iIibersl and unworthy party prejudice. That
tribunal Is the sovereign peOple-Tepubcan, patri-
ote and honest before whom the faithful and injured
public servant never appears in vain. It has now
been thirty years and upwards since Mr.. BELL was
first intrUsted with their confidence, during which
time he has represented them in the most distin>.
guished positions Of the government At this ad-
Vsneed period Of ife when the trophies Of an hon
Orable career should cluster thick around him aud
the affections Of grateful people should encompass
him every side, he finds himself srra gned before
the world upon the high and grave charges of total
and Wanton disregard Of the win Of his constituents
and reckless sacrifice OF their best interests into
the hands Of their Northern enemies and for the
base purpose Of subscribing private ends and pro-
noting an unhOly ambition. We agree with the
Patriot that there is much severity in these charges
and that they should not be made lightly For one,
we have considered wen all we have said of Mr..
BELL and have been actuated in our course only by
cool and settled conviction of his guilt and of
duty to aid in exposing it to injured constituency.
The issue having thus been made uP between Mr..
Il. Il,
fully recognised by him, as shown in his speech
declaring his purpose % resign and come home if
the issue was decided against him in Tennessee on
the Kansas question, have long considered it his
duty to himself as well as to the State to 20 before
the people in person and plead his cause and defend
himself against the grave charges upon which he
was arrsigned. It vas to this end and in a spirit of
fairness to Mr.. BELL, that two years ago we urged
his nomination the opposition candidate for Gov
ernor. There was every reason why he should have
run, and not single excuse for his not running
Having the lead Of his party in the State Of course
he was entitled to the race and could have got it.
BIS party sadly at loss for the want of candidate,
he owed it to them to throw himself into the breach
and serve them as they had often served him in an
hour Of great need But Mr.. BELL did not choose to
do 50. No consideration Of duty to his friends or
the public could drag him before the people; from
which We argue that he qusiled at the very thought
and under the influence of that inward Consciousness
that "dOth make towards of as all -
In view Of these facts his friends have no right
to complain Of the structures Of the Democratic
press Mr.. BELL has been tried-tried by the peo>
pie on full knowledge of the faets-eondemned
and his seat taken from him. If he was not before
hn in hufs, L
other, it was his own fault and but increased the
evidence of his guilt
We desire to submit one more suggestion to Mr..
BELL and his friends Such is the liberaliy of our
republican system that the bar Of public justice is
always open to injured citizen. Mr. BELL has
Etin the of the people if he desires it, and his
party in Tennessee were never in greater need Of
GubernatOrsl candidate than they will be in the ap-
preaching summer. Let Mr.. BELL, therefore, take
this position Let him head his forces and 90 into
the fight. Let him meet the people who have so
long trusted him, face to face, with a democratic
competitor at his side whom he can confront and tell
Of the injuries he has received and the wrongs that
have been done him. His white locks if there is
any virtue in his cause will ennoble his efforts and
inspire his friends with an extreme enthusiasm All
psrties viii listen with respect and attention to him
If Mr. BELL has been unjustly dealt with, sandered
traduced, the popular sympathy will react pow
erfuy in his favor and his enemies will sink to that
lower depth Of shame which their conduct will have
justly merited On the contrary, should the present
verdict against Mr. BELL be sustained the fortunes
of that gentleman will be in but little worse cond-
tion than they now are. Let him. therefore, abau-
dan the idea if he ever entertained it, of trying to
succeed Gen. ZOlicOfer in Congress. Ills issue is
with the people of the entire State, and not of
Congressional district
We are not disposed to dictate terms or volunteer
service to the opposite party, but We intend they
shall prove their sincerity in the cry raised that Mr.
BELL has been unfairly dealt WITH or expose their
hypocrisy to open shame.