Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-28

The following letter has been received from
Senator Bell in reply to an invitation TO a
public dinner addressed to him by some of
his admirers in New York city.
''WAsHNGToN CITY, June 18th, 1857
"Gentlemen-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. Nothing but
imperative engagements, incident to the ad-
lournment of Congress. compel me to forego
an honor which, under other circumstances,
would be accepted with peculiar satistac-
ton.
THE compliment is rendered doubly accep-
tribe on another account. Among the names
subscribed to the invitation | recognise 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 re-
Gently stood in comparatively political anita
gonism.
"Where these various shades of opinion are
thus blended together, and actuated by a
common impulse in aiming at a common OBJ
ject, il argues well for the success ofthe cause
with which they are identified. In the
present posture of public affairs, no assurance
is more auspicious than that such men
should unite. animated 10y 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 revived, and suffering industry prote ct,d.
.'And il is especially gratifying that, in the
patriotic effort To bring back the government
10 its ancient and honorable principles
effort which now begins to difluse its moral
Influence every where--that all merely sec
liz na! considerations should be discarded, an
the movement should be impelled by ma
tional impulse, shared alike by North ard
South, East and West. 1t is only by such a
course, wisely and literally pursued ignol.
ing all narrow prejudices and exclusive ideas,
that this work % redemption can be consum-
mated. Every patriot must see. wherever he
nav live under the broad shield of this Union
that the time has come for great moral
revolution in the administration of the govern
ment. All the national interests have been
sighted and neglected. rs if the prosperity of
thirty millions of people claimed con-
sidcration. Improvement Of rivers and har-
bors, upon which internal commerce depends
for its transit and security, have been denied,
the government is carried on by the use or
abuse of public credit: all practical legisla-
ton has been refused, aud at a time when
every man asks his neighbor why this univer- /
sal arrangement and stagnation of trade has
com. 10 pas. neither TIE Itrsucul nor his
advisers have made a recommendation or
inquiry directed toward relief. They have
either stood still. or exerted their administra-
tive faculties for the domination of party or
the distraction OF the Union.
mo wonder, then, the cry Of change has
gone forth. and that the people are raising up
ia their own strength To demand IL. The
North and the South have equal stake in
the result. and whatever energies | can com
mand shall be employed now, as heretofore,
in restoring the government to its original
purity, in strengthening the bonds of union.
and ia promoting those moral and material
interests by which alone, as A nation, We can
be- made prosperous and happy.
Il am, with great respect. gentlemen,
Your obi servant,
'Jxo BELL
aMessrs. l. Bradish. William NJ. Evarts, A.
c. kingsland. Simeon Draper, George Girls
void, JOS phi Blunt. &c. &c"