Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-23
IN ASH VILLE:
SATURDAY, JANUARY %, 1853.
The Bell Resolutions.


There has been pending before the LIE
gislature of Tennessee a series OF resoiu-
tons in regard to the Hon. JOHN BELL. In
order that the purport Of these resolutions
may not be misunderstood it is proper 10
state, that during the discussion of the
Kansas Nebraska Bill, Mr.. BELL remarked
in his place in the United States Senate,
| if his course was not approved by a
majority of his constituents in Tennessee,
and that fact were ascertained, he would
| not hold his seat a day longer. This is the
substance though not the precise language
of Mr. BELL. The preamble to the reso-
lutions, recites this pledge, and assumes
that the contingency on which it was based
has happened, and the resolutions simply
ask him to comply with his promise. This
is the nature, purport and scope of the re-
solutions. That they should be adopted
by democratic Legislature is a matter of
course, though they have only yet passed
the Senate
We have no remembrance, in the whole
history of politics and parties, of paral-
lei case and we venture to assert, with
the remotest possibility of successful con-
tradiction, that there never was before,
and we should hope, for the honor of par
ties as well as the country, that never here
after, will there be, similar case. If it
were a resolution of intruction to Senator
upon any question of national policy, it
would be fair subject of discussion; if it
touched or looked towards any great prin-
cple of governmental economy, or had
any reference whatever to probable fu-
ture emergency, in which the constituency
of Mr. BELL held deep stake, it might
assume the air of propriety and decornm.
But nothing of this sort is involved. In
stead of declaring great principle in the
high affairs of State, and asking or instruct
ing Mr.. BELL to shape his course accord
ingly, it is an impudent invitation to that
gentleman to resign his seat. And this ln-
vitation is based upon the false assumption,
that Mr.. BELLS countrymen in Tennessee
have declared point blank against his course
on the Kansas. Nebraska bill. 1t will be
remembered that Mr.. BELLS course upon
that measure was dictated by expedency,
and that at the time, he expressly held,
that the Missouri Compromise was uncon-
stitutional, as also to the doctrine OF
non intervention by Congress in the affairs
of the territories. There is not man
of any party in all Tennessee who will Sc
riously assert, that these positions of Mr.
BELL have been made an issue, either pri-
mary or secondary, in any campaign in
this State since his vote was given. And
to assume that such has been determined
to a reasonable certainty, is as discredit-
able to the common sense as it is to the
political honesty and fair dealing of those
who make the pretense.
The only proper construction that can be
placed upon this proceeding is, that it is
direct attack upon the personal honor and
integrity of JOHN BELL. 1t assumes that
politician. And that is the resolution,
body, soul and spirit. The sham democratic
legislature of Tennessee, has set itself up
as the custodian of Mr. BELLS private
morals, and as his prompter in matters of
ethics, of conscience. If the sham demo-
cracy can justify such an outrage upon
decency, decorum and selfrespect, we have
neither envy nor respect for the kind of
logic by which such justification is reached.
In so far as it would indicate method in
madness, it would disgrace lunatic. We
do not, however, charge the sham demo-
cracy with lunacy in this behalf. 1t is
rather the result of petty personal ma
Lightly towards the peerless Statesman Of
Tennessee, directed with barely sufficient
brains to make it coarse, abrupt and con-
temptible.
We have no idea how Mr.. BELL regards
such attacks, but to our mind, he should
look upon it with that high-souled disdain
natural to men of noble mind, pure pur-
poses, honorable motives, and conscience
schooled in higher philosophy than his
maligners and pursuers are capable of ap
prapiotinU