Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-09

befali this country. except the dissolution
OF the Union and that last and great
est calamity to the country, the success of
snch movement would infallibly bring
about. l trust, sir, that my fears on this
subject viii prove to be groundless and that
no such results as have indicated will ever
be realiZed.o
But these sfears" did not prove
''groundless. The "resnIts" apprehen-
ded and predicted by Mr. BELL were
realized, to their fullest extent. in
the formation, at the North, of that
great and formidable Sectional party
organization, known as the "Republi-
can Party" which owes its origin exclu-
sively to the renewal of slavery agita-
ton by the introduction and passage
of the Kansas Nebraska BILL As Of
ten, therefore, as the puny, piddling
politicians of the Tennessee Democracy
hold forth to the people in respect to
the dangers to be apprehended from
the "Black Republican, party, just so
often do those puny, piddling politi-
clans bear the strongest testimony,
to the wisdom and patriotism of Mr..
Bell! Had his warning voice been
listened to there would have been no
Republican party now in existence!
Out of the excitement occasioned by
the introduction and passage of the
KansaS-NebraSka bill alone originated
that great sectional party organiza-
ton"
Believing, after long and mature re-
Election, that such would be the practi-
cal result OF the measure, Mr.. BELL
determined to vote against it. He
was told, as he stated on the floor of
the Senate, by some Of his friends, that
if he cid so, it would destroy him;
that it would lead to a dissolution of
the Wing party in Tennessee, and fur
nish a plausible ground for imputations
upon his motives. And those friendly
warnings were given him up to the time
of the final vote in the Senate A
''noble, generous, highminded Demo
cratic Senator from the South" within
few hours before the final vote was
taken, appealed to him in manner
that most deeply affected him. But
he adhered to his convictions of duty
regardless of all personal considera-
tons:
''Sir" said he, addressing the President
of the Senate, in his last speech on the sub
ject "wben a question is presented here in.
volving great principles of any kind, when
any great measure is proposed, and a man
occupying a responsible position becomes
strongly impressed with the conviction that
its adoption would have deep, and perma-
nent,and injurious effect upon the future pros
poets of the country. threatening the stabil-
ity of the Constitution and the Union itself
he should be willing to sacrifice himself. and
surrender all prospects that may be b Id out
to him which stand in conflict with his duty.
Why should aSman abandon his convictions
upon such question for the sake of doubt
full political chances? ] consider the posi-
ton of Senator of the United States,
which | now enjoy, as the prOudest and
most Independent that any American ci.-
iZen can occupy - the noblest and most
desirable to any man who will boldly do his
duty. Sir, | acknowledge my weaknesses.
! know that kind f elings and a Difference
for tie opinions of 9th RS have often in
duced me to give my support to measures
of inferior Importance, which my judgment
did not approve. But when a great ques-
ton is presented, when have deliberately
reflected upon it, when | have lights before
me 10y which to guide my couIse, whatever
sacrifices of political standing may he re-
quired of me, whatever obStacl and en-
barrassments of any kind may stand in my
way, | trust shall always have the tirmness
to do what, upon Deliberate reflection, L con-
slider my duty to the country" .s