Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-15

SPEECH OF Hon. JOHN BELL, IN THE SENATE
az the USITED STATES. on THE 25rH or
FEBRUARY, ON THE THRTY MILLION BILL.
ii. X. WALKER. Secretaries.
IRA L. JONES,

Mr.. BELL There is not time enough to
take ANYTHING like an extended view upon
this subj CT which | shall not do for that +, n
son. Ii is embarrassing on another account.
If il did not interfere with my course OF ar
gumcnt. and would not occupy more time
than propose to occupy o-day. i should like
10 reply to some of the arguments OF the
honorable Senator from Connecticut. Mr..
piNnu1 particularly on the Sulj ct of the
effect of the slave labor in the South produc-
iul, the necessary effect, as | understand his
argument, of degrading free white labor
rendering it dishonorable or not reputable;
but shall leave that To Others.
Extraordinary ~ this proposition is, Mr..
President. il it had found it, way into The
Senate by the consent of the body, in cour-
rrsy 10 the distinguished anthor of it-dis-
tinguishcd by ability and sagac, ty-l should
not at this period ot the session and of the
debate. have been disposed ca enter into the
question to any extent, on my part; hut this
pruDo ition comes h. fore Us under very differ
eat and more imposing auspices, however
respectnblc they might have been when pre-
sentod by AN individual. They are presented
10 us. aud recommended To our notice aud
favorable acceptance. by al the force ana
persuasion that the recomm u'iat on OF the
President of the Uuittd State, and the sane
"
can give tu IL; and from what have under
stoCl rs to what hos tax II p ace out oi the
Senate upon this subj ci-a tact at more sig
uiGclnce than the !, comm 'udatinu OF the
Pres id.nt aid the sanction of the Committee
on Foreign Relitious--it has had the counte-
nnnce and support. from the time II was pre-
scented to this body, of the authoritative coun-
sci of the dominant political party in the
: mate and in the country. Though IL may
4 an a IA AZ.
knoN, that il l. expected To pass | see enough
Ia satisfy me that this measure, together with
the kindred measures recommend by the
President of the United States, are Ia form
the staple OF political controy' rsy and agita-
tieu for the next four years; that they are
thus regularly Installed the legitimate sue
C ,ssors of those ISSUES which have couvulsrd
the country for the fenr years that have just
passed This If itself is sufficient TO attract
serious attention and notice.
This measure. remarkable a. 1t Is in itself.
both from the amount of money which j. pro-
posed TO be placed at the discretion of the
President, and the time at which IL Is present
ell the financial and other circumstances in
IA. condition of the country being consldfr-
cd. rikcs my mind challenging more
especial wonder and amaz ment 10y the bold
ness the apparent sincerity and confidence,
with which criticism and scrutiny into It's
motives anu otJectS are deirt, aaid III ptiuSi-
pies and policy upon which il Is attempted TO
be Sustained and indicated Here l. pro-
70 ,sltion TO vote $50. 900 90. to be used by the
President at his discretion, In efiycu0g a
treaty with the Crown of Spain Tor the ae-
auisiiion OF the Island of Cuba. Ii this wns
an amount Of money 10 be appropriated In
any case, or Tor any obi CT. would say that,
had ID been presented under circumstances,
and la view of probable contingencies which
might exist. would not regard IL rs dispro-
poriionate 10 what many consider the nasni-
tudr AID value of the Interests TO bs attained
by t.; bal coming as il does. IN my Judgment
unsupported by any probable contingency.
or ex grne,, likely to arise between this e0na
try ard Spain; uuaecompanied by any ear
cnm,,ances 10 demonstrate its proPricty aud
ftD. -, 1 must confess, with gr at deierence
To lie s,norible Senator from l. luisiana, Mr..
s DELL hsf il did not know that he never
b ings Toward q insasnre without some high
,r 90, cl than hat which an about 10 state,
that presented nak'si and dsfens sle-s Ut those
circumstances whc only 'eid rsiify IL, it
-, 5000 ~ an exDrr1meut 10 ties the