The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-10-09
BELLS OPPOSITION TO THE MExI-
CAN WAR.

The neonle cannot have forgotten the vehem-
ence with which the Mexican War denounced
esnec;allv bv the Abolitionists of the North. One
of their Senator'S Mr. Corwin, encouraged the
Mexicans to greet our soldiers "with bloody hands,
and welcome them to hospitable graves. Amos
Tucker of New Hampshire, In his Abolition 1renzy
said: "Iet the same vote that declared the War
unnecessary and unconstitutional sarve it to death
by Withholding supplies" Abraham Lincoln, now
the Black Republican candidate for President
rising in his place in the House of Representatives.
denounced it as a war in which the Mexlcans
were in the right and the Americans in the wrong
declaring that the President 'feels the blood OF
this war, like the blood of Abel crying to Heaven
against him" Where stood John Bell? Side by
side with Lincoln, Corwin and Tucker, In oppos-
ing the prosecution of the and resisting the
recommendation of the President for an increase
of the military force He voted with the Abolition
lists against the Ten Regiment bill. He went far
Their and in his speech defended the course these
men. and counselled the President to withdraw the
army Here is his own language:
81 hold sir for one, that gentlemen who believe
this war to be unjust and iniqutous whether just
or unjust the further prosecution OF 1t is likely to
inct upon the country greater evils than can be COM
nensated by all the territorial acquisitions which the
courage and resources of the country may achieve
have a perfect right arraign the authors and advo-
of the bar of public opinion and to THW ART
THEM by all means of speech, writing and voting
which the Constitution warrants hold, sir, that te
deny them the exercise of this privilege by Jaw, would
be an act despotism under legal FORMS and to seek
oresta the exercise of this privilege by ntimiGa-
ton and the influence of official denuncaton by charg
ing those who avail themselves of this privilege as the
allies of the public enemy and their auxiaries in the
war; is attempt at moral despotism only to be ex-
cused emanaon of excessive and Overheated ZEAL
in which neither the Judgment nor proper regard
for the institutions freedom have had much to do
But sir should the tone of remonstrance against this
rise high in this chamber penetrate every
vale in Mexico, veberating among her mountains, AND
ROUSE THE WHOLE COUNTRY TO A SPIRIT OF
RESISTANCE to the attempt to subdue them to our
dominion there those who believe that a greater
calamity will befal this country, in the further prose-
cution of this war, than such result as that.
Sir, if any now should desire to know my poor opn-
ion upon the proper mode of terminating this war,
say TO them make the best treaty with any existing
government you you must have the Territories
of New Mexico and California, get cessiOn of them; if
you cannot do that, come back to the Rio Grande to
the boundary you claim title to, and thus save your
honor.
Ny advice is, stop the ocdr Flee the country you
would city doomed destruction by fire from Heav
emp
1t will thus be seen that Mr. Bell was unwilling
that an outraged public sentiment should shame
into silence the moral treason of the Abe Lncolns
Tom Corwins Amos Tucks, and others, but that
they should be permitted to 90 in their efforts
to "thwart' the Government in its prosecution of
the war, "by every means of Speech writing "aMbl
voting" even ''should the tone Of remoDstrance
rise hi Oh to penetrate every vale in Mexico,
reverberate among her mountains, and ROUSE
the whole population to a spirit of resistance"
What mattered it to him that Americans were
there in deadly conflict with the enemy of their
country? No blood of his coursed the veins Of an
American soldier.