The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-08-10
Letter from John Bell. /

From the Montgomery Post, July u
NASHVILLE. july %, lSGO.
Dcar ,e;r-Your letter of the OH inst.
was received ten dnys since. and ills due
to YOU, aswell as myself. to state the caus-
es Witch have DELAYED my answer In this
late davto explain what, otherwise, might
be imputed to me rs discourtesy. Such
n statement is due 60 numerous other
gentlemen. who. in the last month or six
weeks. have addressed letters of inotiirv
TO me. from different quarters of the coun-
try, az to nv views and opinions on the
more prominent questions at issue in the
pcndinr canvass. and which have receive
ed no answer.
TO the inuuiries in all such letters.
there was but orc reply. ms / conceived,
which could, consistently and proporly,
he made. under tho circumstances of INV
position; which was. to refer the writer's
10 INV nast course. TO the views and opin.
ions I have heretofore held and express
ed on the subjects or questions embraced
in their letters. But it appeared to Inc
that a reply, containing nothing more
than such a general reference, without
nointinc ont the partictllar votes. speech-
% and oiber evidences of what had
eoid or done in connection with tho o,es.
tIOng made the SIlDInrT OF lnmIlIN. Stat
inc whore thov were found. would he nm
gracious. TO say the least of it, TO make
sucb references in nv answers would far
exceed the ordinary limits of a letter. and
I concluded that it would be more con.
venient and satisfactory to both parties,
70 occo,nnonv NV answers with nrintnd
collection of such of nv speeches and
letters os have n direct bearing upon
tbe subjects of controversy. or of such CO.
nious extracts thcrerrom. ms to leave no.
ihing 10 he sunnliod bv further Quota
tions from them. The preparation of
such q compilation was Immediately com
menced, bv n member of the Central I'm
ion Committee of Tennessee. 1t is now
completed. and transmit, herewith. q
copy of it, printed in the "National I'm
ion" 1t was issued from the press a week
later than was anticipated by me, and
hence, nv answer to your letter, as well
as to others, has been delayed weel; be-
vond the time had proposed to myself
to answer them.
For the reasons which impel me to de-
in your letter. | refer YOU to the first and
second pages of the 'National Union"
You will observe that the ground there
;.
with the declared views of the Convention
which placed me in the position now &C.
cupy before the public, to make any new
declaration of principles. But | do not
choose to shelter myselfunder the author
lily of the nominating convention against
any reproach may incur in consequence
of the course ] have thought it my duty
to pursue in relation to this subject. Had
I I.,,, - ,,op,har of tho contention
would have resisted the adoption of any
platform, or declaration of principles, not
embraced or implied in the three funda-
mental propositions or objects intended
to be maintained and secured by the Ma
tional Union Party, and which constitute
the basis of its organization: The Const-
tuition, the Union, and the enforcement
of the Laws" The great aim of the Ma
tional Union Party is, to restore peace,
with justice to both sections ofthe Union
not to prepetuate strife.
Whatever may be the policy or designs
letters, have insisted upon their right, as
n matter of principle to call upon me to
declare my views and opinions upon any or
all Of the questions which have become the
subject Of controversy in the present can
Yass, and contend That | cannot refuse
compliance with their demands, without
a violation Of the obligation they assume
to exist, on my part as candidate for
place, have no distrust Of your sinceri-
ty and good faith in making the earnest
appeals to me- which YOU do in your letter,
to take course, which hope you will,
upon reflection, perceive would not be in
conformity With the intentions and eEpcc-
tatious OF those who chose me to be their
loader, and the representative of their