Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-06-29
Mr.. Bells Letter of Acceptance

l
It is source of great satisfaction to the conser-
vative Opposition throughout the country that Mr.
Bells letter of acceptance has extorted the admira-
ton of his political opponents Thathis friends
are more than pleased with it, is shown by the en-
thusiastc terms in which it is spoken of by the
Opposition press without exception. The Savan-
uah Republican leading Opposition paper in Ga,
accompanies the publication of Mr.. Bells letter Of
acceptance with the following excellent and forci-
BILE observations;
at will be seen that Mr.. Bell follows out the
idea of the Convention that nominated him. in not
laying down a specific and rigid programme of
political action, and binding himself to adhere to
it under all circumstances, should his nomination
be ratified by the people, He cites his past course
in the public service all the great questions that
now distract the country or are likely to arise in
the next four years, as not only an indication of
his present views and opinions, but as pledge and
guaranty of his future course. Nothing could be
more reasonable nothing should be more satisacto-
ry. mans history, his past life, his acts form
the tests by which he is judged in all the ordinary
affairs of life and there is none other known and
recognized among men--why is it then, that in
politics we have new test of merit, pledge
for the future. If man has done right, he is
worthy of confidence if he has not ten thous-
and platforms and pledges cannot make him
worthy.
This new condition of worth and confidence is of
modern invention. 1t took its origin in the plots
and ntrigues of demagogues to shut out honest and
faithful long tried public servants from the higher
posts of honor under the Government 1t was un-
known in the earlier and purer days of the Repub-
| lic when we had Presidents and Senators before
whose brilliant lights the pigmy officials of the
present day must pale their Intellectual fires No
pledge was required of Washington, Adams, Jeffer-
son, Madison, Monroe. Their lives and their prin-
ciples were known and the people relied upon them
to be true to themselves. No body dared to put
Old Hickory on platform and if they had, does
any man believe that he would have gone into the
Presidency on any such terms? Ofwhat value are
sterling character, public service if after ALL they
give title to the public confidence and support?
How miserable the logic upon which the platform
system of the present day is basedl 1t has neither
common sense, common justice, nor common hon
esty to sustain it.
"Mr Bell repudiates all such contemplate con-
trvances designed in nine out of ten, to de-
ceive the people, and offers to the American people
his past course in the public councils the index
of his opinions and the guaranty of his course for
the future There stands his record on nearly every
page of his countrys history for the past thirty
years. By that he is willing to stand or fall. Let
his countrymen examine it, carefully and fairly,
and then enter up their judgments upon the man
and his claims. We would simply add, that we
have no hope that the South will obtain from any
convention an abler, purer more trustworthy man
The South should hesitate long before she turns
her back upon man whose every impulse is iden-
tilted with her rights and honor, and whom throgh-
out long life, man can justly charge with
equivocaton or desertion.