The Nevada journal., 1860-07-06
John Bell and Edward Everett.


John Bell and Edward Everett.
What names are iese? Sound them again. I
They have the old ring that reminds us of
the better days of the Republic-of health-
ier political tone, sounder patriotism and |
aNhigher morality, than have marked the
governmental career of the country for these
later times. OF their peculiar political views |
we have nothing to say. In them is revi- |
val of the old Whig party-a political for
nation with which we had little sympathy |
when it was dominant, and less now when
its spirit has departed. But we should feel
ashamed of ourselves if we were unwilling
to acknowledge merit in any party or any
individuals. In the old whis party there
was dignity of action, an honesty of pur-
pose, nobleness and moral worth, that
could not fail to command respect. 1t en-
braced within its ranks great names and
good men and we shall have sunk to a low
standard when we fail to honor such as
Webster and Clay, Mangum and Adams,
John Davis and Crittenden, the Choates and
Bells the Badgers and Everet.s, the Lin
coins, Wtnthrops, Saltonstalls, raylors and
Scots, and all that class whose great tai
ents and great learning and great patriotism
have left unfadng memeItos along the
highway of our nation. Evel now when
their numbers are co nparatively small and
less hope attends Their movement, they
make singular combination of rare and
brilliant qualities. We doubt whether
convention has been held for years in this
country, or will be soon, surprising the
high and honorable cha -ac.er Of that at Bal
'imore this week Neither in themselves or
their nominations was there any attempt to
claim what did not belong to them, or de-
tract from Others There were nc sound
ing generalities," unmeanng, but dazzling,
to deceive; no demagogueism no looking
for rewards for partizan services but they
entered upon their work with an eye single
to the support of their platform the
Union, the Constitution, the enforcement of
the Laws and the nominations made
were worthy of such men. We may never
give to either of their candidates vote for
any office; we look to see what is practical
BILE and what is attainable; but we cannot
speak of them without the utmost respect,
and we regard them mentally with a MKT
ure of reverence and admiration.
John Bell is man that any party or any
people should be proud of. We believe
something in hereditary greatness and Bell
is family name that has won high place
in letters, in science and in politics. We
, find it in the annals of England, Scotland,
rela1d and America, holding the same hon
orable place. Here it matters not whether
re Bells are of New England or at the South,
f they have displayed the same characteris-
tics-yigor of thought, soundness of judg-
m mt, and conservatism of action. John
Bell is not unworthy of such family con-
E nections, and through long years-for =
whole generation of men-he has stood in
He is native of Tennessee, a State that
: has never failed to appreciate him even
when the great name of Andrew jackson
f was used to throw shade upon his path.
f way He is now 63 years old and when
he was no more than 90 he had graduated
at Nashville University with the highest
honors of his class, completed his law stud
les and been admitted to the bar, and before
he was yet a voter was elected to the State
Senate. He served one year, when he de-
clned reelection to devote himself to his
oro ,Sion.
= We may date his entrance to public life
4 from 1926, when he was elected to Congress
: over Felix Grundy, who was the most pop
| ular democrat in Tennessee, and had the
S support of Gen. Jackson, then an aspirant
t for the Presidency. The canvass for that
seat was one of the most ami mated that
ever occurred in this country, and lasted a
whole year. The vote vas SO decisive that
from that day John Bell was known to tn
whole nation. For fourteen years following
Mr.. Bell held that seat. For ten years be
"dS Sudii VI tue SOtuHilttt Ou
| affairs, and for four years he was Speaker
! of the House, being elected over James X
Polk.
, John Bell started life democrat; but he
, often dissented from the views of Gen. Jack
, son, and totally repudiated Martin Van
, Buren,. He came to sympathize with the
, Opposition in their views upon the tariff and
the improvements of harbors and rivers
and to-day he is in favor of protecting Home
; Industry and building the Pacific Railroad.
, He differed still more from the democrats on
the slavery question. From the first agita-
f tion in 1885, when petitions were sent to
Congress asking the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia, he took sides with
the North and though he had everything
to lose in slave State, while men from the
tree States had everything to gain by stand
ing to the right, yet he was not behind the
foremost of them; aud not NAH now in
Congress can show a better record than he
He alone of the Tennessee delegation voted
for the reception of anti-slavery petitions in
1886, though his whole State seemed in re-
bellion against him thereat, and in nobody
but John Bell would they have forgiven it.