Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-05-18
LYNCHBURG FRIDAY MORNING, MAY Is. 1860.
z Daily atir9inian.
Speech of Mr.. Bell,

The pressure our columns for several lays
past, has been great, that we have been unable
until now, to publish the admirable speech de y.
cred by Hon. John Bell in Philadelphia, on Fri
day night last:
Mr. Bell, for some days past had been scicurn
ing, with his family, M the La Pierre House, in
that city ani his presence there ail1rding the pro
per opportunity a scrcnade was given To him
Friday night hy his admirers aud friends, who
marched in orehlgh procession from tho Con,ti.
tntional Union Associations Headquarters to those
Of Mr., Bell, whose parurs ever since his nomna.
tion Ind been throngcd with yisiters.
On Friday ulght. long anterior to the arrival Of
the procession. the rotundos. sitting rooms, and
corriors at the hotel were filled with gentlemen.
At nne O'Clock the procession arrived, headed by
II band oi music. and It's ranks Illuminated by
tnmbeaux and torches. There were not loss than
six thousand persons in front of tho la Pierre
House when all had arrived. and the entire width
al Broli street. u the steps OF the house opposite,
entirely filled with people. The opposite
windows were crowded. with ladies, from garrct to
parur, lar beyond ear'shot oi tho speaker. After
the baud hat di,eouTscd II number of national
airs
Tie Hon. Joseph Il. lngersoll accompanied Mr..
Bell to the balcony. To winch tho parlors open,
nnd addressed the audience i'll n short speech, dis
tngWshcl ly the ahIIiiy aud eloqucncc that cha
raetli1a al the public Efforts Of that distinguish.
=
marx. hr muulutrd tho Hon. john Bell to the
audience rrc,cat. A. soon as tho cheering ccaS.
81 that gcutlrman eh,no forward % the balcony
and llrc,syd It mu!tiGac substantially rs fol
lows:
Fcllow-citizen,: 1t would be contrary to the
feelings of nature il | did not feel deeply SEN
slble II the CONF tlimcnt winch you have paid mo
tonight. large portion If you, ilatter myself
have paid me this compliment in approval o the
proceedings ot The Baltimore Convention. which
has just adiourucl. Loud cheers. | know it is
Impossible that nduo can have caused this largo
ns,embaSc. ! ha,c been put forward hy an as
Sombly formed. rs am told, for the greater part,
o. pure and distinguished individuals, patriots,
/ and statcsmau Us have ever assembled upon any
similar occasion in tho United States. Applause.
| know that cannot have the unanimous uppr "
al Of an assemblago ll&c this. Slill latter my
Scflhatlhe large IN iortiy # them have come here
Tonight 10 signify t,c,r appreciation OF the dccs-
iun OF the Convention. Applause.
do not appear before yoa, ms my distinguished
FREUD DID me the Justice Ia state. to make yuu
re, ,ul1r speech, either upon the topics of the day
or upgn the issues which have distracted and ny
iatcl the country or for any thing else more than
to cxarr-s my eimfc acknowledgements for the
honor done me b. the nomination at Baltimore,
and to thank yun tor tins manifestation Of your
kindness and confidence III me. Prolonged cheer
! ing
If You will allow me 10 address few words t,
you, without touching upon those questions about
| which there may he great differences ol opinion,
even in this assembly, would like To call your
attention to the eausos which have led tp the meet
| Ing Of the recent tonycntion at Baltimore. 1t is
not the Democratic party that have met there;
! nor Is Il the Republican parry. 1t Is not the
American party; 1t is not the Whig party. What
party is it. then?
A voice: "lti ia the Union and the Cunsti,u-
ton party ut which loud cheers were given for
the party.
| Mr. BELL continued. This must be the party
of the country. cheers, Of the Union, cheers Of
the Constitution, etieer., Il good nan. Let it be
mentioned here, Il will cal up rcm'mbrnncs
that will thrill every heart, because ii Is the cau-c
oi the Union. the party Of the Union, which.Wc
hope the people will ratiiy. Cries Of "ihey VIII.
they Will :" nud tremendous cheers.
wls not Il witness Of the proceedings ot that
Convention, but repeat, in view Of tho names
have seen e gentlemen who held it their duty to
he there 1T this period Of the country-at ,hs
crsir if may call it, itsuch-that it was comios-
cd OF gentlemen who had long retired from pah-
lie tr.irs; gcntemen Of large experience, Of com
prchcnny" and snsaeious views, who thought that
the condition OF Tie country required. thcm ns
patriots, feeling deep interest IN its present ~
well ms It's grcat future, to come forth and mani
fc>t their sense ol the impending danger. and
strive 10 allay ~, existing threatening disscnsions
and alterations, and call bnck the country to the
true ol,ects -! the government aud the par
poses Tor which 1t instituted, instead Of ex.
hnusting their time in distractlDg topics and dis
cnssi"ns upon abstract questions, to the neglect ot
the great vital aud material interests of every
ton ct the Union, to the dlsparagcment Of the
country, and TO the withdrawal Of vigilance and
watchFulncss from the conduct Of public affairs.
This state If things has lnd to the dsparagcment
Of country and If her Institutions, not only
in the eye, Of its citizens, but it has cast
stain upon' them in foreign nations, even exciting
doubts as t. their stability among some Of tho
most enlightened friends ot liberty and republi-
an.lnstutlons in Europe This is not the way
in which the honor, the purity, and the glory Of
republican institutions were expected to be
developed by the fathers and founders Of this great
Government. Cries OF that's So" and applause.
1t is true that it Is 80 aud there is no man Of
fection and observation but that must feel IL con
sci ,usncss of it. We do not feel the same conf
denee in tho practical results of glorious rep
rcscntatiye republican Government that we did
forty years ago--that we did twenty years ago
| My experience, my own observation, has enabled
me to perceive clearly ana distinctly the marked
change in the public confidence not only Of
| fclow-citzcns, but Of the most ilustlious adyo.
Gates Of republican Institutions in every civilized
| nation Of tho world Their eyes are all upon us.
10 The distinguished gentlemen who met at Bal
| tinoro the olhcr day bansbcd from their coun-
ellis those discussions upon the institutions Of the
South, and the diversity of feeling existing be-
tween the North aud the South which have 80
long distracted the country. They consider
these issues as having been brought into the
vass for party purpose, in the main by zealots,
notwithstanding there ars honest men in both
sections Of the country, having no party objects
in view, who have been induced to cspousc and
discuss them do not believe that the agitation
of these subjects could lead to any public good,
either to the North or to the South. 1t can lead
to nothing but mischief to The one to the other,
or BOTH to the cause of our common country.
| The Convention by their example by their coun-