Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-05-17
Union Party Convention.


and tho lest ta-m. ngcgt.sd. III
relieving la p.a,f..g 4ao- -,a.
~HE 'C0N1fIjt HOS nF TGECOCN
gRT,
TIE UNION UT TIE 5fAIi,; AM
TIE NFOACDMEET OF THE LAWS
On the second ballot hon. JOHN BELL
Of Tennessee was nominated for President
HON. EDWARD EVERETT, was nomina.
ted bY reclamation for Vice President.
The following interee.ing and impartIa,
skatch Of the life aud public servicU Of John
Bel is from tic New American Cyclopndia:
John Bell was born near Nashville Tenn,
Feb. 10, 1891. He was TIE soE Of farmer
in moderate circumstances who wag however,
able to give him d good education at Cum
berand College, now Nashville University.
Choosing tho law az his profession, he was
admitted to the bar in 1916 settled ut Frank
lin, Williamson county, and was elected to
the State Senate in 1917, when only 20 yeGrs
old. He soon saw bis error in entering So
carly into public life. and declining re-elec-
ton. devoted himself for tho next 8 years tn
his profession. In 1926 he became caadi-
date for Congress against Felix Grundy one
Of the most popular men in tho State. who
had the powerful support If Andrew jack
son, then candidate for the Presidency n
gainst John Quincy Adams. Nevertheless
after most animated and excited canvass Of
- months Mr. Bell wa elected in 1927 BIZ
1000 majority. By successive elections, he
continued member Of the House Of Repres-
entatives for IA ycara lie entered Congress
a warm admirer of Mr.. Calhoun, and strong
ly opposed to the protective system, against
which he made a speech, in 1892. Subae-
quent 10 vestigation and reflection induced
Rim to CT ange his opinions on that subject,
and he has ever since remained en- oarnegt
adrorate of the policy Of protecting Ameri-
car industry. Though opposed to the ap-
p,opriaton of money by tho general govern
ment for roads and canals in the States, ex
cept in the case Of some great road for mill
tary purposes, like tho Pacific Railroad, he
has always favored the policy Of improving
the great rivers and lake harhors. With his
admiration for Mr. Calhoun, Mr.. Bell deci-
dedly opposed the South Carolina doctrine
Of notification, and was chairman of the ju-
diciay committee OF the House with special
reference to the questions connected with
that subject which might have to be congid-
cred and reported or. For 10 years he was
chairman of the committee OIL Indian affairs
He was in favor Of n United States bank,
though lie voted against the bill Ter IFS re-
charter in 1882, because he believed that the
subject WAS brought up ct that time, four
years before the expiration of the old chart
err, me rely to defeat Gen. jackson in tie en-
suing Presidential election ana because he
was convinced the President would veto the
bill, which proved to be the case, flo pro-
tested against the removal OF the deposits,
and refused to vote : e resolution APPROX.
ing that measure. This refusal was one Of
tile causes which led to the subsequent breach
between himself and President Jackson and
tho Democratic party, and finally to his CO.
operation with the Wings. This change Of
party relations as mu,h accelerated by bis G.
lection TO the Speakership Of the House of
Representatives in 1884. IN June Of that
year the Speaker, Mr.. Stevenson, resigned
the chair upon being nominated Minister to
Great Britain and Mr.. Bell was elected to
succeed him in opposition to James K. Polk
afterward President Of the United States
who was the candidate Of the administration
and of the Democratic party. MIR. Bell was
supported by the Wings and portion Of the
Democratic party who were opposed 10 the
intended nomination Of Martin Van Buren,
as successor to President Jackson. The prn
ciple ground Of Mr. Bella crrostion TO Mr..
Van Buren, was bis strcnG lisapproval Of the
system of removals from subordinate Offices
for merely political reas0ns-a system which
Nr. Van Buren, had zcalousiy promoted in
the party conflicts of the State Of New York
and which it was supposed he intended to
carry out to its full extent in the ndministra-
ton of tho federal government. The tend
encies of such Use Of executive patronage
had been wildly portrayed by Dir. Bell in u
speech in the House en- tho freedom Of cleo
tons; aud ne had made repeated, though in
elfectuai, efforts in successive Congresses TO
procure tn enactment Of lava calculated to
check the policy. The fiual separation be-
tw, en- Br. Bell aud Gen. jackson took place
in 1896, when Mr.. Bell declared himself in
flvor of Judge White for the Presidency, in
opposition to Dir. Van Buren, Up to that
time there had been no opposition in Tenn
essce to Gen. Jackson's administration, and
it was generally supposed that his personal
and political influence could not fail to sub
due the opposition raised by Judge White
and bis friends. The whole force of tho adj
ministra.ion aud Of Jacksons personal pop
ularity was exerted to this end. But Judge
White carried the State by large majority !;
Mr.. Bell was reelected to Congress from t {
Hermitage District itself by as large q vote
as ever; and an impulse was given to the Pc.
litical charat ter oil Tennessee which arrayed
1t in opposition to the Democracy during the
four succeeding Presidential elections of 1910
-,44-'4s-52'. When the reception of petit
tions for the abolition of Slavery in the Dis
r - L.. IL t.1 Al
of Representatives., in 1886, Mr.. Bell alone
of the Tennessee delegation favored their re-
ception, and though assaied at home. was
sustained by the people. And subsequently
In 1885 when Atberton's resolutions were in
troduccd, proposing to receive and lay these
petitions on the table, he maintained his con-
sistency by votng in the negative, in order
that they might be referred and reported up
on. When President Harrison formed bis
cabinet in 1a4l, lie invited Mr.. Bell to ac-
Dept the War Department, which be did,
With the rest of the Cabinet, Mr. Webster
orly excepted, he resigned Office on the sep
arsti,n Of President Tyler from the Wing
party, in the autumn Of TINT year. The
tyhig msinrity in the next Tennessee Lcgis-
Iature which met after Ills withdrawal from
The Cabinet offered him the office of United
States Senator, which however, he declined
In favor of Ephraim H. Foster. who had rem
dered services to the Wing party which Mr..
Bell thought deserving that recognition. Mr..
Foster was accordingly elected, and Mr.. Bell
remained in voluntary retirement until called
by the people Of his county, in ls47, to rep
resent them In the State Senate; in which
wear. on the recurrence Of = vacancy, he was
elected to the United States Senate, to which
he was reelected in 1853 for q second term,
which expired March 4, 1869. In the Sem
ate Mr.. Bell steadfastly opposed the policy
pfannexing MEXICO and other Spanish "A NOR
can States to the Union. He was In favor
If the compromise measures of 1850. but de-
tired TO see the Issues then made fully settled
& ths time by the division of Texas into
;tates. az provided by The act of annexation