Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-03
Extraets Iron, Ne. BON,


will any man hereafter affirm that the one-hun-
bred thousand ofceholder agents. contractors, and
dependents upon the government in some form or
other, any longer 70 be safely trusted with the
right of suffrage in the elections of free people?
Sir the friends of the purity and freedom of the
elective franchise in this country should take les
son upon this subject from the practice of gov
eminent in form less free than our OWL mean
Great Britain and l beg leave to refer to her
statues not only for depriying the official depend
ants upon the government from voting but prohibit
ing under severe penalties the slightest interference
of public officers in electiOns-CoHJ Debotes co., II,
part 4, page 44l2.
NJ. BELL on General JACKsoN;s Administration
II, therefore, feel well warranted in my own
mind in aGtributing to the imbecity culpabie neg
ect or the corruption Of the Administration, all the
blood and expenditure which have attended our re-
cent hostile relations with the Creek Indians, and
much of the dishonor which must attach to the
country by the reason of specuationln their lands
Mr. BELL on the Mexican War:
Il hold, sir, for one that gentlemen who believe
this war to be unjust and inlquitous, or whether
Just or unjust that the further prosecution OF 1t Is
likely to inct upon the country greater evils than
can be compensated by all the territorial acquisitions
which the courage and resources of the country
may achieve, have perfect right to arralgn the
authors and advocates of it at the bar OF pubic
opinion, and to thwart them by all the means OF
speech, writing, and voting which the Constitution
warrants.
But. sir, should the tone of remonsrance against
this war rise so high in this chamber as to penetrate
every vaie in Mexico, reverberate among her noun
tairs and rouse the whole country 10 a spirit Oh re-
sistence to the attSmpt to subdue them to our do
minion there are those who believe that greater
calamity may befan this country, IN the 1urther
prosecution of the war; than even such result as
that"
aSir. if any should now desire to hear my poor
opinion upon the proper mode of terminating this
war | say to them make the best treaty with any
existing government you can. II you must nave
the territories of New Mexico and California, get a
cession of them: if you cannot do that, come back
to the Rio Grande to the boundary you claim title
to- and thus save your honor"
Nv advice is stop the war Flee the country as
you would city doomed to destruction by fire from
Heayen!'n
Mr.. BELL on the Kansas difficulties:
..In private conversation with my friend from
Missouri TMr. Geyer,l some months ago, upon the
Kansas difficulty he reminded me that some
of the citizns of Missouri who were denoune-
ed as border ruffians were emigrants from Ten
nessee. doubt not; and | will say further that
had been citizen of western Missouri, and had
been crediby informed of the vaunting and Boosting
ayoWals of their purposes said to have been made
by some of the first companies sent out by the Emil
grant Aid Society threatening that they would first
clear Kansas of every Yestlge OF slavery and then
| should have earned the character OF border ruff
fan either as principal accessory and so, on the
other hand, had been cOnscientlouSly opposed 10
slavery, and had settled in Kansas with view to
better my condition, and had witnessed the outrageS
said TO have been committed by the citizens OF
Missouri on the rights of the Free State inhabitants
and had l felt my neck CALLED by the yoke OF
usurped government and had lost all hope OF rellef
from any quarter-if resistance to such oppression
be treason, so help me God, would have been
traitor
Mr.. BELL to his Northern friends il 1850, upon
the acquisition of Territory
81 cannot forbear further to remind my Northern
friends that in the South and Southwest there Is
body of men, who, for long period, have continued
faithful aud Just to them; sustaining them in their
favorite policy through every vicissltude OF pollt-
cal fortune; a body of men of literal and catholic
views of national policy, who look beyond the po'
Gtica horizon of sectional interests spurn the IN
iuence of sectional prejudice. and embrace the
whole Union as their common country"
Mr.. BELL on the power to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia:
aReading the Constitution for myself. believe
that Congress has all the power over the subject
which the States have within their jurisdiction"
Mr.. BELL on the suppression of the slave trade in
the District of Columbia:
With regard to the proposition to suppress the
slave trade in the District already stated had
made up my mind that it ought to be done on seve-
raj grounds.
Mr. BBIL on slave marts:
We're a member of town or city council,
think should not hesitate to give nay vote for the
suppression of these slave depots, or slave pens,
as they are called within the precincts Of the
corporation.
Mr.. BELL on Know NOthingiEm:
am not member of the order, but feel that
am at heart as true to the great and leading |
principles of the party as l could be were for
mally initiated into one of its councils