Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-14
TUESDAY, AUGUST IA, Iseo.
HON.IOHN BELL.
sGPAST HISTORY Connected WITH
THE PUBLIC SERVICE.s

his
sEPASr HISTORY Connected WITH
HEPUBLEC SERVICE"
THE READINESS 9TH WHICH BE CHANGES HIS OPINIONS
To SUIT HIS PuRPosEs-FRoM RADICAL DEMOCRAT
HE GETS TO BE An EXTREME FEDERAIIsr
To show more plainly the persistent reckless
ness with which Mr.. BELL has gambled with the i'm
portant political interests of the country, and the
wonderful facility with which he has changed his
professed principles to suit the varying fortunes OF
his own personal ambition, shall go back and re-
fer somewhat more explicitly to the numerous and
contradictory expressions of opinion which he has
gravely enunciated at different times upon ques-
tions of governmental policy 1t is only in this way
that the public can Lnolo Mr.. B. as Gen JACKSON
knew him, even prior to his desertion of the Demo-
cratic party.
We have previously shown that Mr.. B. started in
public life Democrat of the strctest sect-oppo-
sed to Banks, opposed to Tariffs, opposed to Inter
nal Improvements by the General Government oppo-
sed to Monopolies a Strict CONSTRUCTIONS, ana
jealous advocate of the reserved rights OF the States
twill be remembered that, in that portion OF his
VauxhalI speech, which we havepreviously quoted,
made to persuade the people to follow him in the
support of Judge WHITE for the Presidency, he de-
cared that in the election Of either this gentleman
or Mr. Wax buren, unless the friends OF the latter
shall desert their principles the DEMOCRACY OF
the country will still be triumphant" invoking those
fathers of the Democracy, and who it is said are
SO much grieved at the prospect of division IN the
DENocRATTC ranks. to dry up their tears" Let us
now see what those principles were, and with
what sincerity Mr. B. adhered to them in after
times.
EJune Is, 1892 (see Cong. Debates vol S, part 3d.
page 334sD he delivered his famous anti-Tarif
speech, in which he went into general disserta-
ton upon the principles and policy of the American
Government the Democratic party, and of those
who stood opposed to it. a few general extracts
from this speech will serve to locate Mr.. BELL at that
time. First he says
ave have what is called the American system,
designed it is said and doubt truly said, to add to
the national wealth. 1t is also said that this system
is necessary and proper in this country because 1t
Is adopted and countenanced by the principal states
of Europe
Non. sir arLat must be thought Of American
salesman rho lpod model tie policy Of these United
States upon he basis Of the ETopedn system! We
have what is called an American system; but Is II
not clear that it Is the European system transferred
to America and without the slightest regard to the
peculiar and distinguishing circumstances IN the
condition of the American States IN regard both 10
the form Of government and their relative position
-
rnoronoIies then we must proceed upon the idea
that il is proper to assin''ae the condition OF our
population 10 that OF the States Of Europe IN respect
70 inequality OF rank and fortunes and further 10 CON
centrate the ealth of the country in the pockets OF
the Jew that it may be always mostaccessble to the
wants OF the government Is possible that the Wit
of man can devise a system OF pcHcy more Directly
opposed TO the American interests ana American
principles
Notwithstanding he asks: What must be thought OF
Amerioan statesman who would model the policy of
theseUned States upon the basis of the European
tem," acting at that time with the Democratic party
and supporting the Administration Of Gen. JACKSON
in opposition 10 the Federal policy of the preceding
Administration of Mr.. ADAMS he was not long in
changing his opinions. After his detection from the
Democratic party, and the same year that he made
his pilSrimage to the F,deralIsts of Hartford and
Boston. 1887. he introduced into the House his IA
NOUS AG bill to revive. in effect the Sedl'on law OF
the older ADAMS entitled. A bill 70 secure the free
dom o; elections prohibiting every American citizen
who ,boud chance to be Postmasteror holding any
other Office under the Government, from exercising
the ordinary privileges of freeman by word or act
during the tendency of any canvass involving elec
tons State or Federal under penalty Of being held
guilty of a high misdemeauor, subjected to me OF
one thousand dollars. and rendered incapable. for
ever thereafter, of holding any office OF honor
or protit under the Government. (See Cong Debates
vol u. part . page 1889 This wasa measure based
upon the European theory Of Government where
the subject is GAGGED at the will of the crown and
Mr.. BELL. showing that he had borrowed the idea
said
aIetus pause here for moment and inquire
how this subject of the interference OF puOlic ON
Gers in elections has been regarded ana proNlueu
against IN the opy country ~ tohtch the principles q
free QoUepue1 are correctly understood ana dl'ec'u-
ted besides Our olcH. / MEAN GREAT BRITAIN
He then proceeded to instance the act of WILLIAM
and MARY. as an enforcement of his argument lie
had a few months previous in speech dehVerea
before the same body gone even farther, and sad
"Wl any man hereafter affirm that the one hun,
dred thousand oficehOlders agents, contractors anu
dependents upon the Government. in some form or
other any longer to be Sqeiy trusted a5h ne fyfa
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 lesson upon
this subject from the practice Of government N
form less free than our own mean Great Britain
and beg leave to refer 10 her statutes not only Tor
depriving the official dependents upon The Govern
ment from voting. but prohibiting. under severe
penalties the slightest Interference of public officers
in elections. Cong Debates, 90. i, part. 1, page
44I2.
Such was the rapid change in the views of a man
who started out with an exclamation of surprise
that any one claiming to be IN American statesman
'would model the policy Of these United States upon
the basis of the European SYSTEM; asseverating in
the same connection that the true basis Of Ameri-
can system is to be found in "a perfect equality Of
rank, rights AID pririeges."
But Mr.. BELL, when claiming to be a Democrat,
was not only opposed to everything fashioned upon
the European system. but he was a RADICAL euel-
er--in his hostility to everything that would admit of
an inequality springlng mp between American citi-
zens as will be seen by the following additional ex-
tract from this very general and labored argu-
rnent from which we have quoted:
Whatever measure of public policy tends in the
SLIGHTEST degree TO destroy the equality of rank and
influence among our citizens Is not only opposed to
the theory of government but subyersIve of the
rreat fundamental principle upon which II Is erected
Sr the true American policy IS 70 preserve tie RoJa-
i,,,oltt of rank and Influence by dscouragrg the
onrnulation of great wealth IN the hands OF indi,
;SaI rit;zens 1t is upon this tasls that policy
G;b can he properly called an American system
- IL ;nstituted such policy would be really new
It;,Ied 70 some new and distinctive appellauOI
,bo noIicv we have adopted IS the European pol
io- Ne want system devised upon inc principles
-, Governments, and adopted TO their pre-
Ol Al ny - snnDort We must adopt policy u,
$780, tJ,rorsaF policy ace do not loSh 70 Gss'n'a'
' g.e,f m those If Europe. The suuJect Is IN
.;ggrv and leads on TO the consideration ioinecly
- 10 STABILITY OF this Government ana 'Ie ilu
-. 80 tha neople Sir when the true -s-lerlea
80, a system built upon true American pm
$50 and which car claim TO be OF truly amer m :
tvontion and origin, shall be estaDnsne"' =" 0'" .