Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-07
HON. JOHN BELL:
"PAST HISTORY Connected WITH
THE PURIIC SERVICE,


Mr.. BELL in his recent letter accepting the nomi-
nation of his friends for the Presidency, says in a
spirit of cOngratulation The Convention, IN dis
earding the use of platforms, eracts pledges from
those lehom they deem agory Of the highest trusts under
the goUeT7unent wisely considering that the surest
guaranty of mans future usefulness and fidelity to
the great interests of the country in any official sta
ton to which he may be chosen IS TO FOUND
PAST HISTORY CONNECTED WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Again his friends in their campaign paper recent
IL established in this city TO aid in his election, in
answer TO complaints made that "Mr. BELL refuses
to answer questions addressed to him upon the
pending issues of the day. declare, 'That it would
be improper now for Mr.. BELL to answer such ques-
tions-tdt could be homogeneous lsH the nature of
his nomination, ace haze no question:
He can refer only to his life and his opinions al
ready expressed. To these opinions he has nothing to
add FROM THEN HE HAS NOTHING To TAKE AWAY"
Without stopping TO eontrovert the fallacy Of the
plea upon which Mr.. BELL seeks to avoid express
sion of his opinions upon the pending issues of the
day." we accept the rule by which he has express
ed willingness to be tried, and shall, IN accordance
Herewith, invite the attention Of the public to
ull Just and accurate investigation of his history
II COu0eCIlOu Win me puDllC SERVICE. we 40 so
he more readily because it involves matters in
which the people of Tennessee have had direct in
erest, running through period of more than thirty
years; because 1t involves matters affecting the
character of individuals and parties who have igur-
ed conspicuously in the history of the State, and
whose reputation must be sustained or impaired in
the determination of theisues thus presented in the
person of Mr.. BELL Let an impartial public read
and determine:
Mr.. BELL AND GEN. JACKsON-HIs EARLY PARTY RE-
LATIONs.
Mr. BELL entered public life as a representative
in Congress during the latter part of the Federal
administration Of JOIN QUINCY ADAMS. Mr.. ADAMS
had been elevated to the Presidency through Con-
gress over the evident choice of the people ANDREW
JACksON under circumstances and by means which
induced the charge that there was corrupt bar
gain y between Mr. ADAMS and Mr.. CLAY. 1t is not
our purpose to sit in judgment upon the excit-
ing and disagreeabe questions which stood in issue
between Gen. JACKSON and Mr.. CLAY 1t is only
with the IiUiag and who are still upon the theatre
of political action in their relations to these parties
and the issues of that day. that we have to DEAL in
order to better understanding of " their past
history with the public service
Mr.. BELL in seeking to represent the people of
Tennessee in Congress at that period deemed it ne
cessary to make more explicit declaration of his
views upon the pending issues of the day. than
he finds convenient now. Accordingly. on the
IIth of October 1926. he prepared letter for the
public, the material part Of which will be fodnd in
the following extract:
Appealing then, to those who have known me best
for the proofs of my consistency upon the subject
of the formation and character Of the present ad.
ministration of the general government; these are
nv views. and these the reasons upon which they
are founded When the late election OF chief EagiS-
rde deuolred the House Of Representatives IN Con-
greSS the choice Of the people the JdroTe OF the nation
loaS indicated through thousand channels and bg the
most infdble sqS; Ia the eleUdtiOR, therefore Of the
present incumbent OUer him, ! CONSIDER THAT
THE FIRST AND BEST PRINCIPLE OF THAT
CONSTITUTION WAS VIOLATED AND TR0DDEN
Under FOOT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE
PEOPLE WAS DENIED. THE NOBLE FABRIC
OF AMERICAN LIBERTY WAS ENDANGERED BY
THE EXAMPLE. AND THE AUTHORS OF 1T
OWE AN ATONEMEN1. THE NATIONAL SAFE
TY DEMANDS THAT THE ATONEMENT SHOULD
BE THEIR FALL FROMPOWER. IF THERE HAD
BEEN NO VIOLATION OF AN IMPORTANT
PRINCIPLE IN THE LATE ELECTION,
SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO AN ADMIN
ISTRATIONWHTCH OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO A
UNION OF DISCORDANT AND HOSTILE INTER
FISTS. BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE ARTS OF Pc
LTTICAL MANAGEMENT AND INTRIGUE
THESE ARE ARTS. FIT ONLY TO BE EMPLOY
ED BY THE MINIONS AND MINISTER'S OF
PRINCES. WHOSE THRONES ARE SUPPORTED
BY THE PROSTITUTION OF PUBLIC MORALS.
WHEN THOSE ARTS REACH THEIR MATURITY, !
IN THIS COUNTRY. THE REPUBLIC PER- ]
ISHES. THE AMERICAN MASTERS, THE PEO- |
PIE WHO WILL DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES IN |
THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ELECT, On, WILL |
REJF1yT THE SERVICES OF THOSE WHO WIN |
THFTR WAY To OFFICE By PRACTICES THAT |
TENN TO CORRUPTION AND THREATEN THE |
OF THE GOVERNMENT
Wben such an administration Is 10 be opposed, 1t |
is fortunate that there exists such mah as AnIrew
jackson 10 be the instrument, in the hands OF the
DeonIe of It's overthrow, A man, whose purposes
are admitted TO be always pure; whose lliu seems
formed for great emergencies, and whose spIendiu
services place him, in deserving pubic iaFor al an
distance in advance of all others 10
aid an placing such man, from any part Oh me
Union az the head of affairs particularly TO ald IN
glevatiug sach a man from my native state, Is not
only IN aecordasce with my private lnchnatons,
but would be felt TO be part OF my pubic duty
Whether Mr.. BELL was honest in the opinion that
as administration of Mr.. ADAMS owed its existence
20 a ,nion of discordant and hostile interests,
,,ougb4 about by the arts of political management
IA intioue ,; arts ''fit only to be employed by the
and ministers Of princes, whose thrones are
.,n,orted bv the prostitution of public morals, 1t
-. o,,. -,.pose TO inquire. That such were his
,;,;,-s ~ Mr.. Clay he was certainly anxious to
= the nublie mind at that time for On
= an ,f I,lv 1927. at a dinner given in honor Of
,oo J.cFsos at Tauxhall Gardens IN TINS CITY, ne
vas present and took occasion to give the ioio"ing
oluntary toast: ..-.,.
THE INDIGNANT srRsuRs WHICH ANNOtNoE AeLUiH
,srTS,-r IrrERANcE or FREE BIT lSstlaEp r'i1N -