The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-09-12
From the Nashville National Union
John Bells Record.
MR.. BELL IN 1889

Mr.. BELL IN 1882.
his SPEECH ON THE TARIFF, JUNE sTH, 1882
PLEA FOR the uNIoN--puTY OF REPREsES.
TATIsE.
With the dangers which threatened the
Union ia 1882, in consequence OF the intense
discomfort which prevailed in the Southern
States, and particularly in Snuth Carolina.
at the working OF the protective tariff, many
OF our readers are acquainted. 10 this dis
content aud its threatened consequences,
Mr.. Clay adverted in his opening speech on
the subject Of the tariff. IN the Senate. during
the session OF that year. In allu,lun 10 me-
naces Of disuniun which had been heard
from South Carolina, he entreated "the pa
triotic people Of that State " to pause. SOL
EMMY pause and contemplate the irighttul
precipice which lay betnre them" 10
advance, was TO rush on certain and lnevlta-
bic disgrace and destruction" The danger
10 the Union. however. did not lie, he thought,
on the side OF persistence in the American
! system, but in that OF its abandonment
Could It be expected that. two-thirds, il not
three fpurlhs III the people Of the United
| States would consent TO the destruction OF a
policy, believed TO be indispensaby neces.
sary to1heir prosperitys Let New England,
the West, the Middle States, together with
the mammoth States Of New York and Penn
sylsanis. become firmly persuaded that their
industry was parayzed, and their prosperity
blighted, by the enforcement of the British
colonial system, under the deiusiye name oil
free trade-let them feel they were the vic.
tim nf mistaken policy, and despair Of any
favorable change, and. then indeed. might we
tremble for the continuance Ut the Union"
Here." in the language Of an eminent
statesman now deceased, was an appalling
picture presented; dissolution OF the Union
on either hand, and one or the other Of the
alternatives obliged TO be taken. II persist.
ed in, the opponents TO the protective system
al the South were to make the dissolution ;
il abandoned. its friends at the North were
10 do il ~
With this briet reference to the condition
Of the country at the time, we shall the bet
ter appreciate the course Of Mr.. Beil, ~ il
representative in Congress, at that perilou'
crisis.
This debate" said Mr.. Bell, cit seem,
TO me, was not commenced in the most fnr-
tunate spirit. nor has it been conducted alto.
gether in the manner which the nature and
intrinsic delicacy and difficulty Of the sob.
ject demanded. A disposition has been
manifested and sentiments ayowed by some
great men. equally unex pected and abhotfrnt
TO my feelings. Il has been openly attempted
to prejudice this question: by hulding i up
a. a contest between tree labor and slave a.
Dor between laboring states and those whose
citizens, IL is alledged. do not labor. IL is
openly and yauntingy proclaimed, BY one
/ gentleman. 10 the complaining sections and
interests, that, if they shall not be content
TO abide BY what he is pleased 10 call the es-
tablished policy Of the country, they may
take the Consequences Sir, am no alarm
isl, but when reflect upon all | see and
hear connected with this subject. when |
lonk 10 the growing distractions 81 the coun.
try, | feel myself Testified in designating the
sum Of what shall say upon this question
az plea for the Ciaon! Upon such sub
ject, upon an occasion so interestingly shall
MT consider myself As the representative OF
any particular section or interest ] shall
not consider myself either as tariff or anti
tariff man. claim 20 be considered and 10
be heard as a representative of the whole
county, mast anxiously concerned for is
prosperity. stability and glory. | claim To
be the advocate Of higher interests than tho.r
which are the immediate subject OF consiJe.
ration. II is no longer question whether
the iarmer shall get seyenty.fve cents. or
one dollar and twenty-five cents a bushel
for ~. wheat; whether the wool grower
shall receive forty or seventy-iSe cents
pound Tor his wool whether The planter shall
get eight or twelve cents pound for hi
cotton or ~heiher the manufacturer shall
make twelve aud half or twenty per cent
upon his capital. The interest II wool and
of wOalens, Of cotton. Of iron. 0i sugar,
and u The Whne range Of domestic products.
sink into Insignifcance in comparison with
those which nov force themselves upnn Mr.
attention. and claim our gnatdian care ant
projections. The interests Of domestic peace.
II Tree Government. IL liberty itself, sr. ~
volyed IN this question"
STATE OF THE uSIoS ~ 1852.
What then. Mr.. Chairman. is the state 4
the Unian: Ia time u pfolnand peace.
- % The midst 81 the greatest abun.
dance nf al tie necessaries aud even eun.
forts ol life. that GDd 10 his providence ever
decre.d ~ be the reward. Of virtue snd in.
dgstry. discontents. iealousle.. and r.near.
Gus sectional hates have arisen and are en-
outraged. fu.iered By these unhspp, feel
Ings. disalIrctiun to the 6Dsernment Itself
makes slow but steady progress IN tie
hearts III thousands Of honest aud patriotic
citizens A wsnt Of confidence in the mn.
tusl justice and forbesranee 81 brethren II
the same political lamil, manifested itself.
Confidence % our system. consequently, ~ |
every quarter. had diminished and i dimin.
IshIng. Mems minds are set 10 work in new
aud UnwonIed channels. aud pppn new Thea.
ries Of Government. for country 81 such
diversity Of pursuits and interests; upon
theories thought - BE- exploded. Or rendered