Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-27
John ReII.s Record.

John BelI's Record.
The Memphis AUaLuacAe having charged
that ever since the ann' ration Of Texas, upon
every sectional issue. JOHN BELL bad u'UaTi-
ally voted against majority of Southern
Senator'S and Representatives, the Enquirer,
thus boldly and confidently makes the issue:
I'VE denied tive repeat the denial; and
we submit that If the AuoE,nche has time
ar inclination to 90 into an examination OF
Mr. Belts record il ought TO have mani
tested an equal disiDcliDati0n 10 make that
record che basis OF one of the most serious
charges which can be preferred against a
Southern statesman And We add, that II
.sthe Congressional debates abound with in
Vulnerable evidences Of his trrachery,' II
woaEd require but little time to hunt mp some
IF them, and as in all probability that is
work which the party necrssitirs OF the AUd-
iGHrhe will COMPEL il 10 perform during The
present year. il may as well set about 1t at
once. We hold OureeH ready To dt'feEd That
record. We challenge the Ar0L1nche TO the
proof of its allrgatiOns, and We pledge onr-
felf to show that they are unsgstalned by the
evidence. Mere general charges OF tresch-
pTy smuunt TO nothing. We want something
capable of proof or Of disprO"t The ale
cations in Saturdays AUaL0scke were distinct
and positive and we hold it 10 fhem. III it
was ma.ter OF sufficient importance to make
the charges, Il Is OF equal importance iofJoUe
them. The AraLonche framed its own indict-
ment to suit itself Upon that indictment
we have demanded. and nOw d"msnd trial
We intend TO engage in no jack-o'-lantern
chase-we care not what the New York Tn
taHe says, or anybody else says. Its proof,
if it has any, is to be found i'll the Congress
sional records. and 10 that we hold it.
With singular consistency the -4uaidacke
Il
] intends 10 present Mr. Bclls record here
after with tolerable fuln ss'' Very well!
That is exactly what want, and what We
were afraid we would be unable 10 obtain
when it told US that il had .'nrither time, nor
the inclination to go into an examination of
Mr.. b. IFS record, to prove how often he has
voted against the South and with the Black
Rcpubicanr," but We suggest to our nti gb-
Dor that even this last promise is a decided
backing down from it's first sweeping accusa-
ton that ever since the annexation of Texas,
Mr. Bell had m0urtaIiy voted against the ma
jority Of Southern Senators and Representa-
tiVes, upon all sectional questions We are
disposed, however. to deal generously with
our neighbOr, and hold it to the substance
rather than the letter of its charge"
There has been great deal OF abuse heap
ed upon Mr.. BELL by The democratic partizan
few years. He has been denounced in an
measured terms a. "iraitor to the South
a ian abOlitionist al heart" &c, &c. Whilst
he occupied position in the councils of the
Ition, which was for more than Thirty years,
we did not at all times feel called upon TO
defend him against these assaults. They fell
harmless al hi feet and were refuted by the
current history of the times. Since his NOM
instion for the Presidency as the first choice
of the Opposition in Tennessee, these assaults
are being renewed. He is not now in a po-
9 ton 10 defend his course by word or deed;
and hence We are gratified TO find the Mem
phis Enquirer, in the above quoted extract,
broadly and defantly throwing down the
guage on the issue of his infidelity to the
South. Tne editors Of that journal were both
associated with Dir. Bell. In the highest
branch of the national Legislature. and kIl9,o.
whereof thoy speak. We. ourselves, placed
the name Of Mr.. BELL at the head of our col
utDas with pretty full knowledge of his pO-
Etical career. and we join hands with the
Enquirer in its proposal to meet the issue
named. We know Mr.. BELL to lie a nation
al. conservative man. whore political course
has bcen guided by his hOnest and sincere
convictions; and though we have sometimes
differed from him on the pTopriety OF his
course, as is we'll known. we have ever ac-
corded 10 him the purest and most patriotic
motives We now regard him, in the alarm
ingly critical condition of the country, as the
IL.
in all the Republic. to guide the ship If state
through and out of the perils that surround
il. His great and comprehensive power a
s.aiesman; the mod, ration and cons, rvatism
of bis views and opinions; his long expert
snce in and thorough acquaintance with pub
lie affairs; bis entire familiarity with the
theory, principles. and history of the R"pub-
lie. he profound devotion to the COnStitu-
tion and the Union; his honesty of purpose
and unblrmishei personal aud political in
tegriiy; aud perhaps above all, in these eX-
cited and disjointcd times his prudence, de- !
liberation aud caution ADD firmness, altogeth- |
er render him pretminently ftfur the Chief |
Executive station in the Government
Iftruth and fidelity to the constitution and |
laws and devotion TO the great iatercsis. the |
prosperity and honor Of the whole country, |
make a man a "trai,or'' to section, then |
Mr. BELL is justly chargablc-but not other
wise. We trust the American people have !
not 50 far wandered from the straight path |
of reason and OF patriotism. as to he possess
ed of the miserable hailucination that one !
who is truly national is therefore unfit TO be |
trusted by any SECTION or any class If the |
people. When they have arrived at that
point Of folly and madness. it is truly time Ia
begin to lock for the diSint, grafton aud de- |
struction If the Federal Government.
Congress.
In the SsR0te. on Tuesday. the resolutions
of Mr. DtUgtys IN the snhir.t oT ttev.ntiu,, 4