The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-10-12
Mr.. Bell and the Mexican war.

We have heard privately that the democratic
speakers at several points, have cndeayorcd 10
make the impression that Mr.. Bell during the
Mexican war, voted against furnishing tho nccos-
sary supplies for carrying on the war. A CORES.
pendent Of the Banner having stated that Mr..
McNcly made such charge, the Union and
American, of yesterday, says: ..5 .
"What supplies may have been regarded ne
necessary" was clearly matter of opinion. But
one thing is quite certain that Mr. Bell with Cor.
wiD, Hale and the other opposcrs of the war, did
vote against that bill "to furnish suppics 10 carry
on the war" commonly known us the Ten Reri.
inent Bill If we arc not mistaken in our rccollec-
tion, that was the only bill of that cbarneter he
ever had a chance to vote against. In the con
cusion of his speech against that bill he used this
language:
''Sr, if any should now desire to know NV poor
opinion upon the proper mode of terminating this
war, say to them to make the best treaty with
any existing government Jou can. If you must
have the territories of New Mexico and California.
get cession of them; if .Ou ,anuot do that, come
back TO the Rio Grandc, to That boundary You
claim title to. aud thus st'. your honor.
My advice is, stop the war? Flee the country
as You would city doomed to destruction by the
fire from Heaven y
Col Haynes, also on Broad Street, the other
night took occasion to quote the last sentence of
the speech Of Mr.. Bell as above quoted, in con-
trast with Tie military prOwcss Of Gen. Lane. A
very few words will serve to expose the absurdity
of the charge, and the unfirncss of those who NAV
use it against Mr. Dell. The speech from which
this extract is taken, was made in the Senate of
the United States on the End of February 1913,
on bill to raise for limited time, an additional
military force, commonly known us the Ten Regi-
mcnt Bill. Atthat time the American army num-
bercd $4,000 soldiers, and held possession of the
chief strong points of the country, including the
Capital with all their rdeienccs-while the Mexican
army had been beaten and scattered. The coun-
try was in the power of our armies, which were
fully able to hold it against all contingencies
They were free from danger from any quarter
The raising of an additional force was therefore
unnecessary. But Mr.. Bell then believed that the
policy of the administration was to ovcrrun the
whole of Mexico and to establish there a military
Protectorate, and the final annexation of tho cn-
tire country to the United States and that the bill
was but a means to efiectuatc this policy 1t was
against this policy that Mr.. Bell planted himself
on that occasion, and not against necessary sun
plies" That speech was one of the ablcst and
most powerful that he ever delivered, and over
whclmed and put to route the conquest and an
neNation forces. While he was engaged in that
mastcrly effort Of craftsmanship, the very day, Il
treaty of peace was concluded between the two
countries which embraced substantially the recon-
mcndation of Mr.. Bell made in the above passage;
and ON the 10th of March following, the treaty
thus concluded was ratified and confirmed, with
slight amendments, by the Senate, receiving the
votes of 20 democrats, among whom were Mr..
Turncy, of Tcnncssce-Mr. Bell himself voting for
it. This speech did more to bring about that re-
suit, and stop useless cffusion of blood and an
unnecessary expenditure of money, than all the
other speeches ssatg on tho snHeet of that war.
put together. twill never cease to reflect honor
upon its lnatchlcss author us II man and states