Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-09

Our purpose thusfa in tracing the history OF Mr. =
BELL has been not so much to show his shameful in
upon matters of principle, -though that
las come somewhat necessarily in review as to f
race out his connection with and parties along
he line of his political career We have seen how
readily, at one time, he pandered to Gen. JACKSON,
whose power was omnipotent in Tennessee We have
seen the equal readiness with which, awaited himself
of popular prejudice as means of strengthening
himself with the public, in denouncing Mr. CLAY IN
connection with the bargain and intrigue" charge.
We have seen the readiness with which at a subse-
ouent period. when he found himself mistrusted by
Gen. JACKSON and dependent upon new alliances for
future promotion, he put foot the most ingenious
schemes for creating detection in the democratic
party and by the use Of who stood high in the
confidence of party led oa portion ofits members
uuawares into the ranks of their former opponents
protesting at the same time that nothing further
from his purpose. We have seen also the readiness
with which he marched over and took his stand by
the side of the very he had denounced; striking
an alliance with the ADAMS school of Federasts at
Boston, and afterwards becoming the eulogis: and |
follower of Mr. CLAY in the South. We have seen
the facility with which he has been for and against
every public man. up to the period at which we last
spoke ofhim, 1888, the peculiar nature Of his own
personal and selfish aspirations might direct him. We
have simply omitted to state that, when finding him
self crossed and differing in Congress with colleagues
whom he had reason to regard as rivals he pursued
them with the same bitterness, that amounted to
terms of the coarsest personal abuse involving both
their characters and motives, as viii be seen by his
speech in Congress- May 3D. 1888, in which he stig-
matizes the Hon. JAS K. Polk, then the Speaker of
the House, and the Hox FELIX GRUMPY then Sena-
ator in Congress- as men 'doe destitute Of patriotic
honor and public principle, whom he boosted to have
repeatedly denounced at home, in public assemblies
of the people, among their own neighbors." Mr.
BELLS past history connected with the public
vice" since that time is more familiar to our readers
and may therefore be passed over hurriedly.
In 1874 he had become the follower and eulogist
of Mr.. CLAY, whose greatness and popularity with
his party was then at Its zenith. No one went more
heartily with him into the support of all the meas
ures which boldly avowed by that great leader
as the true American system" and the platform
upon which he had placed his party. Citizens of
all portions of the State must remember the earnest
ness and gravity with which he argued the over
whelming necessity for the adoption of those meas
ures No one could have heard him and supposed
that in his judgement any consideration could be OF
paramount importance to them. But Mr.. CLAY was
defeated in 1874, as any man would have been whom
his party night have started at the time But when
he went down he fell calamity, with his principles
avowed and known of all men. He had not
tented himself with that shutting policy of more
recent date of referring the public to his past
political history connected with the public service
But the qalanry of Mr. CLAY did not suit the policy
of Mr. BELL. he wanted a candidate that could
uuia He had joined the Wing party for the greater
chances of personal success; AMI disposed.
therefore in the next to have less of prnci-
ole and more arqilqJilay. Therefore, when Mr..
s. Folks war" as it had been termed by its oPpo-
nents had closed its glorious events, Mr. BELL pre-
ferred selecting one of its popular military chief
tains who had never been connected with the politics
of the country and whose only renown had been
won upon the battlefield in the prosecution of war
which he had bitterly opposed the probability of
another defeat with the great "Commoner" at the
head. And thus HENRY CLAY fell in the house and
by the treachery of his own friends. There were
many good and honest men the Wing party who
earnestly desired the success of their principles,
and who expressed their readiness to sink with
CLAY and their principles rather than swim with
TAYLOR without their principles" To this class of
individuals Mr.. BELL addressed himself in a speech
at Murfreesboro', during the canvass of lS4S, re-
ported in the Nashville Banner, in which he said:
'It had been said that I'm the nomination of Tay-
lori the old issues had been abandoned. suppose 1t
| true that they have which of them was OF so much
value that it should have equal Importance attached
to It. or have precedence the great issue TO
which he had alluded" THE settlement of the ques
ton of slavery in the territories in view OF the
present crisis he should like for any one to contend
NV i'm that hpSp %
consequence. Weigh them in the balance and de-
eide for yourselves. In the very nature of things
the question of the Tariff United States Bank the
sub-Ireasury, Distribution, etc, are evanescent,
transitory and in generation or less time will pass
away. Distribution for instance, has ceased to be
a question. The lands may now be considered
pledged for the payment Of the national debt, and
under the continued emigration of millions from Eu-
rope and from other causes, they viii soon cease to
r exist as national domain"
He believed that hostility to Mr. Clay had be-
come a fixed sentiment with many. His admiration
of Mr. Claws talents not less than that CT those
who thought his claims should have been preferred.
lie had had preiudces in regard to him to overcome
like many others. but many others had not yet over
. come them. lie was for Taylor because he thought
II the honest and patriotic Of all parties could unite
+ upon him. lie had heard Of some Wings who had
, rather sink with Clay than swim with Taylor That
,s not his view Of the duty of patriotic Wing
: In giving up Mr.. Clay he knew that all did not
II agree with him. A movement had been made IN
e New York lately by Wbgs VINO still thought Mr.
h Clay the only proper representative of Wing prIn
~ cipes lie did not tiinL; the Wing party 50 poor thai
they could boast but one man lcho deserted their sup
u port"
Il The one great issue " to which Mr. BELL referred
in the opening of the foregoing paragraph as para
mount to all the old HENRY CLAY issues of the Wing
party was the settlement of the Territorial question
in regard to slavery, and upon this he said
r What his TGen TaylorsI opinions we're the
= subject of the constitutional power OF Congress
the question of slavery IN the new Territories
| he kHeIU not NOR DID He DESIRE TO KNOW. II nc
= thought Congress had power over the subject
: as President he would doubtless veto any bill sane
: tioning such provision II he thought Congress mao
: the pOUer though opposed to the measure hnSelt, M
could not consistently lolb has drOlCed doctrines HtH'
: hold his assent 10 IT,"
\ Such was the preteKt upon which Mr.. BELL after
ten years cooperation with Mr.. CLAY deserted him
I to enlist under the banner of more fortunate
' chieftain-one whose sentiments though he did not
know nor wish to know, upon the one great issue
Of the day" gave greater promise OF bringing MI
BELL and those who were willing to risk their for
tunes with him, into the control of the Government
P again.
" Itust strike those who will take the pains TO exam
r inc this speech of Mr. Bells something remark
able that regarding the settlement Of the territorial
" questions the one great issue to when all the
old issues were subordinate, he should have prefer
q red Gen. TAYLOR to Mr. CLAY. There was never any
y cOnceSment about the opinions of Mr.. CLAY. What
e Gen. TAYIoR's opinions were concerning the one
great ISSUE" Mr.. BELL made it point to declare
!, he did not know did he desire to know; but
y if Gen. TAYLOR thought Congress had the power
e Ito apply the WnMor Proviso, excluding Slavery
from the Terrtories he could not consistently with
. his avowed doctrines withhold his assent to it.
Mr. BELL took occasion further to say in the same
: speech that " he was not clearly certain that Con-
gress had not the power to dispose of the whole
subject The Missouri Compromise, so long acqui'
esced in. went far to settle that question
Gen. TAYLOR was elected to the Presidency over
p Gen. CAss who had avOwed his unwillmgness to APP
( prove the Wmot Proviso if adopted Mr.. BELL be-
f came the support in the Senate of the TAYLOR
administration THE one great issue the question