Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-05-29
Antecedents of the Nominees.
JOHN BELL, OF TENNESSEE.

JOHN BELL, OF TENNRssEE.
John Bell was born near Nashville, Tennessee,
on the 18th of February, 1797 was educated
at Cumberland College, in that State, and choos-
ing law as profession, was admitted to the bar
in 1916, at the early age of 10. The year fol-
lowing be was elected to the State Senate,
where he served one term. Declining re e'ec-
tioD, he devoted himself during the nine years
ensuing to the active duties of his profession.-
In 1926 he was nominated for Congress, in op-
position to Felix Grundy, and after an exciting
canvass was elected over his popular and able COM
petitor by majority of thousand votes. From
that period until 184J, Mr.. Bell continued, by
successive reflections, to represent the Hermit
age District in Congress, where, during one
term, he filled the Office of Speaker. In 1841
hei entered the cabinet of President Harrison
as Secretary of War, but on the death of the lat
ter and the accession of Mr. Tyler to the Presden-
cy, resigned his post. Declining, soon after, the
tender which was made to him by the Legisla-
ture of Tennessee, of q seat in the United States
Senate, Mr.. Bell passed the next six years in
private life, but in 1847 elected to the State
Senate. The same year he was chosen to fill a
vacancy in the Senate of the United States, and
reelected to that Office in 1858, which lie con-
tinued to hold until the expiration of his term in
1859. In the early part of his political career,
Mr.. Bell was member of the Democratic par
ty, and warmly sustained the nomination of Gen.
Jackson for the Presidency. He opposed, how
ever, the removal of the deposits, and although
a Southerner by birth, has never favored the ex-
treme doctrines of the ulraists of his section
His views concerning free trade, which al one
time he strongly advocated, underwent in the
course of years radical change, and these, to-
gether with his refusal to vote for the resolution
approving of the removal of the deposits, caused
him fuay to withdraw himself in 1885 from
the ranks OF the party with which be acted so
long, and to cooperate with the Wings in sup
port of the policy of protecting American in
dustry, aud of the right of the States in sppro-
prations from the Federal Treasury for the iT-
provement of rivers and harbors. The system
of removals from subordinate offices for political
reasons merely, was repeatedly denounced by
Mr.. Bell whilst member of Congress as an a.
buse of executive patronage. He also sustained
by speech and vote the right of petition, even
when the petitioners prayed for the abolition OF
slavery in the District of Columbia. He sup
ported the Compromise measures Of 1850, but
opposed the Nebraska bill of 1854, and the ad-
mission of Kansas under the Lecompton Con-
stitution. He is, moreover, strongly in favor
of the construction of railway to the Pacific,
and of an increase OF our Naval armament
These are the chief points in the political record
of John Bell.
EDWARD EVERETT, OF MASSACHUSETTS.
He was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts,,
April, 1894. He received his early education
at Boston, and entered Harvard College when a
little more than thirteen years of age, undecided
as to a pursuit for life. He turned bis attention
for two years to the profession of divinity; but
ia 1914 he was invited to accept the new pro-
fessorshp of Greek literature at Cambridge,
Massachusetts, with permission to visit Europe.
He accepted the Office and before entering on
its duties embarked at Boston for Liverpool
He passed more than two years at the famous
University of Gott'ngen engaged in the study
of the German language and the branches of
learning connected with his department. he
passed the Winter of 1918 at Paris. The
next spring he visited London and passed few
weeks at Cambridge and Oxford. In autumn,
1873, he returned to the Continent, and divided
the winter between Florence, Rome and Naples.
In the spring of 1919 he made short tour to
Greece. He came home in 1919, and entered
at once upon the duties of his professorship.-
Shortly after his return he became editor of the
North american Reoieo. In 1912 he delivered
the annual Grafton before the Phi Beta Kappa
Society at cambridge, Mass. Up to this time
he had taken no active interest in politics, but
bis editorial articles had evinced his acquain-
tance with the wants of the nation, and in 1926
be was elected member of Congress, which
pOSltiOu uo l6lu lOT years, duV VI LIS Ac-
tirement from Congress be was elected Cover
nor of Massachusetts, which position he held
for four years. In 1889 he was again candi-
date for the same Office, but was defeated. In
1S4l be was appointed to represent the United
States at the Court of ST. James. He returned
to the United States in 1S45, and was chosen
President OF Harvard College, which Office he
resigned in 1S49. On the death of Mr.. Webster
he was appointed Secretary of State by Mr.. Fill
more, which Office he resigned for seat in the
Senate. This position he also resigned, since
which time he has devoted much time to lite
rary pursuits. At the great Union meeting at
Boston few mouths ago, he made very elo-
quent speech, advocating the perpetuity of the
Union, and rebukng sectional agitations He is
conservative Wing in politics.
A JOURNEY UNDER PARIs.-A correspondent
of Swedish journal furnishes an inter esting ao-
count of subterraneous voyage made through
one of the admirably constructed sewers of Par
is. The boat which conveyed the party was
reached by descending a flight of steps to the
depth of about forty five feet. The boat, fat
botJomed affair, was lighted by four lamps
The sewer is an archway, fifteen feet high, and
of equal breadth, with ditch or canal about ten
feet wide, wherein all the dirt and fifth of Paris
is carried away. On the sides are side walks,
which, together are about four feet wide. The
whole is built of beautiful white sandstone, and