Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-08-31

! himself by calling him unsound. Nothing like il
can be found in the life of John @ Brecknridge.
! Thus Mr.. Bell is sounder than the platform, and
sounder than Mr.. Breckenridge and his platform TO-
gether.
Now, fellow-citizens / will say here, in general
terms withouttalIibg up your time to read so nnch
that there is nothing in all Mr. Bells record incon-
sistent with this care not how designing editors
and demagogues disgrace themselves with garbng
flsehood and mean peaversions to the contrary this
is true, and there lives not in the South pnrer,
sounder, better statesman for the South and Union
than John Bell.
But you will see how il is that Mr. Bellwith such
record has been declared to be unsound SO often
at the South. The grounds of this charge have
been two-hs votes against the Kansas bill and the
Lecompton Constitution, and also the general fact
that every body not Democrat is habituay de-
nounced unsound by the small men of that party.
In 1856, they burnt my efigy ally of the Re-
publcans, and last night they hung Gov. johnson
for the same reason, suppose. To the Governor |
send greeting, with the hope that four years hence
he may stand as fully vindicated as | do to-day.
But why should our Breckenridge friends con-
denim Mr. Bell for voting against the Kansas Bill2
He did honestly believe and fully declare that that
bill would be evil and only evil to the South and
the Union. Do not you all admit it2 When you
seeded at Charleston, you put record the reasons
for that secession and in looking your reas-
ons, find many epithets applied to the Kansas bill
and the Cincinnati platform, such as cheat"
swndle" and "deceit upon the South.p On
this bill, then, why condemn Mr.. Bell? The only
difference l can see between you and Mr.. Bell on
this point is that it requires six years Of bitter
perence and earnest warning TO teach you what Mr..
Bell saw from the beginning
| Then as to the Lecompton issue. Mr.. Bell did not
vote against this BILL because it contained slavery
He honestly believed it was fraudulent. Whether
so or not, he believed so, and SO believing was it
not his duty to vote against it? We ought not to
to require man to be corrupt even to crafty our
own feelings. Every man who condemns Mr.. Bell
for this vote, only mpeaches his own reliability,
doubtless without intending it. However we might
differ with Mr.. Bell to the fact Of frauds, yet the
vote itself proves nothing except that Mr.. Bell was
honest; yes, honest enough to do right against his
prejudices admit that but few politicians will
understand how this is possible / know Of no
greater virtue nor one more needed at this time in
our public men.
Mr.. Hammond of South Carolina, said this Le-
compton bill ought to have been kicked out Why
not call him unsound, tool He is a Democrat.
There is another reason strongly favoring the
claims of Mr.. Bell which we cannot consider too
seriously Mr. Bell is national man, and his cleo
ton will nationalize our principles. But how hap
pens it that he is sound and yet so national The
explanation is easy. Ar. Bell has always regarded
our Constitutional rights as unquestonable. They
were fixed, and above the power of Government to
InerelOre ne HdS OppOSeu agitsthOu ms uu-
necessary and unwise Foolish agitation always
stirs up and invites positive aggression. When is
and votes have been forced by the thoughtless
Mr. Bell has voted right, but he has done so depre-
eating the evil to the country of grautous agita-
ton. If all public men had taken John Bell
for a model the rights of the South and the perpe-
tuty of the Union would to-day, be unquestionable
and unquesoned.
The election of Mr.. Bell will give our principles
peaceful quiet triumph, and disband the Republic
can party. The election of Mr. Breckenridge will
increase the strife and tend to build up the Repub-
lcan party.
Again, as the ground where my Breckenridge
friends now stand, and claim much credit for
standing, John Bell has been standing for years.
Yes, he and we were standing there when you
were excited mad. carried away in thoughtles ado
ration of this "cheat" and "swindle" you
term the Kansas bill and you abused us, called us
traitors and allies of abolitionism. You drove him
from his seat in the Senate for his very fidelity
You drove the gallant and noble Crittenden from
his seat for the same reason, and have placed Mr..
Breckinrdge in his place. In this hour of our vim
dication, must we abandon Mr.. Bell2 Henor and
high sense of justice should force you to him.
Nothing but ngratude and the loss of sclf-respect
can drive us from him. We have learned how to
forgive enemies, but we have never learned how to
abandon friends.
Again Mr.. Bell was in the field fight. The con-
vention was called while you were still in the Ma
tional Democracy with your "sound forty-four
faithful" He was nominated while you were try
ing to get back after once going out You ought
not to have nominated another and thus divided
those which agreed. Besides, we are more national
and have greater strength North Mr.. Buchanan
was elected by plurality vote. That majority be-
ing again divided, how can he succeed?
! So will say to our Douglas friends, why not
support Bell You are national in your wishes,
but yopscannot succeed. You are dividing our
strengtfs and hazardng the nation. In voting for
Bell, you only give up squatter sovereignty. Are
you welded to that2 If Mr.. Douglas and his
friends were to unite on Mr. Bell the defeat of Lin
coin is sure. And by such an exhibition of nation
al patriotism, Mr.. Douglas would write his name
higher in the Temple of Liberty than any living
statesman has yet climbed.
But if our Breckenridge friends cannot vote for
Mr. Bell there is yet chance Of union. Let us be
equals have therefore suggestedau arrangement
of this kind. The responsibility of its rejection and
of the consequent continuance Of strife shall be
with you, and with you leave it.
Why should our Breckenridge friends still ceave
to Democracy The organization and the name
belong to Mr.. Douglas. 1t is folly TO deny 1t. Be
sides, if Democracy has become so corrupt, and has
deceived the country as you say why should you
wish to appropriate its name with such prestige
More than ALL if that party has imposed on the coun-
try cheat" which has borne no fruit but strife
and blood, and deception, how can you expect us to
be counted in its membership.
My eountrymen, appeal from these leaders to
Youl How long will You suffer politicians to hatteI
you soyereigns aRd use you as victims without
awakening your resentment2 How often shall they
settle and unsette the slavery question before you
discover the only meaning they have, is to excite
your prejudices get your votes For how many
years shall changing demagogues shuttle you as the
gambler shufIles his cards-to win stake-and hnd
you willing to be shufied again2 You were told
to worship the Kansas bill with the blind but ear
nest devotion of Mecca pilgrim you did kneel and
kiss You were told TO abuse your neighbor be-
cause he would not worship with you. In all the
billingsgate of the demagogues vocabulary you die
it, Now behold They who told you TO worship
tell you the thing you worshipped Is cheat O
swnde;" "humbugj" yea, "a deception to the
South" VIII you bend again the supple knee
aud shout aloud with the nimble tongue, when these
priests shall order your VIII you? and so soon
| have spoken to you, friends, in kindness.
have spoken the truth. y do not know that shall
IL, Int NTan