Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-17
m-wer,,u ph.l.a.lphi..

marched IN tOlCh!lSnt PtO<c1E'OA ~
Head Quarters of tie Constitutional Union
Association 70 those of Mr. BELL After The
oaud bad played number of National air.,
Hon. JosEPa T. INGERsoLI. accompanied Mr..
BILL. to he balcony when be hame brief
speech introducing the distinguished visitor:
SPEECH OF Mr. BELL
Loud and imperative calls were then made
for Mr.. BELL, aud as soon as the cheering
.ased that gentleman came forward TO the
balcony and addressed the multitude sub
stantially as follows:
FsILosc-cai.ens: II would h. contrary to the
feeling of our nature if did not feel deFpiy
sensible Of the compliment which you have
paid me tonight. A large portion of you.I
| fatter myself. have paid me this compliment
| in approval Of tue proceedings of the Balti-
more Convention. which has just adjourned.
| rLoud cheers.1 / know it is impossible that
| alone can have cOused this large assem-
| bIage. / have been put forward by an a.
semblage formed, a. [ am told, for the greater
mart, of as pure and distinguished individuals.
patriot, and statesmen as have ever assem-
| bIed upon any similar occasion in the United
| States. [AppIause-1 know that cannot
| have the unanimous approval of an assem-
bIage like this. Sill L f,tter myself that
| the large majority of them have met to-
| night to signify their appreciation of the
decisions OF the ConventicA. [Applause-l
| do not appear before You. AS my disiin-
| guished friend did me the justice 10 STATE, to
m Ike You a regular sPe-ch. either upon The
to1ics of the day or upon the issues which
have distracted and agi;ap the cnun ~, or
/ for any thing else more than 10 express NJ
/ simpie acknowledgements for the honor done
me by the nomination at Baltimore, and to
! thank gnu for this manifestation Of your
kindness and confidence in me. prolonged
cheeringl
II YOU will allow me to address a few
words To you. without touching upon those
questions about which there may be great
diff rrnces Of opinion. even in this assembly.
I 1 would ike t. call your attention To the
| g tus.S which have led 10 tue meeting o. tie
recent Convention at Baltimore. IL Is not
thu. Democratic party that have met there;
nor is il the Republican, party. IL - not The
AmeTi AN party; 1t IS not The Wig party.
What party Il IL then:
A voice: 1t Is The Union and the COnstitu-
lion party at which loud cheers were
| given Tor the party.
MIR. Bell continued This must be the
party of the country. (cheers.l of the Union,
Ichet.rS.1 of the Constitution, Ccheers, good
| n ! 1t
| call up Trmembrances that will thrill every
heart. because 1t l. the cause of the Union,
the party of the Union, which we hope the
people will raiify. ICries Of ''They will
they will z; and tremendous cheers
L was not u witness IF the proceedings Of
that Convention, but lrcpeat, in view OF the
names have seen of genIlrmen who held il
their duty to he there, II his period of the
cOuutry-at this crisis. il may call it such
that it was composed OF gentlemen. who had
long retired from public affair: gentlemen
OF large experience, Of comprehensive aud
| sagacIous views. who thou ght that the con
diiiOn of the country required them, a. pat
riots, feeling deep interest in It's present "a
! well as It's great future, 10 come forth and
manifest their sense. OF the impending dan
| ger aud strive 10 allay the existing threat
ening dsseusions aud alterations, and cali
back the country to the true Objects of the
gov1rnIaent and the true purposes for which
IL was Instituted. Instead of cxhausting their
time in dl>tIactng topics and discu sIOns
upon abstract Questions 10 the neglect Ul
the great vital and material interests OF ev-
cry section of the Union, to the dlsparagc-
ment Of the cOubtry, and to the withdrawal
OF vigilance and Watchiulness from the con-
duct OF public affairs. This state OF things
has led 10 the dispaTagement Of our country
and of her institutions, not only in the eyes
OF its own citizens, but it has cast a stain
upon them in fure gn nations, even exciting
doubts as TO their stability among some oil
the most enlightened friends of liberty and
| republican institutions in Europe. This II
not the way in which the honor, the purity,
and tie glory of our republican institutions
were expected To Lc developed by tue fathers
and founders of this great Government,
[Cries OF THAT = So" and apPjsuse.l 1t is
true that ii Is so; and there is no man OF re-
Election and observation but that must feel
the same confidence in the practical results
of our glorious representative republican
Government that We did forty years ago
that we did twenty years ago. My expert
ence. my own observation, has enabled me
To perceive clearly and distinctly the marked
change in the public confidence, not only OIL
| our fellow citizens, but of the most illustTI
Gus advocates of republican Institutions in
every civilized nation of the world. Their
yes Lrc all upon us.
The distinguished gentlemen who met al
Baltimore the other day banished FROM their
councils those discussions upon the i1stitu-
tiUns OF the South, and upon the diversity o
feeling existing between The North and ib,
South, which has SO long distracted th'
country. They consider these issues as hav
ing been brought into the canvass Tor party
purposes, in the main bv Zealots, nctwith
standing there are honest men in both Sec
tons OF the country, having no party obi CT
| III View. WHO nave bEtu ~ CNpcNS'
and discuss them. | do not believe that th'
agitation of these subjects could lead TO ANY
| public good, either TO the North or to Ih'
South. Ii eau lead to nothing but mischIe
to one or the other, or both. or 10 the cauS
of our common country. The Convention
by their example, by their counsel. and b.
their d=librrRte and wise proceedings hHv
eudeavdred, "a far as tuey could, To Impre>
, upon the country The Necessity of repressini
the mischievOus doctrines aud discussion
which have 50 long ugitated the country.
My fellow citiZrus, i mu~t say that / lee
il To be a cnmpltn, Mt 4 am unworthy u
: Inever, i that the Convention. compose "a i
was OF eli, tinguished, sole, experienced state
men-lhe delegates from almost every larsi
S,Htc presenting gentlemen VINO are Inteil-
geat. capable. experienced, and Trustworthy
and vino have proved themselves thy u
great trusts by long period al publ sci
, yice-should have thought proper 10 selcc
me Tor a position which should nave been as
signed 10 one uf thUse-', position the bigh
s eft in this Governmcnt-.in the hope and Il
~ tbs trust IhaI, through me, with the Will u
, the people, they should restore harmony {
this distracted country; Iloud cheers;l tina
We should bring back th: Government tn II
: ancient character; [cheers;l and that partl
/ discussions of questions of domestic and TO.
eiyn policy should be national. ICheers
> | shOuid regard 1t hopeless undertake int
- attempt 10 restore harmony TO tins coui
try, il i did not believe II 10 be = fact tia
the Las re M Drsty of he people, both OF th'
Democratic and Republican party, are con
seryaiise In their feelings, love the Union
, aud viii not do anything wllfully or viii
| reconciliation that may tend TO its d, struc
ZION, or 10 the Introduction OF anarchy an'
| The overthrow OF our glorious Constitution
/, | "A gplausc.l 1 trust tnat the masses, TIA
lie najoriIIes ut both parties are sound tna
they love The Uuion. a. do, both Nor,h aus
South. There are extremists, however, u
10th sections. who though they may love tn
| Union, have IA most unfortunate mode .