Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-16
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY lG, 1860.


American Cyclopnda
John Bell was born near Nashville, Tenn,
. Feb. Is, 1877. He was the son OF farmer
in moderate circumstances, who was, now
ever, able to give him good education at
Cumberland College, now Nashville cn'Ver-
sity. Choosing the law as his profession, he
was admitted to the bar in 1916, settled at
Franklin. Williamson county, and was cleo
ted 10 the State Senate in 1917, when only
2Oyears old. He soon saw his error IN en-
tering so early into public life, and declin-
inc a reelection, devoted himself for the
next wears to his profession. In 1876 he
became a candidate for Congress against
Felix Grundy one If the most popular men
in the State, and who had the powerful sup
port of Andrew Jackson, then candidate
for the Presidency against John Quincy
Adams. Nevertheless, after a most animated
and excited canvass of II months, Mr.. Bell
was elected in 1897 by 1000 majority. By
successive elections, he continued a member
of the House of Representatives for IA years.
He entered Congress a warm admrer OF MIR.
Calhoun, and strongly opposed to the protec-
tive system, against which he made speech,
in 1892 Subsequent investigation and re-
Election induced him to change his opinions
on that subject, and he has ever since re-
manned an earnest advocate OF the policy or
protecting American industry. Though OPP
posed to the appropriation OF money by the
general government for roads and canals IN
the States, except in the case OF some great
road for military purposes, like the paclhc
railroad; he has always favored the policy OF
improving the great rivers and lake harbors.
With all his admiration Tor Mr.. Calhoun,
Mr.. Bell decidedly opposed the South Caro-
lima doctrine of notification, and was made
chairman Of the Judiciary committee OF the
House with special reference to the questions
connected with that subject which might
have TO be considered and reported on. For
10 wears he was chairman of the committee
on Indian affairs He was in favor Of
United States bank, though he voted against
the bill Tor its rc-charter in 1882, because he
believed that the subject was brought up at
that time, four years before the expiration
of the old charter, merely TO defeat Gen.
jackson in the ensuing Presidential election;
and because he was convinced the President
would veto the bill, which proved to be the
case. lie protested against the removal Of
the deposits, and refused to vote for reso-
luton approving thatmeasure. This refusal
was one Of the causes which led to the sub
scnuent breach between himself and PreSl-
dent jackson and the Democratic party, and
finally to his corporation with the Wings
This change of party relations was much
accelerated by his election to the Speaker
ship OF the House of Representatives IN 1884.
In June of that year, the Speaker, MIR. Ste
.enson resigned the chair upon being noml-
mated Minister to Great Britain, and Mr.
- =, "a IN m
ton to James X. Polk, atterward President
of the United States, who was the candidate
of the administration aud of the Democratic
party. Mr. Bell was supported 10y the
iEhigs and a portion Of the Democratic party
who were opposed to the intended nomina-
ton of Martin Van Buren, as successor to
President Jackson. The principal ground
of Mr. Bells opposition to MIR. Van Buren,
was strong disapproval of the system OF re-
movals from subordinate offices for merely
political reasons--a system which MIR. Van
Buren, had zealously promoted III the party
conflicts OF the State OF New York. and which
it was supposed he intended 10 carry out to
it's full extent in the administration OF the
federal government The tendencies OF such
a use of executive patronage had been vivid
" portrayed by Mr. Bell in a speech in the
iIUuse on the freedom OF elections; and he
had made repeated, though Intellectual Ell
forts N successive Congresses to procure the
enactment of laws calculated to check the
policy. The final separation between MIR.
Bell and Gen. jackson took place III 1880,
when Mr.. Bell declared himself in favor OF
Judge White for the Presidency, III OPPOSE
ton to Mr.. Van Buren,. Up to that time
here had been no opposition in Tennessee
to Gen. Jackson's administration, and 1t was
generally supposed that his personal and
political influence could not tall 70 subdue
the opposition raised by Judge White and
his friends The whole force of the admin
istration, and of Jackson personal popuiarl-
" was eXerted To this end. But Judge
White carried the State by Il large majority;
Mr.. Bell was reelected to Congress from the
Hermitage District itself, by as large vote
rs ever: and an impulse was given to the
political character Of Tennessee, which array
ed it in opposition to the Democracy during
the four succeeding Presidential elections of
1904 1872. When the reception OF
petitions for the abolition of slavery in the
district of Columbia was agitated in the
House of Representatives in 1886, Mr.. Bell
alone Of the Tennessee delegation favored
their reception and though assaulted At home,
was sustained by the people. And Subse-
Guentlv, in 1888, when Athertons resolu-
tions were introduced, proposing to receive
and lay these petitions on the table, he main
tanned his consistency by voting in the mega
tive, in order that they might be referred and
reported upon. When President Harrison
formed his cabinet in ISL, he invited Mr..
Bell to accept the War department, which
he did. With the rest of the Cabinet, Mr..
Webster only excepted, he resigned office on
the separation Of President Tyler from the
Wing party, in the autumn Of that year.
The Wing majority in the next Tennessee
Legislature which met after his withdrawal
from the Cabinet, offered him the Office
of United States Senator, which, how
ever he declined in favor of Ephralm IL.
Foster, who had rendered services To the
Wing patty which Mr.. Bell thought dcScrv-
ing that recognition. Mr.. Foster was ac-
cording elected and Mr.. Bell remained in
voluntary retirement until called 10y the pco-
ole of his county, in 1871, to represent them
Ia the State Senate: in which year, on the re-
currencc of vacancy, he was elected to the
United States Senate, to which he WAS re-
elected in 1888 for second term, which eX-
pired March /, 1850. In the Senate Mr.
Bell Stcadta>ly opposed the policy ofannex-
ing Mexico and other Spanish American
States to the Union. lie WIS in favor OF the