The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-19
MR.. BELLS SPEECH.

fair synopsis of it.
| MR.. BELLS SPEECH
Mr.. Bell stated that he did not intend to take any
position 1t true that after the last Pres
dential election he had indicated Lincoln. He
knew Ethat Lincoln entertained ultra abolition
views but still he believed he could do no HARM
because he could not move an inch without his
cabinet, and the Senate could have check-mated
him. Had not the Southern States seeded, at the
end of Lincoln's term the Republican party would
have been shattered to pieces.
Last February, when one or two States had Sc
ceded the question was, shall Tennessee go out of
the Union also? Mr. Bell had said no. He had
expressed his belief that Lincoln was traduced-
that be did not favor the idea of negro equality.
He present at Lincoln's Inauguration, and
worked hard for ten days and nights to preserve
the Union. He had come home and represented
Lincoln for peace. Lincoln had professed peace,
and Mr. Bell had warned the Administration against
coercion He had told them that if there CO.
ercon and bloodshed, there would be revolution in
the Border States They might collect the revenue,
and blockade Southern ports, if it necessary;
but if they invaded State there would be war
His advice was that, if peaceable means failed, it
was better to let the Cotton States go-it
better to lose them, than to lose them and the
Border States also, by attempting coercion. The
seeded States could be subdaed. [Applause.
He believed MIR. Lincoln had intended to adopt
this peaceful policy-he had intended to do right.
He had determined to evacuate Fort Sumter. But
an infant military power was beginning to bud in
the North. Dominant men in the North, who
proves on the battle field by letter and telegraph
had assaulted Lincoln-telling him that to evacuate
Sumter would be the destruction of the Republican
party-that all his friends would forsake him.
Lincoln yielded. He attempted to reinforce Fort
Sumter. Mr.. Bell exposed the trickery of the
movement ag ainst Fort Sumter.
Then came Lincoln's Proclamation of the 18th of
April, calling for $4,000 volunteers. Notwth-
standing the professions of that proclamation, Mr..
Bell saw that n indicated the invasion of the Bor-
der States. If it meant anything else, why did it
not say so. There hints in that proclamation
that were calculated to fire the Northern heart
with military ardor. 1t did have that effect. The
military fire spread in the North. Conservative
men went under. Cushing, Dickinson and such
Democrats were compelled to yield to the despotism
of this military spirit, and among the
most violent of the enemies Of the South. Batter,
now In command OF the forces at Hampton, Virgil
mia, was one of this class. Major Gen. Patterson
of Philadelphia, another. He was an East
Tennesseean by BIRTH and was at first mobbed in
Philadelphia for his Southern sentiments, but was
now the leader of the Pennsylvan forces against
Harper's Ferry. Patterson had succumbed to the
military despotism at the North Nothing in the
history of the world equaed that military despot
ism. We gre accused of having military despot-
ism in the South, but compare it with this despot-
ism at the North, and there would be found to be
great difference.
Lincoln had in his proclamation disavowed his
intention to invade Southern States but he has in
vaded them, and the Southern States should all
make common cause in resistance to that invasion.
Lincoln had called not only for $4,000 but 200 900
troops. He might not call marching these troops
through the Border States to suppress armed com
binations in the Southern States "subiugaton,"
but what else would it be? The presence of these
troops would over-awe the citizens, would humiIi-
ate all-would humiliate the Union men as well as
the Secessionists.
1t is true that the invading Generals issue pro-
CARNATIONS that they will protect private property
but what are these proclamatiOns worth when
look at the composition of their troops. The lead
ers are ambitious politicians, and the des-
perate fanatics-the conservative people stay at
home. The leaders are unable to control the men,
and their paper prOclamations amount to nothing.
The very presence OF such an army in any South
arn State, demOraZes the slaves--they are ruin |
BUS, and ought to be resisted and driven back
Mr.. Bell alluded to Mr.. Nelson's address HI did |
not doubt that Mr.. Nelson patriotc-sinnere |
in his desire to uphold a glorious government But |
with what prospect of success? Military domina- |
ton at the North will scatter the hopes of Mr. Mel
ION and others. The North, perhaps, may not call |
themselves an Empire, but they already prepar-
ng to make Lieutenant Generals and Marshals of |
hose who distinguish themselves by their vaIor in
he contest of the South. Lincoln and Seward, |
lad they are, are nonentties-the military spirit
ules, and even threatens to depose Lincoln.
One sentiment of Mr.. Nelson be would particu-
arly refer to. Mr. Nelson says: "ln an awful crisis
Ike this, involving our own destiny and the fate
f children's children, it is a great crime
gainst God and man to suppress the truth and de-
nde the people into unjust rebellion against a
|
orse that sentiDent-he concurred in it entirely.
tut when MIR. Nelson looks at the other side of this
uestioD, he will find that he has been, innocentv,
o doubt, misleading and deluding the people Of
asst Tennessee. Mr.. Bell wond point the people
the military despotism that is growing up in the
orth-where men are stimulated by hopes of place
nd position from the spoils, honors, and sweets of
'ctories over the South. Mans curse and Gods
urse falls on him. who, in time like this, wifmty
niseads his feliow-citizens Mr.. Bell claimed a
lght 10 say that Mr.. Nelson is deluded. The mill
ay spirit rules at Washington, and not Lincoln
hu his Caolnet, and it is fair to lecture that
uis military spirit will extend over the subjugated .
'outh In spite of Lincoln and Seward 9
Two hundred and twenty five thousand men have | !
een called into the field, to overawe doubtful 7
,tates Look at Mssouri-Mary and-and even ,
.entucky, with her 700 miles of exposed border t
he Kentuckians brave-none Drawer Thai | t
pirit could not be crushed out perhaps, but thew
Ould be BUNDLED and subdued, aud without firing |
gun. There is no much thing neutrality. Mr.. q
lincoln chooses to march 0,000 men through | y
.entucky, and Kentucky cannot resist, because t
IT. Lincoln processes to protect persons and prop
rty in Kentucky-he does not invade her-be :
marches through her to put down armed combina- I
t"as IN Tennessee. But when that column of c
troops gets into Kentucky, under this pre-
,aa kentucky will be subdued as Maryland has
nj I;n zen next noticed statement in The Nation
"a 70 ~ veneer that the Lincoln Government calcu-
Sonth wherever they can march troops in the
ov'Ai he Union men will march to their stand
Viva Mt 8su thought they were mistaken, The ,