Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-09
From the Knoxville Register, June 7,h.
HON. JNO. ELL
AT KNOXVILLE.
Declares Himself a Rebel, and Risks
the Conseq uences.

ence. many ladies occupying seats within the
bar; but very few of the Union meH, whom
the distinguished gentleman had invited par
ticularly to hear him, were present. Of the
Southern Rights crowd present, however
very many were the former political adhe
rents and friends of Mr.. Bell. We reached
the Court House few minutes after Mr.. Bell
commenced his speech, and not only listened
attentively, but took notes OF 1t, and present
the following as fair synopsis OF 1t:
Mr.. BELL s SPEECH.
Mr.. Bell stated that he did not intend to
take any new position. 1t was true that af-
ter the last Presidential election he had win.
dictated Lincoln. He knew that Lincoln en-
tertained 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
| seeded. 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 he did not favor the idea of
| negro equality. He was present at Lincoln's
nauguration, and worked hard for ten days
| and nights to preserve the Union. He had
come home and represented Lincoln for peace
| Lincoln bad protessed peace, and Mr.. Bell
had warned the administration against coer
| ciOn. He had told them that if there was CO.
| ercion and bloodshed, there would be rsvolu
ton in the Border States. They might col
lect the revenue, and blockade Southern
ports, if it were necessary; but if they inva-
ded a State there would be war. His advice
was that, if peaceable means failed, it was
better to let the Cotton State go-it was bet
ter to loose them, than to loose them and the
Border States also, by attempting coercion.
Coercion was not the policy. The seeded
States neUeT could be snbdued. (Applause.)
He believed Mr. Lincoln had intended to
adopt this peaceful pOlicy-he had intended
to do right. He dad determined to evauate
Fort Sumter. But an infant military power
was beginning 20 bud in the North. Domi-
nant men at the North, who were anxious to
win power and place by their proves on the
battlefield, by letter and telegraph had as
sailed Lincoln-telling him that to evacuate
Sumter would be the destruction of the Re-
publican party-hat all bis friends would
forsake him. Lincoln yielded. He attempt
ed to reinforce Fort Sumter. Mr.. Bell ex-
posed the trickery of the movement against
Fort Sumter.
Then came Lincoln's Proclamation of the
18th of April calling for $4,000 volunteers.
Notwithstanding the professions of that proc
lamatiOn, Mr.. Bell saw that it indicated the
invasion of the Border States. If it meant
anything else why did it not say so. There
were 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. COnserva-
tive men went under. Gushing. Dickinson
and such Democrats were compelled to yield
to the despotism of this military spirit. and
were now among the most violent of the en-
emies of the South. Butler, now in command
of the forces at Hampton, Virginia, was one
of this class. Major General Patterson of
Philadelphia was another. be was an East
Tennessean by birth, and was at first mobbed
in Philadelphia for his Southern sentiments
but was now the leader OF the Pennsylvania
forces against Ha:per's Ferry. Patterson
had succumbed to the military despotsm at
the North. Nothing in the history of the
world equalled that military despotsm. We
are accused of having a military despotism 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 invaded them, and the Southern
States should all make common cause in re-
sistaDce to that invasion. Lincoln had call
ed not only for IS 600 but 200,0 900 troops.
He might not call marching these troops
through the Border States to suppress armed
combinations in the Southern States ''Subju-
gdtiOn," but what else would it be? The
presence of these troops would oVer-awe the
citizens, would humiliate all-would humili-
ate the Union men as well as the Secession
lists.
1t is true that the invading Generals issue
proclamations that they will protect private
property, but what are these prOclamations
worth when you look at the composition of
their troops. The leaders are ambitious pol
iticians, and the men are desperate fanatics
The conservative people stay at home. The
leaders are unable to control the men, and
their paper proclamations amount to moth
ing. The very presence of such an army in
any Southern State, demoraliZes the slaves
they are ruinous and ought to be resisted
and driven back.
Mr.. Bell alluded to Mr.. Nelson's address
He did not doubt that Mr.. Nelson was patri-
Otic-sincere in his desire to uphold glori-
GUS government. But with what prospect of
success? Military domination at the North
will scatter The hopes of Mr.. Nelson and
others. The North, perhaps, may not call
themselves an Empire, but they are already
preparing to make Lieutenant Generals and
Marshals of those who distinguish themselves
ny their valor In the conquest of the South.
Lincoln and Seward bad as they are. are nom
entities-the military SPIRIT rules, and even
threatens to depose Lincoln.
One sentiment OF Mr.. Nelson he would par
ticulaFly refer 10. Mr.. Nelson says: In an
awful crisis like this, involving our own des-
tiny and the fate of our children's children,
il is a great crime against God and man to
suppress the truth and delude the people into
an unjust rebellion against a Government
they have loved" Mr.. Bell could endorse
that sentiment-he concurred in it entirely.
But when Mr.. Nelson looks at the other side
of this question. he will find that he has
been, insocenily. no doubt, misleading aud
deluding the people of East Tennessee. MI.
Bell would point the people to the military
despotism that is growing up in the North
where men are stimulated by hopes OF place
and position, from the spoils, honors and
sweets of victories over the South. Mans
curse and Gods curse falls on him, who, in a
time like this. sCu ily misleads his fellow-citi-
ZeDs- Mr.. Bell claimed right to say that
Mr.. Nelson is deluded. The military spirit
rules at Washington, and not Lincoln and
his Cabinet, and it is fair to conjecture that
this military spirit win extend over the sub
jugated South in spite OF Lincoln and Sc
ward.
Two hundred and twenty-five thousand
men have been called into the field to over
awe doubtful States. Look at Missouri
Maryland and even Kentucky, with her
700 miles of exposed border. The Kentuck-
ians are brave-none Drawer. Their spirit
could not be crushed out, perhaps, but they
could be BUNDLED and subdued, and without
firing gun. There is no such thing as neu-
traiity. Mr.. Lincoln chooses to march 8 force
OF 100, 900 men through Kentucky, and Ken
lucky cannot resist, because Mr.. Lincoln pro-