Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-10
subssance OF
MIR Bells Speech
On the 2sd prII, i SCI, at the curt
horne In y ashviIle.

which had brought tuc tOuntt1 lut0 us pres
ent perilou- condition. or to inquire who were
to blame or who were innocent of provoking
the strife. The past should be regarded as
a sealed book. We must now look to the
realities of the present and the contingencies
of the future. and make such provisions for
both as wisdom and prudence may dictate
Practically we had thrown off the authority
of the Government. With the general ap-
proyal of the people, the call for troops by
the President had been repudiated; and a
war OF such character was menaced by a
United North; a war, in effect. of snbjugation.
which. if made, would have to be met by a
United South, and would lead inevitably to
permanent separation of the entire South
from the North. The danger OF such war,
judging from the tone of the Northern press,
was imminent. Under such circumstances,
what is the first duty that patriotism and the
safety and honor of the State require at our
hands? To organize the militia as effectively
and promptly as may be, to collect arms. pro-
vide all necessary munitions of war, and be
prepared for any emergency. The next and
not less important duty was to act with such
discretion, as to promote unanimity of feel
ing. and to secure the hearty cooperation of
all our citizens as far as possible, in
breasti3g the storm which threatened to
burst over our heads To meet the issue
of such war as be had described, success
the whole State-moral and physical. No
questions should be raised-no unnecessary
issues should be presented calculated to pro-
duce distraction and division among the peo-
pie, at such crisis. There are thousands of
worthy citizens who are not prepared to vote
for secession, nor to sanction proposition
in any form for separation of the State
from the Union for any existing Cause, who,
nevertheless, if left undisturbed by any such
n rr-rfE
spring to their arms and fight shoulder to
shoulder with their neighbOrs and country
men for the protection of the South and its
institutions. Besides this, there were other
considerations making it highly inexpedient
to attempt any change in our political reia-
tions at this time. Amid the excitement of
war actuaLo threatened was not fit tins
for the consideration and establishment OF
any new political relations The dignity
safety, and honor of the State were DEEPLY
involved in all such Questions. and they
should be deferred to a time of peace, and
exemption from all such distractions as for
bid deliberatiOn and reflection. There are
many perplexing questions to be well con-
sidered before We adopt the policy of sepa-
rate State action, without reference to our
future connections with other States. The
line which separates Tennessee from the
States OF the Southern Confederacy, on the
OHc manu- anu tHdb WDlcD separates US lEOm
our Northern neighbor (Kentucky,) connect
ed with US by equal sympathy, interest, and
social intercourse on the other, must give
rise to frequent feuds and Disturbances on the
one or the other, as circumstances may force
Us to separate from the State or States Dor
dering upon one line and not from those bor-
dering upon the other.
But there is another objection to precipi
tate action in changing our pol1tacal rela-
lions. Where Is the necessity, the wisdom or
sound policy of such a course? 1t is true
that we may be regarded as having placed
ourselves in state of quasi rebellion by the
reputation of the Presidents call for troops:
but why should we by an authoritative pub
lie act place the State in position OF actual
rebellion, by declaring her out of the mon,
and thus DEFY the power of the Government,
in ANTICIPATION of such war as may never
be forced upon us.
1t was insisted by some that the co-opera-
ten of Tennessee with the other States of
the South, in the contingency of such war
as was threatened by the North, could not be
made as effective it might be by forming
a political connection with the seeded
States-that one head should have the direc-.
ton of all the forces raised for the common
cause.-The protection of the South against
any invasion intended for their suhjugation.
Mr.. Bell commended that nothing was more
vantages that could be derived from pOliti-
cal connection with seeded States by
league or alliance, without reference TO the
question whether one or more OF them had
seeded or withdrawn from the Union The
selection of a cOmmander-in-chief could be
made as well in the one case as in the other.
1t had also been suggested that difficulty
might arise as to the flag under which troops
of State which had not declared her sepa-
he mi cbo ha uad in
battle against the Northern invaders There
could be no serious embarrassment in the
case supposed. Tennesseeans would readily
array themselves under a flag with the arms
of their State emblazoned on its folds.
Mr.. Bell, in short review of his course in
relation to the subject of slavery agitation,
referred to bis speech before the nominating
convention of the Union party in 1859, in
which he had expressed the belief that, in the
event the controversy between the contend
ing factions of the North and South on the
slavery issue should, as he then apprehended
il would, come to the issue of war. if Ken
lucky and Tennessee should stand firmly to-
gether, they could, from their geographical
position, interpose an efectual barrier against
the progress of the war in the West, and
might preserve the Union. He would not say
that they could do so now. They ought new
er to be separated; and would that they
could be united in their purposes and objects
at this perlIous juncture. The force of cir
cumstances may possibly disunite them; but
should the terrible war threatened by the
North be precipitated upon the South, Ken
lucky, the dark and bloody ground of early
tradition, in linked destiny with Tennessee,
may. by future generations, be chrOnicled as
the dark and bloody ground of the present
times.
zMr. Bell said that until recently be bad in
dulged the hope that if Tennessee should be
driven to separate from the Union. she would
act in concert with the Border States, and
cast her destiny as they might decide in
convention whether that decision should
lead them to form a Union with the Southern
Confederacy or to form separate one; but
that hope had been defeated by the course of
Virginia. He had labOred faithfully and de-
voted all his efforts TO avert the necessity of
any separation He had visited Washington
Tor the sole purpose of uniting his counsel
and influence with those of others entertain
ing like views, in impressing upon those who
were supposed to have any height in shaping
the course of the new administration, the i'm :.
pOrtance of pacific and forbearing policy
towards the seeded States, if they desired
! either to win them back into the fold of the
Union. are to secure the border States in their
present position.
He had earnestly besought Mr. Lincoln
not to misunderstood the vote of Tennessee
in the election of the Union ticket on the 9th
, of February. He told him that that vote had
been cast in the confidence, "a confidence
| which be, Mr. Bell, had largely contributed
| to infuse,) that he would administer the Gov
eminent in just, pacific and conciliatory
| spirit. and should the people be disappointed
| in this expectation, whatever assurances
| might be given to the contrary, that he need
not be surprised to see the vote of FEBRUARY
| reversed. Mr.. b. stated that he had strongly
urged upon all, in any position of influence
in the Republican party, whom he met at
| Washington, and whom be felt at liberty to
confer with upon the subject, the policy OF
| Withdrawing, from the Southern Forts in the
possession of the Government. except those
| On the Florida reefs and Attending no onnor-