, 1861-01-09

Letter from D. Y. Hell, Esq.

Letter from d. Y. BELL, Esq.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
It is with much reluctance that Laddrcss you
this note, but your structures on the proceed
ings Of the Late Union meeting at Bryan Hali
Seem to require from nc, IS member Of the
Committee responsible for the resolutions
adopted at that meeting, at least brief
notice
From the earliest period of the organization
Of the Republican party, have been IN en-
nest though humble disciple. Through good
report aud through evil report have follow
ed Its fortunes and supported itsprinciples.
never asked for or received reward, nor do
now seek Il in any form whatever. If ever
man was actuated by motives Of patriotism
By sincere desire to promote the bsa Interests
Of his country, I think may n,odestly claim
for myself the possession OF those feelings
while dclibcrating in committee upon the reso-
lutlons In question aud l will risk the con-
sequences By aiding my honest belief that
patriotic impulses Of the noblcst character
were the living sources OF thought ind feeling
III the minds Of Eli the other members Of that
committee.
Tho object OF the meeting was to produce
harmonious feeling aud action between our
citizens Of all parties. It YVES therefore not to
be expected that resolutions such as would be
acceptable to either party alone could be adoP-
ted ut such meeting as was contemplated.
Tic very idea Of an asscmb'agc "without dis
tinction Of party" the call for which was
headed by at least oac Of your "responsihle'
editors, implied II concession" By all parttcipa-
TIM. in it, rs Il preliminary to the occupancy
Of common ground, ard united action, such
us would ignore all political distinctions and
divisions" aud eaahlc aal to q stand shoulder
to shoulder in defence Of the Constitution and
tile laws,' aud thus to inaugurate Sentiment
in the Northwest, the moral force Of which it
Wis hoped would be potent for good through
ont the whole country.
The realization Of this hope, VIC arc encour-
aged to believe by your correspondent ut
| Springfield, has already commenced, when ha
says in his letter published in your paper Of
to-day, "Thc Douglas men will Sec III 1t {the
report Of the 1ucctiny) IN earnest determlua-
| tion on the part Vi their associates in the
| Northern part of the State, which they cannot
Stio5 to disregard In I'LL thls RESPECT It WIS
effect Republicans hoped the uction Of The
meeting, rs expressed, would have OIL The
| Northern wing Mt least Of tic Democratic par
| =, all effect which the labors Of the TRIBUNE,
| siucc tho outbreak in South Caroliua, h,s been
assiduously directed to accomplish. 1t seems
|
istic Of tho TRIBUNE nrc not manifested III
your criticism upon theso resolutions, and
| that their plain import and meaning have been
misinterprctcd or misstated.
; Ey no tair construction, can any one Of them
be lnatlc to say, 1--WE arc ready to accept any
compromise" which Congress may make. On
the contrary, the resolutions eniphatica3ly aud
unequivocAily declare " that the laws st.onld
| be enforced IT whatever cost, and by the
| whole power OF the nation,' but that there
| should bc IN exhaustion Of peaceful measures
before theswurd should be drawn" ans. there
constitutional. sctA .mcnt Of the entire question
Of African slavery that Congress shall adopt,
and Tic 1,:o7,'e stall ratiJu." This just, honor.
able and constitutional settlement cannot
surely involve any sacrifice ot principle; aud
how theu can these sentiments bc reasonably
objected to by any who profess to love and
cherish the Union. That the Republicans
should be resssy tn make "grcat CONCESSIONS,
yuu denounced rs t'das:1r1ly and uu1Etriotic.
1t Stems 10 Tic that the distinguished Re
publicsns wllu have been so zctlousfy laboriu.
in conjunction with their colleagues Of til.
other po1isle,1 parties on the great committee:
OF the Scrate aud House of Representative,
ever since the organization Of the present Con
gsess. will. view to the settlement Of pres
ent difficulties, 10 not understand concessions
for this purpose Is obnoxious to tue tl.nuncia
ton YOU make; nor would it seem that III,
l
cause III offence to our worthy Governor, wht
says in his message published by you to4lay
IF unconstitutional laws, trcnchiug upon til
guaranteed rights Of any Of our sister States
LII, found Il place upon our statute books, le
them hs removed. 1fprcjudicc and alienation
G,semcd upon our minds, let it be disn,isse'
and forgotten, Let us be just to ourselve
| aud each o;hcE-a|iuWing neither threats t.
drive .Is fsum what we deem to bc our iut.
nor pride OF opinion prevent lis cor!crtn
wherein VIC may have been wrong"
These are alithc concessions which are recon-
meudc;l to he made in the contingencies ill,
dcd to, and mag he great or small, accort
| ilir to the views Of t.lOse called upon to max
them. What may be considered l.y Mr. Low,
| joy Il "Jrt.st' concession, might be deemed b
Mr. coTwin one Of little Importance, and y
J thcy are numbers OF the same political w.rt,
The resolution demands :" that 1ocn OF all p'
li,ical parties, i'll both sections Of the couutr,
, | should bc ready to make great concessions
restore peace allt harmony between the diilt
cnt sections ofthe country" and csutunt,
view Of tie requirement that they should |
just, honorable aud constitutional, alto:cth'
srcl rs lie people shall ratifv, sec why tht
should he denounced as dastardly aud mp
triotic-"
i Ia=rce with you fully that mo mans c
OPERATION in t}liS crisis is worth lG,v1ny who
: not :nosc,! by higher motives THIN n,erc n
!
b.: particularly matter Of grateful ackaov
+ e.lgeu,ell., That iu these times Of trial, mcn
diverse political sentiments can with unstlf
y psrposc m,rt together and resolve "that Il
Union must and it shall be preserved
= Tile desire tn avoid prcciritancy into 4 ci'
war, viii. Ill its horrid inc;dcats, must b.. a
il prevalent among all classes. This is huma
- it is Cisi=t;an-and 1 would make cve
II concession which is jnst, honora1
aud Constitutional, to avert such, j..
II calamity. But in doing this ] would not Fl
a that 4 sacrifice Of any principle for which I
+ great Republican party has contcnleA WIS
: ulandct: or i.lyolycd iu such concession. r
!. principles of that party are tho principles
humanity, of Christianity. They cannot
s,lrrcuJ. RID, except with tile life Of the pal
u itself, and cannot, therefore, bc involved
/. | any concession, for the purposes eontcnlp1at
We have power aud right On our side. '
r. cau afford to be moEna1imous, without
u fear Of detraction. Let our zeal be temper
il with reason and Judgment, aud VIC may saf
Il trust all all wise Providence with the rcsu
- With high esteem, your friend,
.. Y. BELL
r. | rrry,,-1 T,,, 1ctn