Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-23
HslI,s address.

Hon JoHN BELL addressed large crowd at the
REPRESENTATIVES Hall last night 1t altogether
the most remarkable speech we ever listened to-
We were unfortunate enough TO get position
where IL was impossible to hear dietincty and cor
rectly the greater portion of the address, We how
ever heard enough to Salty us that Mr. BELL has
unaecountabe and unwarranted confidence in the
conciliatory policy of LINCOLN, the chosen chief of
the Black Republican faction, and in SEWARD, the
arch-enemy of Southern institutions that he believes
the South is danger Of coercion and war; that
he does not believe the Union to be dissolved, al
though five States two of them ofthe original thir-
teen, have formally and soIemnly withdrawn from
the thrtythree States eff the Union; that he is OPP
posed arming the State and organizing the militia,
partly because Tennessee cannot be reached by en-
envy having Kentucky on the North to protect ourSs
Northern border, and being surrounded on the
other sides by Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia, &c; and partly because the
rebellion" has grown too important by the seces-
sion of five States that the Union can never be
dissolved. but if it to the worst we can then
form Central Confederacy, which viii ultimately
be joined by the cotton States, in consequence of
ruinous direct taxation to which he supposes they
will be subjected; that he thinks the only wise
policy is for Tennessee to fold her and let the
current of events drift onward; and that South
Carolina really has no grievances which should
impel her to a separation from the Union. We in
cline to the opinion that LINCOLN, SEWARD and the
whole Black Republican party are decidedly of the
same opinion of Mr.. BELL with reference to South
ern grievances, and that GEoaGE the Third and
Lord NORTH entertained the same opinion when the
Thirteen Colonies seeded from the British EN-
pire Cur ancestors however, of the Revolution,
thought that an obnoxious preamble " was sufi.
cient to call freemen to arms. They thought an in
significant tax upon tea, and Unconstitutional
stamp upon paper, was enough to excite the jeal-
Ousy of free people, and arouse them to resist
ance.
Mr.. BELL says we are a part of the South, and
can act for ourselves. Not so our Revolutionary
fathers. Having common grievances they made
common cause with their sister States, and achieved
their independence. Mr.. BELL says the South is in
no danger. Like syren, he sings the song Of peace
70 his countrymen and tells them there is no cause
for their excitement Kentucky will guard them on
the North, and we are environed on every side by
slave States and therefore, disregarding the tru-
ism forwarned, forearmed, +" we must bravey fold
and rely upon the cruel forbearance of Black
Republicanism on the one hand, and our gallant
protect u.s. Land of JACKSON what think you Of
this adyiceS Soldiers of Chalmette, Talladega,
Emucfaw and the Horse Shoe, and younger warriors
of Monterey, Vera Cruz and Cerro Gorda, how do
you relish this ingorious, mastery inactivity,
of Mr.. BELL? What do you think of reposing on
your own well won laurels, and waiting for your
chivalrous sisters to defend your rights? After
your Legislature has declared, through her PORTER
resolutions that she will res .ne thread of hos
tile force upon Southern soil at all hazards and to
the last extremity" after her defiance to the menace
of New York has rung through the land, how would
you like to see your Legislature, at the beck OF
Hon JoHN BELL, and Obeying his mighty behest, re-
fuse to arm and prepare your soldiers for the con-
test?
Would you thus make your State the laughing
stock Of Europe and America and degrade the land
of volunteers TO the just reproach of becoming a
bracgart and vain boaster2 Even the Louisville
Journal admits the propriety of arming Kentucky
Is this the reason why Mr. BELL thinks there is no
necessity for Tennessee arm.ng!