The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-09-27
THE LATE JOHN BELL.

THE LATE JOHN BELL. ft
Hon. John Bell, who died at his home,
Cumberland Iron Works, in Tennessee, on C
the 10th inst, was one of the few remaining
statesmen of the o(d.timc school, who was
imbued with the spirit Of those who framed
our government, and never ceased to value
its constitution as the palladium of the peo'
PIES Liberties. No public man was more
elevated above the passions and preJudices
Of party or section, and mono have more
scrupulously cultivated a conscience OF his
own in the discharge Of public duties, never
allowing either the demands of his party or
popular clamor to turn him aside from what
he revasded as right. TheSouth never pro-
duced a statesman more thoroughly national
in all his impulses and principles than was
Mr.. Bell. During the closing year OF his
senatorial career he was marked ana
prominent example Of q national man and
independent Senator. In the Kansas con-
troversy, though representing Southern
State and constituency that vehementiy en-
dorsed the Lecompton constitution, he did
not hesitate TO cast the weight OF his intiu-
eucc, which was immense, against the AT
tempt to force that fraud upon tho people OF
that State. In consequence Of thls The
Tennessee legislature, Without regard !
former politica divisions, and by very d.
cided vote, passed u resolution calling
him to resign his seat in the Senate. Ii
course on this question gave rise to vel
general Indignation throughout his natl'
State, and brought about his ears such
storm of denunciation as few men coul
have endured as quietly and Indifferent
az he did. In the midst of all this b
stood unmoyed and undismayed, fully cor
scious of the correctness OF his position
and that be was really representing the IL
forests Of his State and the honor of the nj
ton. A reference TO the Congressional d.
bates in the Kansas controversy will prov
that his were the most powerful and luci
arguments made in the Senate indeed
was the leader Of the Senatorial oppositio
to the Lecompton constitution, and was Ell
titled to be 50 considered.
During the progress of the war he r
NAMED in the South, but there is no rcast
to believe that he ever sympathized with
cession; nor could he, educated as he W
TO veuerate the constitution, and having sp'
his life in indicating its principles, endo
or sympathize with the recklessy parts
and revolutionary administration Of the g
eminent and conduct of the war by t
North. Very early in the struggle, the fe
era army destroyed his large iron found
on the Cumberland river near Nashville
cause of his supposed sympathy with reb'
lion, but it was a inexcusablc piece of va
daIism. He was in feeble health at t
time the war broke out, but his last pub
utterance, after the Legislature Of TenneF
had set the state in antagonism, to the 90
rnment, was a protest against the step an
plea for the Union, and at the same time
protest against the unwise policy inaugur
ed at Washington. Because of his delic
health and his want Of sympathy with eitl
secession or the policy of the Washing
government, he spent the remainder of
days in perfect retirement, and never Of
wards manifested to the public any intel
in national or local politics. Mr.. Bell ,
native Of Nashville, and was born IN i
He was o graduate of the University Of
nessec, studied law and was admitted
practice IN 1916. He early entered pc
cal life, being returned to the Senate Of
state when only twenty years old. He
tered Congress, after defeating Felix Gil
dy, at the age Of thirty, and was o suppo
Of the administration Of Gen. Jackson l
the removal of tho deposits and the
against the United States Bank. lie
one among the very few who continued
keep the confidence of the people, after
had left the Democratic party. He
chosen Speaker in 1888, over James
K. Polk. He was in favor Of receiving
petitions for the abolition Of slavery.
was Secretary of War under Gen. Harri
and was sent to the Senate in lS47. Ii
tired from the Senate in 1859, and in
was the candidate, with Everett for
Presidency, against Lincoln. Douglas
breckenridge.
He was a very fluent speaker, and duI
his day exercised a marked political il
ence. Even the popularity of Gen. il
son, and the ability of Mr.. Grundy and
= Polk, could not destroy the confidence wi
the people Of his native State had in b
H;s canvass. sfter his defeotion from