Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-16
Death of John He'll.

John Bell, of Tennessee, one Of the most
prominent of Southern politicians of the
last generation, died at his residence at
Cumberland on Friday. He was one of
those men who were ruined by the seces-
sion war, though he was not an "original
secessionist," or willingly sccessianist of
any kind.
Mr.. Bell was born in the neighborhood
of Nashville, in the State of Tennessee, on
the 10Th of February, 1896. His father
was a farmer in fair circumstances, who
bestowed upon him good education, and
at so early period that he was graduated
at Cumberland College now the Univer-
sity of Nashville at the age of seventeen.
Devoting himself to the study of the law,
he began his professional career at nine
teen. A year later, and when he was not
of nge, he was chosen "A member of the
Senate of Tennessee, and, though he re-
manned through the term, he would not
accept reelection, but adhered to his
profession until 1926, when he was nomi-
mated for Congress, in opposition to the
well known Felix Grundy, over whom he
triumphed, after an animated contest, by
a thousand majority. He was Demo
crat at that time, though General Jackson
opposed his election; and he must be
classed with the Calhoun branch Of the
Jackson party. He was SO popular that
the Jacksonians concluded to overlook
his Independence, and he was reelected
ak times, serving in the House of Repre-
sentatives until lS4l, or fourteen years
Long before the expiration Of these
years he had left the Democratic party.
Opposing the nullifiers, be was separated
from Mr.. Calhoun and he parted from
President Jackson on the question Of the
removal of the deposits from the United
States Bank, and virtually became one Of
the founders of the Wing party, in 1884
That year Mr.. Stevenson lett the office of
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
to become Minister to England and the
candidates for the vacant chair was Mr.
Bell and Mr.. Polk The former was sup
ported by all the Wings and by those
Democratic members who were opposed
to Mr.. Van Buren,, and he was elected.
He joined with Judge White in the anti
Van Buren, movement in Tennessee,
which completed his sins in the estima-
ton of President Jackson, who could not,
however, prevent his return to Congress,
as his popularity in his district remained
unshaken.
When General Harrison became Presi-
dent of the United States, in 1841, he APP
pointed Mr.. Bell Secretary of War, in
which Office he was continued by Presi-
dent Tyler; but when Mr.. Tyler vetoed
the bill for creating third United States
Bank. Mr.. Bell resigned his office, as did all
members of the Cabinet. except Mr.. Web
ter. The Tennessee Legislature then
offered him the place Of United States
Senator, which he refused to accept, on
the ground that it ought to be bestowed
on Mr.. Foster, an eminent Wing. He
remained Elk years, save that he was cho-
sen a member of the State Senate in 1o47.
The same year he was elected to the ma
tional Senate, to which he was reelected
in 1853, thus serving two full terms IN
that body. His entire Congressional life
extended to twenty-six years.
AS member of Congress Mr.. Bell is
entitled to honorable mention and remem-
brsnce, for he was one of the very few
Southern men whose course was really
national in its character. When petitions
for the abolition Of slavery in the District
Of Columbia were first presented TO the
Houss Of Representatives, he did not join