Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-09-18
DEATIs OF JOHN BELL.


An announcementin the issue Of the
9th prepared the public for an event,
which, from the declining health
Of the venerable statesman for more
than twoyeaYs past, might have been
expected ut any time. A dispatch
from Cumberland Iron Works, short
ly after noon yesterday, which was
promptly given In an extra, brought
Intelligence that John Bell died at 2
o'clock A. NJ. on that day. About
three weeks since Mr.. Bell became
the subject of fever which assumed
typhoid tpye. His nervous system
had for some years, been greatly
weakened, compelling his retirement
from active pursuits, and under this
attack, his vital powers gave way,
and he expired from suffocation caused
by an accumulation of mucus in the
air-passages. Thus died the "fore-
most man. that Tennessee has ever
produced, and whose superior as q
statesman, the nation has had few,
if any.
Mr.. Bell was born on q farm six
miles south of this city on the 18th of
February, 1871, and was consequent
ly in the seventy-third year of his
age. He was educated at Cumber-
land College, then under charge of
DR.. Priestly NOW the University of
Nashvillee His father was in mOder-
ate circumstances, but made an effort
TO give this promising son an educa-
ton. The stock from which he
sprung was of the Scotch rish--the
former ingredient, from the Bells of
Scotland (see Robertson, the histori-
am predominating. The combine
ton, however, has given the Ameri-
can nation some of its first men,
Jackson and Calhoun were of the
number. He adopted the profession
of the law, and was licensed an at
torney i'm the nineteenth year of his
age, and having settled at Franklin,
Williamson county, was sent to the
senate i'm 1917, before he was of con-
stitutional age. This term of service
euded, he Withdrew from public
employment, and for ten years, de-
voted himself to his profession, In
which he acquired u large business,
and made high character and extern
sive popularity. In1S67, he was cleo
ted to Congress over Felix Grundy,
then in the zenith of his fame, and
the favorite of Andrew jackson, who
in the year following was elected
President of the United States. This
was the first of the many famous
contests in Tennessee on the hastings.
1t lasted year, and the young cham
pion bore Off the laurels on every
field, and won the fight.
The victor over Grundy and Jack
son entered, and was man of rank
in the House of Representatives fol
fifteen years afterwards. He was q
supporter of Gen. Jackson until 1888
and was the representative Of the ad-
ADMINISTRATION until that time. Upon
the question of the Removal of the
Deposits of the United States Bank
he took issue with Jackson; and In
this breach, great results We're invOlv'
ed. There 1t was that Hugh l.. White
and john Bell of Tennessee, ant
James X. Polk Of Tennessee an(
Martin Van Buren, of New York, be
came the leaders respectively of tn,
Jackson and nnti-J ackson party
which subsequently, became the Dem
ocratic and Wing party, as they ex
listed for twenty years afterwards
Clay aud Webster sided with Bell an,
White, and thegreat South Carolinial
held aloof from Jackson's support
though he was regarded as n Demo
crat. In this most important politi
cal era, John Bell was really the mos
important man, save Gen. Jackson
In 1884, he was elected Speaker of tn
House of Representatives over MI
Folk, the first and only time |
which q contest for that position eve
occurred between two members, fror
the same state. 1t was the con-
mencement of the opposition to Va
Buren's election in 1886 over Whit,
Harrison, and Webster, and the o.
ganization of the Wing party; an
John Bell was the master mind ,
the movement, and his rival, Gen
Jackson, always so regarded him.
He defeated Gen. Jackson's candidai
in this State in 1886, and again |
1910, and in 1874. Mr.. Bells care,
I'm the House ofRepresentatives, froi
1923 to 1871, was brilliant. He cl
tered IL rs the representative Of I'll
Hermitage district NJ d the defend,
of the Presidents administration; |
differed with and was, from the cha
acter of Jackson, compelled TO del
him, and then became the header
the opposition. He was chairman
the Indian Affairs Committee wht
the removal of the Cherokees fro
Georgia was n threatening questio
and carried IL safely through. L
was made chairman of the Commi
tee on the Judiciary when the For
Bill and the question Of nullificati,
were agitating the country. He W
n leader in debates on all question
His speeches in favor of the bill
secure the freedom of elections;
favor Of the reception Of abolition I
titions, not because they were All
slavery, but because they We're p,
and parcel OF the great Petition
Right which our English foreMth,
had established, and on all the qu,
tions arising during the Van Bur
administration, are luminous wi
craftsmanship of the first order.