The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-11
OBITUARY.



in the politics OF his native State and Of the country
at large, died at his residence in Nashville yesterday
in the seventy third year OF his age. He was born
near Nashville, on the 18th Of February, 1897, his
father being farmer in moderate circumstances,
who was able to give him good education at the
Cumberland College, subsequ emily known as the
Nashville University.
Mr.. Bell selected the profession OF the law and
was admitted to the bar in 1916, when he settled at
Franklin, Williamson county, Tennessee. But he
drifted at once into politics, and elected to the
State Senate in 1s17 when but twenty years Of age
But he declined a reelection and devoted several
years after the expiration Of his term to the exclusive
practice Of his profession. In 1926 he again entered
the political arena, as a candidate for Congress
against Felix Grundy. His opponent was one OF the
most popular men in the State, and was backed up
zeaousy by Andrew Jackson, at that time candi-
date for the Presidency against John Quincy Adams.
The canvass lasted whole year and was exceedingly
animated and bitter, but Mr.. Bell came out OF it
triumphant, with majority Of full thousand In
1927, he took his seat in the House OF Representa-
tives and continued in it by successive re-elec-
tions for fourteen years, until s41 when he passed
into the Cabinet of President Harrison, Secretary
of War.
Mr. Bell began his Congressional career as warm
admirer Of Calhoun and an opponent of the prOtec-
tive system, against which, in 1892 he delivered
OF the memorable speeches Of his life Gradually
however he cut loose from all the different branches
and factions Of the Democratic party of that day. and
finally swung round into full harmony with the
Wings. Although a professed admirer of Calhoun
he opposed the South Carolina nulhcation policy
and was made chairman of the Judiciary Committee
of the House with special reference to his position on
that question. Although he voted In 1882, against the
bill recharterng the United States Bank, the
ground that the subject had been brought up full
four years before the expiration of the old
charter, for the express purpose OF insuring
the defeat of Andrew Jackson in the ensuing Presl-
dental campaign, and further because he believed
the President would veto the bill, proved to he
the case, he professedy supporter of the Bank
and protested against removal of the deposits, re-
usng also to vote for the resolution approving that
measure. The position assumed by him on the
question Of the removal of the deposits OF
thechef causes which led to the final breach between
| him and the Democracy
In June, 1884, Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia, who
had been Speaker Of the House since 1928, resigned
| to accept the mission to Great Britain. James X.
| Polk the subsequent President, was nominated
| for the Speakershp by the administration party,
and Mr.. Bell, now fairly repudiating his Jacksonan
associations, was taken up and elected over him by
| the Wings and such of the Democrats as were OPP
posed to Martin Van Buren successor to Jackson
in the Presidency. Mr.. Bell based his opposition to
| Van Buren Eainly the latters adoption of the
JaCksOnian theory Of rotation in office. Van Buren
had zealously promoted the system of removal from
subordinate political positions on merely political
grounds in the party conflicts of his own State and
stood pledged to rival his great prototype Jackson in
the disastrous course, in Of his election to
the Presidency. Mr. Bell had repeatedly but vanly
endeavored to secure such legislation by Congress
would relieve the civil service from the disastrous
effects produced by the migrating upon govern
mental system Of the Jacksonian policy of rotation
and had delivered forcble argument in the House
bearing upon the subject, in the course OF speech
on the freedom of elections. He was therefore
ptted against Polk, the Jackson-van Buren, candi-
thnC
cordial relations with the administration Finally,
in 1885, he declared openly in favor Of Judge Hugh
L. White, of Tennessee, as the successor OF Jackson,
and then came the final breach between him and the
founder of the old-tme Democratic party.
Up to that time there had been no opposition in
| Tennessee to General Jacksons administration and
| it was generally supposed that his personal and
political influence could not fail to subdue the OPP
| position raised by Judge White and his friends.
The whole force OF the administration, and OF jack
sons personal popularity was eXerted to this end.
| But Judge White carried the State by large ma
ority Mr. Bell was reelected to Congress from the
Hermitage district itself by great vote as ever;
and an impulse was given to the political character
OF Tennessee which arrayed it in opposition to the
| Democracy during the four succeeding Presidential
! elections OF 1s40-'A- -4S-52.
When the reception OF petitions for the abolition OF
slavery in the District of Columbia was agated in
the House Of Representatives in 1885, Mr.. Bell alone
of the Tennessee delegation favored their reception
and, though assailed at home, was sustained by the
| people. And subsequently, in 1888, when Athertons
| resolutions were introduced, proposing to receive
| and lay these petitions the table, he maintained
his consistency by voting in the negative in order
that they might be referred and reported upon.
When President Harrison formed his administra-
ton in 1s4l he invited Mr.. Bell to accept the War
Department, which he did. With the rest OF the
Cabinet, Mr. Webster only excepted, he resigned
once 1.-THE separation of President Tyler from the
Wing party, in the autumn OF that year. The Wing
majority in the next Tennessee Legislature which
met after his withdrawal from the Cabinet offered
him the ofice OF United States Senator, which, how
ever he declined in favor of Ephraim II. Foster, who
had rendered services to the Whlg party which Mr..
bell thought deserving that recognition. Mr. Foster
was accordingly elected, and Mr. Bell remained in
voluntary retirement until 1s47, when he again
elected a member Of the State Senate.
In lS41 vacancy occurred in the United States
senate, and Mr.. Bell was elected to the position,
Delhg reelected in 1852 for the full term ending
March a. 1889 During the carry period of his service
ln the Senate Mr.. Bell was firm opponent Of the
annexation policy, against which he eXerted himself
10 the utmost. He favored the complO Omise mea-
sures OF 1850, expressing a desire to the
ISSUES then pending before the country settled at the
Time by the division OF Texas into several states,
cording to the original anne xatiOn programme, to
avert the calamity of future discussion which
might mperil the safety and integrity Of the country
3 In 1854 he arrayed himself against the Nebrasks
: bill, when 1t came before the Senate, protesting
against It as violation OF the Missouri Compromise
and as a reopening OF the controversy which tht
compromises OF intended to settle forever
And finally, in the last months OF MS service in th'
= Senate, in 1885, he assumed decided position
against the so-called Lecompton Constitution, when
the question OF the admission of Kansas came he