Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-11
DEATH OF JOHN E

At ? o'clock yesterday morning the
Hon. JOHN BELL departed this life at
his residence near the Cumberland
Iron Works. He had been ailing for
some time, and on more than one
occasion his life was despaired Of; but
care and skillful treatment have for
months sustained his life, and pro-
longed his stay on earth.
Mr.. BELL was born lea Nashville,
February IS, 1897, and was therefore
in his seventy-second year when called
away. He was educated at the Nash
Vile University, was admitted to
the bar in 1916, settled at Frank
lin, Williamson county, whence
he was elected to the State Senate in
1917, when yet only twenty years Of
age. Upon serving out his term he
retired from the political arena, and
for several years gave himself up
TO the pursuit of his profession. In
1926 he contended with FELIX GRUN-
DY for a seat in the lower house Of
Congress, and after a most exciting
canvass Of twelve months, was sue
cessful by one thousand majority.
He occupied a seat in the House
for fourteen years thereafter and was
regarded a firm friend of President
JACKSON, until he protested against
the removal of the Government de-
posts from the United States Banks,
when a breach occurred and he
left the Democratic party ever
after to cooperate with the Wing
party, whose last candidate for the
Presidency he was. In 1884 he was
elected Speaker of the House, in oppo-
to Mr.. JAMES X. Polk, of this State,
who enjoyed the full support Of the
Administration. He was a bitter
opponent of VAN BUREN's policy
of changing subordinate officers,
a policy the tendencies of which,
as they have since been real
lied, were forcibly foretOld by him.
The story Of his opposition to Judge
WHITE, JACKsON's friend and candi-
date for the Presidency, is known to
our readers. Though defeated in his
main object he was so far successful as
TO be reelected to Congress from the
Hermitage district by as great a vote
Us ever. In 1871 he served as
Secretary of War in the cabinet of
President HARRISON, resigning when
Mr.. TYLER declared himself for the
Democratic party. He remained in
voluntary retirement until 1917, when
he was elected to the State Senate
by the people Of his county,
and by that Legislature to the United
States Senate in which he served
until 1859. In the fall Of that year he
received the nomination for President
of what remained Of the Wings under
the name of the Union party. being
supported by Mr.. EVERETT, of Mas
sachusetts, for Vice President.
Defeated, he retired to await
the events which afterward trans
and of which he had
warned his countrymen. He opposed
secession, was an honest and a warm
advocate for the Union, and until the
last moment earnestly exerted himself
for its maintenance. He bowed, how
ever, to what he could not withstand,
and with the people who had
honored him and whom he had
served 80 long and with such
ability, he went into the Con-
federacy, there remaining a quiet but
interested spectator of the great civil
Since the commencement of the
when he made one or more
speeches for the South and her cause,
he has been silent and has not
participated in any manne in public
affairs. The death Of Mr.. BELL, though
not unlocked for, will everywhere be
regarded as a public bereavement. His
eminent ability, his political pres
.cienee, knowledge and skill, his great
craftsmanship, his services and long
public career, endeared him TO the
Of Tennessee, who have in
later years esteemed him as the last
link that connects the pres
ent with a past that numbers F,
its WORTHLESS the names
Of Jackson, WHITE, Polk, GRUN-
pY, FOSTER and others whose fame is
part of the renown of Tennessee. I
We viii not attempt to-day an analy- (
sis of his character and areer Suf- 5
Gee it that he served the State, and ,
and therefore deserves the
sncomiums Of her sons. May he rest
b peace. I