Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-30

1
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives and
whatever course Mr.. CLAY took, Col. BENTON
was sure to follow in his wake. The Tariff, In
ternal Improvements, the Cumberland Road, the
Recognition Of the Independence Of the South
American States ;'indeed whatever bill Mr.. CLAY
same track, and for awhile the west looked up to
him as her efficient member, next to the Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives.
During the whole of this period, Col BENTON
was the open and avowed personal and political
enemy Of Gen. JACKSON, and he never spoke ofhim
but in terms Of bitter reproach and condemnation.
lie unequivocally, and without perphrasis, depre-
ciated his talents denied his fitness for the station
I for which accident had made him candidate, and
was bitter and unceasing in hisdenuncatons against
the Military Chiefain.
During the whole Of the Presidential canvass
whilst it was before the people, he spared no pains
to lessen the increasing popularity of General
JACKSON and TO effect this, he described him, in
newspaper, Qhe Missouri Advocate) a paper
which he had formerly edited and over which, at
that time. he maintained a decided control, a
man, whose military and political talents had been
vastly overrated; man destitute of the necessa-
ry qualifications for the Chief Msgistracy-violent
and rash in his measures vindictive and unsparing
| in his resentments, and Unsuitable in revenge AS
man, who, by fortuitous circumstance had been ell
evated to a rank, for which he had never been de-
signed by nature education, and whose elevation
to the Presidency might be considered a step to-
wards the dissolution Of the Union, and the estab-
lishment oi a monarchy And on public OCCASION
he declared, that If General JACKSON were elected
| to the Presidency, he would surround himself with
pack OF political bulldogs to bay at all who dared
to oppose his measures. For himself, he sad as he
could not think OF leslslating with brace of pistols
in his belt he should the event OF the election Of
General JACKSON, resign has seal an The Senate, as
euery independent uoud hare 10 do, or risk has
life and honor.
That he was sincere in the sentiments he then
expressed, cannot be doubted by any one who knows
anything OF the man, or who is acquainted with the
character Of General JACKSON. Colonel BENTON
was well acquainted with the General he had, to
his modification, associated with hm-he had wit
messed the ferocity Of his temperate mad too often
felt the yndictiveness of his spirit, and the full
measure of his vengenace.* lie hated and he de-
spised him-and whatever he could do to tarnish his
fame was quickly resOrted to; and it seemed the
first object of hls life, to defeat the election of Gen
eral JACKSON TO the Presidency. 10 the year 1898,
Colonel BENToN's hatred seemed to increase, and,
as if determined to blast every prospect the Gene
raj of hp mi oil LAT
which, for some other, he ascribed to his
brother, JESSE BENTON, from which we make the
following extract #
"The first conspicous acts of his (Jackson's) life, in
Tennessee may be found at the ground and at tho
cock night AT such for many years. up the
period OF his joining army he of leading
spcuous actor. Ana 1t notorious iact that he was
scarce ever known to leave ground, without hav-
ing participated N affray least a quarrel
His whole life has been ofconIsion and no man
can point to single day at which he has been peace
with the world, ,or during which he open and vi
olent enmty with some individuals: nay, most Of the time
with numerous individuals IN public and in private life
notpohf'cn differences nor ordinary n,isunde, stand
'ngs out quarres ofhe most uioient, rancorous and
deadly nature"
Thus it will be seen what were the feelings of
Col. THOMAS III. BENTON, towards ZEN eral
JACKSON, as late as the year ls23-and it is we'll
known that they were not abrosated as late as the
Fall of l325-indeed they were not divested of
their rancor till thcfourteenthGay of February 1885,
when he suddenly turned round, kissed, and made |
friends with man,-who, of all Others, he had |
personally hated, condemned and despised.
And if it should be asked how this dereliction |
OF feeling can be accounted for we refer the read
er to the contem plaion ofthat wild and misguided
ambition, which has led thousands astray, and
which, we fear has sealed the political fate of this
talented and able statesman. II j, said that the |
night previous to the Presidential Election in one |
of those nocturnal caoals and conclaves (after il
was ascertained that Mr.. CLAY would not be re- |
turned to the House Of Representatives, which |
were holden by JoHN Fl. EATON, GEORGE M. |
DUFFIE and Company,a foreign mission was of.
fered him, If he would carry his forces over to |
Gen. JACKSON. The honorable Senator was de- |
lighted with the propostion-it tickled his fancy |
he no longer hesitnted --and whilst he beheld in |
perspective gen eman from Missouri flourishing |
in diplomatic capacity at the Court of St. Cloud,
he faced about to the right and at once avowed him
self a Jacksonite, to the very core, ready and |
caparisoned for the anray From that hour to this,
he has been among the most vehement and vipdc- |
tive Of the opposition, the accuser Of Mr.. CLAY |
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