Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-06-10
OLD POWHATAN.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
GLANCE AT THE u. 5. SENATE.
In a.

may talk OF tkis great man and that eat man-we
may admire the fascinating eoquehce OF Clay the pro
found logic oil Webster, the brilliant aud me
taphysical graces OF Calhoun; and you please the
invecves aud violent denunciators OF Leigh; but in my
view, Tor clear comprehension efficient tIiu pisl
reasoning, OH the all aud deeply exciting Bank
question, we have only TO turn the luminous
speeches OF Thomas H. Benton of Missouri TO perceive
that he stands unrvaed, aud has galanIly borne away
the palms oil victory from the allied cham pions of the On
position. Let invdous and groveling minds covertly as
sail this disiing nished Senator il they wi their bIera
reflections pass by him onheeded The idle winds The
poisoned shafts OF malignant reproacb that are now and
then aimed at him by lew vDdctive assassin press.
es, are VIGOROUSLY repealed by the impregna6ie shield
which genius and patriotism have thrown around h,m-
Ills dignity elevates him above the reach oil inferior
saIapts, aud The strength OF his intellect enables him
grapple with and TO vanqush the strongest OF his
res. What. indeed, hut the gallant aud lofty daring oil
Benton, could have toied and tanned the " Lion oil the
Wesi' year or Two past, in his furious and inpas
stoned raviug for power? Like the roaring Mooch Of
the forest, he had long played the TyIant in every
Assembly OF which he was member, and entertain
ed the belief, no doubt that he could reign undisput
ed lord and master, even in the Senate of the Uni ed
States. But, in the midst Of his frantic career he saw
that il was indispensable TO the successful npshment
OF MS ingiorons designs TO inmidste ana stalk Mr.
Benton aud thus drive him forthwith from his distinguish
ed post as one OF the most able aud pd defenders of
the Constitution, and especially the decided of
the measures so steadily pursued by the Administration
and, more especially, the promising personal
friend OF paro ic and venerable Chief Magstrate-
Yes! the inuriated Orator, goaded by the consuming
res OF his unhallow ed ambition make bold
and reckless attack upon the President; and this pur
means oil woundng bis enried aud renowned rival As
usual with conspicuous Of precocious and ephemera
tae and oil general declining prospects, he had but little
10 lose and all TO achieve, and iet utterly regardless
consequence The Lion" rosred and paved and shook
the dew drops from lis name but the undauned
OF his unslsked vengeance stood erect before him. and
unawed by his thunders hurled defiance back upon him
with unmiiigated IL the proud lot Of Thomas
H. Benton TO expose the humanity and unbushug attempt
oil the pesiienr orator, and 20 hold him up gaze
OF the American People AMI the world his the Pre-
sident's" false secuser How hat Incl ent e minated
how the bsughty Goah recoiled hon the artillery OF bis
assaulted Antagonist and sunk down his place. covered
with cloud OF confusion, the Senate and crowded gal
ley have not forgotten; and venture say, never will
he WHO had rode iriumphsnuy the whIwind Of
ry idciiOus contest and directed the storms OF party
fare, was a, last oveifown by superior spirit Of
the day On that memorable occasion, the tcdr decar.
ing, famine breeding hero signaIly and the
PRIDE OF an cveibearng party humbled in the dust.
But. my surprises have remarked Tor al months
that the great Ses Serpent only se0fched, kM
edj and after lying in ambush for the door
Of tie white house. he is again crawling forth with
venom his tongue, aud crossing the path e Pres.
DEBT at every advancing stride OF his distinguished Adn
hsi alton But the " Old ROnan' towers high in his
onward career, that lis very heels posed the
poisoned isags Of those pile politicians Turk in The
green hedges 18th which Nature has enbesIed his wide
ana direc. avenue TO Lame. Not eney subdued, howe
yer, by discontinue which would have held in check
the willy Tseyrand himself, tie modern Cadne resoiv
ed, amidst the dcsolaon OF his prospects, make snotI
desperate sore in order 10 regain that eminent distinction
which his splendid talent and leryd patriotism had
ediy secured him 10 earlier life To accomplish this end
c"nclUded TO throw himself into the ranks OF the Bank To-
gion' Having sworn allegiance 10 Oil WEEK aud put
Tie conspicuous gold livery OF his first Lord Leue
nant, lic hopes, With the aid OF gosning Golfers, and by
sysen 81 bribery and bull yng 10 beard tie People them
selves. aud finally seize the helm Of State n defiance Vi
the Constitution and the laws. Yes gentlemen, as eve.
~ other weapon has been excessively wrested from hrs
sacfegious handSas every hobby lie has mounted his
been broken down IN vain, How with soul absorbing
object 10 view, the fret and the last which e sigln ~ OBJ
VIZ: to undermine the solid foundations of lhe Pr,s
dents overwhelming popularity. lie has preripaied bun.
sell into the OF the BOurbon WHO hourly "oving
HeayeH and Edril from tic aged Psirjo's bONs
those evergreen wreuihs with which they rftRIncd.
Fellow Citizens OF the Ancient Dominion If
pursued hs fellow with savage hate and disboIcai
vengeance, without the lear Of God before lis eyes, its
parallel Is found va lie OF Henry Clay Kentucky;
who lis sxcluvey devoted tbe LAST years OF bs lie
TO systematic no Of the most aud mali enaut lie.
ianison OF Andrew Jackson a name which will ever he
held 10 profound respect by his enlightened aud viruOus
countfyntn-a name whose intrinsic meiis the oul
breath OF defacion cannot depreciae, aud whose bright
the glitter Of polished gold shall ouisiiue. The
howIing aud blood hifsy wolf never pursued tie unf
femding lsmb with lerncious esgrtncss, than the
" Lion OF the West" has hunted down the u-ous vete.
ran WHO lives now aud will live hereafter, la the CRATE
ul aheciiOns OF generous nation Yet, bear in mini,
anneaed aud IN lnonteJ" aspifant who, in TT Of violent
rage end despefatiOn. afdeny invoked Natures God"
20 Wit ie cOnsecraed soil Of our FshersouT Own earth
W pdfsdise-" ih the scouge Of " War, Ptsnlence sud
Feinine" DO you eKelaim "Wbat, ~ the maine Oi HUI
sany and Heaven, could have driven the intoxicated
Ora or INTO such degrading excuses ?? hat earthly
sidcfaon could have seduced him commit this damn.
ing sin against Freedom and his Country ,"
once, and hOg fear OF honest contradiction: When he
that al hope Of realizing his golden dreams vas ex
nsuisiIei~ths The paramount claims OF diabocal snd