The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1837-05-19

49, 1&k&t&A @M@NA " AAA@ 1tM3&M @N@N
filed. and named The l7lh for the day Of
The date. No, no, vas exclsimed-il Is
The 18Th. sThe 18th. then" said he.
The blank Was allied. and The Secretary
sent FOR the journal. He was oul but .
moment He returned through The door
in front 81 the Vice Presidents chair.
bearing lhe book. the journal. in his hand.
II seemed 70 me 10 speak. | personi6ed
II Is = human victim. A truth Was 10 be
blolled from il: the deed was forbidden
deed. Benton appeared The kend-gOd Of
The scene of sacrilege. He alone seem
ed erect, ehurkling and lriumphing over
truth. The Secretary Of The Senate look
ed like an execu,ioner. He laid the
book down upon the clerks table. he
bore il open and pressed il down as IL the
book was resisting his ruthless violence.
Pressed open wide. he took the pen. dip
ped The accused instrument in gall of
hel's blaekness, and wrote across the
face Of Truth the words Expunged.
&c" Silence had reigned until al this
moment he raised the ruler by which die
black lines were to be d.awn--silence
then became insutferable-- gToans and
Kisses came burning hot from The indig-
nation Of galleries and Hobbies and every
place. Hearts swelling with unuilerable
agony spoke out in me tones Of human
suffering which could no longer be endur-
ed. The fiend-god sprang to his feel,
and grated harshly in tones Of thunder
" Rufians! RufFians!-Bank Rufhans!"
"clear The galleries!-0rder! 0rder!"
we're the sounds which Teverbersled
through The hall. " No, no, don't clear
the galleries" said Benton, !" the inno-
cent thus are punlshed-seize the Ruff
fans. seize the Bank Ruffians. ant bring
them to the bar"
II was, sir. Al this moment, that | too
was in danger Of being seized; for it re-
quired all nv selfpossession to refrain
from telling the Infamous wretch tina, he
was the yllest rnfiian In the nation. The
sergeant al arms rushed 10 the gallery.
The scene seemed 10 require a victim, q
citizen for victim. and there was one
found. A genieel. well-iressed and in
telIlgent looking gentleman, from the
state Of Ohio. was seized and dragged
before the Senate. Some question arnse
ab0u. quorum. and he was taken from
the bar to place behind the seats of Ne
majors. The question about the quorum
was settled, the victim, the eiuzen. was
not ordered to be brought again to the bar;
he was not asked il he was guilty Of con-
tempt no witness was examined as 10
his guilt or innocence: but Benton again
arose, and, with all his internal aid ma
lign efrontery about him, commenced a
hOmily about decency and good behaviour
he said nothing abou, honesty aud pro
biiy. He then imputed the act To the
man. without proof or examination I'M
puted the intention Of guilt tn him fixed
the punishmenl-to wit: most Calling
and offensive lecture from ms polluted
and impious lips--iRhicted the PUNISH
ment without waiting 10 kuOs if a single
Senator agreed with hun IN opIn,oH; and
then moved for his ignominious discharge,
without giving him an opportunity oil be-
ing heard IN his defence.
To his credit, the Senator (Mr. Nor.
ris) Of OHIO. vouched for the genllrman's
responsibility. and claimed for him the
RICH, uf being heard. THIS was denied
him, unless he would purge himself on
oath VI contempt, as tn which there had
no, been offered TITLE Of evidence. The
verdict and judgment Of Benton alone
were then earned into executinn--thp ci-
uzen was discharged. aud when he ask.
ed, himself, il he could not be allowed
the humble privilege Of being heard, The
reply.irom the Presdpn, pro ten king
Of Alabsma) was, " Take him out Of the
housed" The words sDunded to me
like the words Of the Tyraut respecting
Roman cisizen--" Bud him, Liciors"
Thus was a victim inundated 10 the
work, an American citizen was seized
aud scourged by the scorpion tongue Of
Tom Benton. in public, for daring TO ex-
press his indignation at a ruthless viola
ton Of the constitution, committed in his
presence. by slaves calling themselves
Senators and guardians Of public liberty.
TO crafty the pleasure of tyrant-No. l
am too fast; il is not known and has ne
yer been inquired into 10 this day, whe-
Their The man was guilty even Of that high
crime in this free country,
The body IN whose presence he was,
was not the Senate, It was a miserable
cabal Of Tyranl's tools sitting upon no
matter on which the Senate of The Unit
ed States could act. As soon as the ex-
ciiemen, created by the arrest Of Lloyd
ceased, Benton inquired if the work was
done" 1t is DONE" replied the clerk.
He asked again. and the chair replied it
is doue. Very good, very good" said
Benton. He was the fiend-god of the
work, and ali obeyed him of his party.
The Senate adjourned, | went to The
clerks table and viewed the journal, nin-