Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-14
SPEECH

| SI IA HAOA
or Hon. THOMAS II. BENTON, Of Missouri,
| on the Loan Bill, delivered in the Senate,
Monday, July, 10, 1871.
Mr.. BENTON expressed his satisfaction at
| having an opportunity Of speaking to-day, with
in the usual hours Of business, instead Of speak
ing after dark on Saturday night last. He would
have spoken that night, il driven to it, he had
held himself iii reserve all day, waiting the turn
| things might takein the evening, and preserving
his strength for the occasion. if the exigency
should demand an exertion at the close of the day.
| He had not asked delay, but some Of those who
acted with him, and who had been in action all
day, did ask it, and were refused, (Mr. Calhoun.)
| second application was successful and if it
had not been, he (Mr. b. intended TO say to his
exhausted friends. $50 and get your dinners
tdte some rstreshment-stay as long as you phase
II am going fotahe the Coor-I haze been 'eserr-
ing and reposing myseJJor his erigency.-IGm
fresh and rigorous, and ,ohen you bnck ynt
,UiN find me on myfeet." This is what he would
have said and done if the debate had been contin-
ed oil Saturday night: but, happily, the second
motion for an adjournment prevailed. and the
privilege Of speaking in the day time and within
the accustomed hours of business, was thus OBJ
tanned for himself and his friends. Mr.. b. said
his health was excellent, and he was able to
come early and sit late, and work hard by night
or by day, as the occasion might require. An ex-
uberaDt State of health enabled him to do all tbis
and, having mentionend his health, he would
show himself thankful for that blessing, and will
ling to be serviceable to others, in following the
example of which the chamber had been witness,
by INDUCING in episode upon auto-hygenal
strategy and thus illuminate the Senate upon
the art Of self-health preservation. Others had
told their practice, and he would tell his. His
was this: lie gave his little hoy Greek and
Latin lesson before ne to the Senate every
morning; and he gave his little girls lessons in
French and Spanish every evening after he went
| and fbnc Ioip heo
| Joyed not only an exuberant, but almost an ex-
travagant state of health. He mentioned this
for the benefit of the Senate in general, and of
the bachelor Senators in particular.
Mr.. Is. said, that Notwithstanding the lesson
he had learned from a little French comedy, be-
ginning with the moving supplication, "VhO v,h
deliver us from the GraehS and the Romans'-Qtsi
, nous dehrera des Gree. Ell des Misunderstanding
standing that lesson, he felt himself justified I'M
der this particular Administration, to refer to
these old friends of his school day memory, and
l mention an incident which was characteristic of
1 one OF them, and which commentators have con-
sdered as one OF the main causes of their irwin
, cibIhty. lie spoke of the Romans, and of the
Senatorial vote of thanks to the surviving Consul
after the battle OF Canine, because he had not Hes-
paired9f The Republic. This vote prevented des-
pair in others-reanimated confidence and led to
e victory. This, Mr. said, was the incident in
4 the history of his old friends, the Romans, which
/ he now took leave to recall to the recollection OF
historical incident. The application was to the
American Democracy, who had suffered sort o
> Gamma defeat last fall, but who did not despair
the Republic, and are already the high roat
to victory! We were called here, said Mr. B.
| called to this extraordinary session-as the van
quished would be called into the presence of tn
It conGneror in barbarian times-to receive the Law
@ and The LASH and to be stripped of their ciothe
o and arms. We were called up to have the yok
- fitted on our necks, and the chairs aud manaclc
q fastened on cur hands and feet, and to see on
IL friends prosecuted, and QUE country pilaped b
a corporations, natives and foreigners. We wer
n called, and we came-not as slaves, but as RI
mans! not ia despair, but with hearts of courage
IL and nerves of iron not as to the place of pu,
m ishment and humiliation but TO the field
u glory and victory! ! crossed the Mississipr
~ said MIR. b. on the 9Th of May, in obedience
IL the Presidents proclamation TO repair to this cit
III and made, what felt to be, tri' 'r'hal marc
h TO this Capitol l looked at others lot myseI
20 Hooked to the proud array of Democracy on III
he floor; looked to the twenty one Democratic Sc
nd ators here, NOr leave out myselt,) and said
49, them as Louis the 18th said Of himself, when
- Europe was in arms against him. MEG PLUR
ee, BUS IMPAIR! MOI an unequal match far mi
nd brs! No a full match for superior number
and And so they have shown themselves to be. 5
of / have some experience III parliamentary warfa
ac | have some knowledge of history | know son
al thing Of the conflicts, bodily and intellectually
Wv my species, and can boldly say, that the ann.
., of the human race present no example Of
Ihe ent, OF patriotism, OF courage, Of deyoi
aid ness, in any deliberative body of men that
lied ever existed which is superior to that which
ON have seen in the tweniy-one Democratic Senat
the who sustain the cause Of their country at
,ac most ominoIs and perilous extraordinary scss
- of our Congress. The annals of intellect
'ei warfare present example Of mental effort
OF peror to their pro.raCted, victorious, and MAG
fcen; debate.
hat Proceeding to the examination Of his snbi
the Mr. b. said We have now advanced distar
e Of and reached point at which we may halt
one back, and survey the ground over which we Il
70 passed. We are in the second quartz
IL the rev Administration, and in the second INC
'oi' Of its FIRST session Of Congress; and emo
oTh has been done. or.aliempted to be done, to 81
Tor what it is, and what it will be. The tire
non known by its fruit; and we have now
esp enough, or buds and blossoms enough, to shoy
Or to what manner Of tree this new Administrative
. 20 TO what genus it belongs, and for what
good; and | believe it will be found, upon
aga view Of its fruits and buds, to be Of that pre-
D''' and poisonous species which the natuTalists
hou- the bohun upas.