The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-08-12
POGTTTD 9T..
THE LOAN OF TWELVE MILLIONS.
SPEECH
OF MR. BENTON OF MISSOURI.

10 senate, July IL, lS9l-On inc ID ah'hoF-
izing loan Of twelve millions Of dollars.
Mr.. Benton expressed his satisfaction at
having an opportunity ofspsakiDg to-day, with
in the usual hours of tusinese, instead OF
speaking after dark on Saturday night last.
He would have spoken that night, if driven
to it; he had held himself in reserve all day,
waiting the turn things might take in the eve-
ming, and preserving his strength for he occa~
sion, if The exigsncy should demand an exer-
ton at the close Of the day. He had not ask-
ed delay, but some Of those who acted with
him, and who had been in action all day. did
ask il and we're refused A second npplCa-
ton was successful; and il it had not been, ho
intended to say to his exhausted friends, "Go
and get your dnners; take some rerre>Ament:
STAY as long as you please am going to take
the foor-l have been ressrving myseIf for
this exigeney. am fresh and vigorous, and
when you come back you will find me on my
feet" This 10 what he would have said and
done if the debate had been continued, hut
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 obtained for himself and
friends.
Mr.. B. said, that notwithstanding the les
son he had learned from little French come.
dy, beginning with the moving suppIicatron,
"who will deliver us from the Greeks and the
Romena,' Notwithstanding that lesson, he felt
himself justified, under ,his particular Admia-
is,ration, to re'er to these Old friends Of his
sehool-day memory, and mention an incident
which was a characteristic ofone of them,hGd
which commentators have considered as one
OF the main causes of their InvinCiblIily. tlo
spoke tho Romans, and of the Senatorial
vote of thanks TO the surviving Consul afer
the battle of Came, because he had not despair.
ed of the Republic. This vote prevented deS-
pair in others; terminated confidence, and led
to victory This, Mr. B. said, was the Incl
dent in the history of hla old friends, the Ro-
mans, which he now took leave 10 recall 10 the
recollection of the Senate. And now for the
application Of ihls historical incident. The
application was 10 The American Democracy,
who had suffered sort Of Came defeat last
(all, but " no did not despair of the Republic,
and are altesdy on the high road to victory !!
| We we're called here, said Nj B.--caIed TO
| this extraordinary sessiOn-as the Vanqulshed
would bo called INTO the presence OF the con-
| eueror 10 barbarian times-to receive The law
| and The lash and to be 'Irpped Of their clothes
| andlarms We were called up TO have the yoke
| fitted on our nocka, aud he chains and manR>
cles fastened on our hands and Iceland TO see
our friends psrsecuted, and our country pilIA'
eed by corporations, natives and foreigners.
! We we're called, and we came not as slaves,
but as Romans not in despair, but with heatte
of courage, and nerves oflron! not az TO tia
place Of punishment aud humiliation, but as to
the isld Of glcry and victory! crossed The
Mississippi, on the 18th Of May, in obedience
TO the Presidents proclamation 10 repair 10
this city, aud made, what ieI, to he a iris
umphaI march to tia capital! looked at 9th
ers, not myself. looked to the proud array
of Democracy on this floor; locked 10 the 2l
Democratic Senators here, for leave out my
self and said Of lhcm,as Louis The l4'h snld
oCbmselC when all Europe wss in arms a.
ganst him, MEG PLUKIBUS IMPAIR! Not
an unequal match for numbers! No icIl
match for euperior numbers! And 90 they
have shown themselves to be. ir, have
some experience in parliamentary warfare;
have come knowledge of history; know some
thing oflhe connic,s, bodily and intellectually
ofmy speces; and can boldly say, that the
annals Of the human race present no examp'e "a
ofa talent, Of rstrioiism, of courage, OF a
devotednesr, in any delbsrali,e body Of men
that has ever existed, which i, superior 10 that
which We have seen in tho 81 democratic Sen
aiors who sustain the cause Of their country OF
this most ominous and extraordinary session
Of oYr Congress-. The annals Of intellectual
warfare present no example Of mental effort
superior to their proracted, victorious, end
| magnificent debate.
4 Proceeding 10 The examination Of hie sub>
iect, Mr. B. said: We havenow advanced a
distance, and reached point, a! which we
may halt-look back, and survey the ground
over which we have passed. We are now IN
the second quarter oftho new Administration,
and in the second month of its first session OF
Congress; and enough has been done,to show
what il 10, and what it will be. The tree is
known by ls fruit; and wo now have fruit g.
nough, or buds and blossoms eneugh,to show
US what mauner Of tree this new Admnistra-
ton is; to what genus it belongs, and for what
it is good; and believe il will be found, upon
the view of its fruit and buds, to be Of that
prolific and POISONOUS species which The natu-
ralists call the bohan upas.
We were told shortly before the termination
Of the las! session Of Congress, by a gentle
man, then member Of this body, now mem
Der Of the now Cabinet, (Nr Webster that q
new set ofbooks were to Boz opened at the
Treasury after the 9TH day Of March; that the