The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-05-13
MIR. BENTON's DEFENCE.

Although Mr.. Benton has abused the Presi-
dent more than pick pocket would have done;
Notwithstanding he has necessarily assailed not
only the President and his measures, but all his
friend, aud the friends and supporters OF his
measures (vid.licr, MIR. Calhoun yet, in the
face of every thing he has done, or in anlicipa-
ton Of whatsoever he may do, Ito say nothing
of The many things he has failed TO accomplish
we have no disposition to withhold from him
simple justice, viz fair hearing in his own
defence.
That il was necessary for a defence TO be
made in the Globe, against the charge of incon-
stency, touching his vote on the Righ oil
S arch Question in 1924, no one, whether Wing
o Democrat. will, we presume, deny. We
presume this much, because the charge we
brought against Mr.. Benton Of having voted to
grant TO Great Britain The right to 'search,
slEzE, and CAPTURE" American merchant
vessels on the high seas, was not predcaled on
"hear-say evidence" or mere newspaper au-
thoriiy;" on the contrary, we gave the "chap-
ter and verse;" from the Senate Record, in
Guiding the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Benton having, in 1913, Jumped 10 con-
clusions' with Sir Robert Peel, that the Treaty
of Washington admitted this right of search,
(Which failed 10 become law in 1924, although
Mr.. Benton did vote for IT'D and feeling called
upon 10 make war against this Treaty, it was
obvious that some explanation on~the pat of
Mr. Benton was required, that his glazing in
consistency might not detract from the force Of
his rampant lunges at the Administration. We
shall give the whole Of his defence on Monday.
II was also necessary for Mr.. Benton, at the
same time, 10 give some explanation Of his
course in relation to one or two Other matters,
which we will lay before our readers at the same
time.
We aude particularly to Mr.. Benton's as
saults on the President, made last winter, for
having joined Mr.. Clay in voting against the
adoption of the settlement of the Boundary
question under the administration of Gene a
Jackson. We admit that Mr. Benton's assault,
at the time, disconnected us no little. But
when we consulted the Records Of the Senate,
relieved 10y finding that Mr.. Benton
had made slight mis- axe in Tanscribing his
evidence. Ga examination we found that
was Mr.. BENTON who had voted with Mr..
Clay, against the adoption of General Jackson's
measure, and that Mr.. Tyler had voted FOR it,
This, TO be sure, was only clerical mistake,
but it made the bull gore the wrong OK. Hence
the necessity the e existed for defence and eX-
panatoa on the part Of Mr.. Bentoa. All of
which will be given on Monday.
But there was yet another matter demanding
Mr. Benlon's attention. In 1928, Mr.. Benton
voted for the most grinding high protective ia
riff that ever cursed the ua,ion he was for
"Harry of the Wes,n for President, and advo-
Gated The American System, including Bank,
Internal Improvem nts by the General Govern
men,, &c, &C., while "honest John Tyler"
was battling Gas he is now for Jeffersonian Re
publican principles, and was in favor Of General
Jackson for President. Mr.. BE tons attacks on
the President at this day, (terming him Fede-
rali.t,) under these circumstances, called loudly
for defence and explanalion-a Of which we
will give on Monday next from the Globe.