The North-Carolina standard., 1843-12-20
Sueech of Col. Benton.

Speech of Col. BENTON.
At a late meeting of the democracy o. Missou-
RI held at Manchester, the following speech was
delivered by Col Benton Let its truth be treasur-
ed up for speaks to the patriotic heart like the
tones of trumpet: aaes
The committee having retired, Col. Benton
was Immediately called for from all parts of the
house, and responded to the call in a striking and
rxtemporaneous address, which was received with
GREAT and increasing applause, and continued un-
III the committee returned with their report He
said he had not come to the meeting for the pur
pose of making a speech, or having anything to
do with its proceedings; but he had come for the
purpose of seeing his friends and tellow-cltIZens
and to talk aoith them, and not at them. Being
called upon in a manner so fattering, and with SO
much unanimity, in a meeting so numerous and
respecable he could not resist the appeal, though
be could not fatter himself with the hope of graft
fyinq the expectation that seemed to exist lie
would sneak, but not on the subject which brought
the meeting together; for with that he had nothing
TO do and should have nothing to say. Nor would
he speak on matters and things in general; for
that would be irrelevant and tedious. But he
would speak of things pertinent to every assem-
bane of the American Democracy things which
were past but which had their application TO the
events of the present day, and which were full of
instruction and cement TO all the friends of
free and popular government.
A quarter of century (said Mr.. B has nearly
elapsed since the people of Missouri had placed
him in q situation to see, and to act part III, the
movements and in the workings of our govern
ment; ana it happened to have been a period
when the machinery of the Constitution had been
subjected to the most violent shocks, and the cap
pacitv of the people for SelEgovernmrnt had been
exposed to severe trials The election of PreSi-
dent in the House of Representatives in the ses
sion of l824l5, was the first Of these shocks and
trials The will of the people trampled un-
der foot in that election; the spirit of the Con-
stitu.on was sct at Defiance the elect of the peo-
pIe was repudiated; and it was firmly believed
that the people would not possess the intelligence
TO redress the wrong. The majority candidate
for the Presidency put down a minority
candidate was put in his place! a combination of
politicians overruIed the will of the people! and
the election of 1928 was to decide whether
these things should stand. The election of 1928
was trial of the capacity of the people for self
governmental trial of their capacity to preserve
their rghts-a trial of the great question of their
actual position in free government and whether they
were able to rule, or were only born to be ruled
The issue of the election decided that question
1t taught politicians the important lesson that the
people could rule, and noould rule!
But another question: still more momentous,
remained to be tried-the question of good or bad
rule; and whether it was to ruin. or to benefit |
themselves, that they had exerted their power. |
On every hand the cry of ''ruin' was raised |
The elect of the people was cried down. Their
President painted as rash and ignorant-as a
frebrand abroad and tyrant at home-as unable |
and unfit 10 govern and the calamities Of war, |
pestilence and famine, deprecated as the |
least evils of his administration. Such were the
vaccinations of General Jackson's administration
and the people were openly treated as fools for
having elected such man for their President. /
But the day of trial was at hand, and its result
was auspicious The first four years decided the |
question, ana approved the wisdom of the choice |
which the people had made. Peace abroad, pros
perity at home the public debt paying off, taxes
ightened the universal respect of all nations at
tested the capacity of President Jackson to admin
lSter the Government, and vindcated the people |
from the imputation of folly in the election of
their Chief Mas gstrate Thus this first tralof the
people for self-goWernment resulted in their favor
But another and harder trial was still to be |
encountered. Gen. Jackson was reelected and
a combination of politicians, aided by the Bank
of the United States, and by nearly thousand
subordinate banks, and by vast body of mer-
chants (for whom he had procured rich indemn-
tles) confederated to make good their prophecies
to scourge the country and to charge the dis
tress which themselves created upon the President
whom the people preferred, and thus accomplish
IN the second term of his administration what had
failed in the first. The panic of le33-'34, and
the execrable sentence of condemnation which
the bank demanded, which the Senate pronounced.
and which the people expunged, was the fruit of
that c;onfederacy. Then, indeed, we had war, in
which many stout hearts quailed, IN which many
tlmId friends fell off, and in Ehich rnanv weak
co1nses were offered. The whole earth seemed
70 be In commoticn against one man. Revolution
was proclaimed The Senate chamber resound-
ed ed with denunciation; the bank columns marched
IN succession upon the CAPITOL distress meetings
were universally held; distress memorials poured
10 daily; the public press groaned all business
was broken up; terror and calamity were spread
In every quarter; and all was charged upon the
~lckedness of the man whom the folly. of the
people had elected President. He (Mr. B. had