The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-10-26
From the Missouri Reporter.


The /" Missouriap, - referring to some remarks
made in the Reporter a few days ago, exclaims--
and yet the Reporter is not unirendly TO Col Ben
toni Our sentiments With regard 10 the recent
course Of Col Benton IN inlermeddling with the local
affairs OF Missouri, have not been concealed The
Col. 5 "recent importation among u.s." Of mouth
piece which will abJeciy echo his views upon every
point, and his letters which have been published du-
ring the past four or i've weeks, have removed all
doubt IN mind, OF his determination to uphold the
Central Clique al all hazards. II Mr. Van Answerp
supposes that we are very slave 10 remain Al
lent when assaicd, or to continue passive under his
masters blows, he must have formed his estimate OF
character from tooIishly thinking other men are
as serviic, cringing and n-ap-sPrited as himself Col
Benton has chosen, IN utter disregard OF that funda
mental principle OF Democracy, that he Is the
Vi the State, with specific duties assigned TO his
charge 10 order the sovereign pei pie 10 obey his
rogant behess ~ all matters Of State p0licy-even 10
opening their purse strings TO pay his rumpeter for
sounding his praise and echoing his commands. Tie
has voluntarily entered the lists and arrayed himself
in open hostility 10 ths liberal Democrats of Missouri
lie has even specified who his friends and drawn
the line that there be mistake about the po-
s'tIon he wishes to occupy If opposition to cur
rency bills, wirepullng and Centralism ard support
OF the District system, the Constitution, freedom OF
speech and OF the press the sovereignty Of the people
and constitutional reform, regarded by him as
evidences OF PERSONAL hostility, and sufficient jus,i-
fcation for his Unexpected dctatora and bitter az
political friends, the successor of Lynde Elliott need
have no doubts 10 our true position We have
lived too long freeman become the serf OF any
one at the present day. We shall discuss all public
measures regardless Of the dctation of Col Benton
and If he considers Independence an indication
of uniriendness,' why, SO be it.
Did the Missourian suppose that when blows were
freely dealt upon our devoted head we should not
dare TO beat them back, no matter whose the hand
that directed them' Did The editor of that print
| f,l tal
"wots Of" would leave our weapons in the hands OF
our antagonist, and seek safety ignoble fight p
" Our military education" well as our political
was received IN a different school. When struck
we ais avs strike back.
As letter writing the species of warfare of re-
cent importation among us,' shall " define our
present position" as far as Colonel Benton is
cerned TO his entire satisfaction series Of letters
which shall take the liberty of addressing him
in few days, through the columns of the Reporter.
lie has stepped into the arena, not dgnifed spec.
tlor of a contest with which he ought not 10 have
medded, but of the combatants, and taken up
the cudgels in defence of discounted foes. He
has of his accord, enlisted in the support
of Clique Federalism, and in open hostility to true
Democracy-equal representation and the sovereign
ty Of the people. In such strife fear no enemy.
Battling for the Democratic faith and the cause Of
truth, we shrink from antagonist, however formi-
dable his appearance or menacing his altitude
Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just, and
tend, we ready to meet its foes even with the
weapons Of their own choice. Every thing for the
nothing for men," is motto, In practice as
well as profession-and adopting that sentiment as
ar rule OF action, we SHALL IN pursuance OF " the
species OF warfare of recent importation among US +"
commence, as soon as leisure will permit series Of
letters TO Colonel Benton, in which we shall give as
distinctly possible our views Of the relation in
which he stands TO the Democracy Of Missouri
as well as that we occupy
We regret that we have been driven TO The adoption
Of this course but justice TO the State to the liberal
Democrats of Missouri, to our cherished principles
and to our own character, will admit of no alterna-
tive. We have sought to obvate, by all the honora-
bic IN power, the necessity Of referring
Col Benton, in connexon with the local controversy
which has been going IN Missouri for many months,
but which had nearly ended when he entered the
lists and kndled the strife He has ordered IL
otherwise. He would not permit the controversy to
end, but relying upon hts own prowess he has de-
ermined 10 "ride rough shod" the opponents Of
the currency bills and the friends Of the District sys-
TEN, equal representation and the sovereignty of the
people. The fricdds Of Col. johnson have been
placed under the ban, and all who have dared to die
Ter from him any point His open assault upon
the freedom OF the press is a matter Of public Doto-
riey, and his bitter deaunciations Of u.s. leave al
Tentative on our part but to cringc like a whipped
spaniel, or TO maintain rights becomes free
man. For one, we cannot hesitate when such an al
tentative is presented to us and we have greatly
mistaken the lofty spirit and manly independence
Of Missouri Democrats, If thousands on thousands,
do not stand up with in proud yindcation Of "tbe
right Of private judgment" the freedom of the press
and the sovereignty Of the peoples Indignantly spurn-
ing all efforts To subject them and us 10 the tyranny
Of any one man or set Of men.