Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-08-31
MR.. SENATOR BENTON.

The duty of State, in selecting Senator,
for full term Of six years. is at all times of sui
ficient importance to call into action the best
Judgment OF her citizens. The Office, itself, was
intended as check upon popular opinion,
and the constituency so arranged as 10 forever
shut out, from the walls Of the Senate, the idle
and ephemeral clamor OF party. The term OF
service being one third greater than the Execu-
tive, and three times the period Of a Representa-
tive-the constituency, ranging from ten thousand
to half millionaire nature OF the office, legs.
lative, executive, and judicial, prove that party
was not in view when it was created. Gentle
men, therefore, should endeavor, as far as posi-.
BILE, to dvest themselves Of all partizan feeling,
in making a selection, and the object Of this att
Gle is to place before the wings Of this State, such
views as have tended 10 dissuade US from favor
able consideration OF the overtures made, and
making, by Col. Benton, and portion Of his
friends, for a re election at our hands.
These overtures, as we understand them, have
not been made in spirit OF patriotism, or with
view to the advancement Of the interests OF the
country, but in the lowest personal partzan
sense,-a temporary, indirect, helping Of par.
ty, prompted by jealousy and revenge, to be paid
for in pressing forward and sustaining corrupt
man, with objects wholly personal and selfish
and in this spiri. we shall meet and treat them.
At this point we wish 10 be distinctly under
stood, and here, as elsewhere, do not intend to
leave room for reasonable doubt or cavil. Col
Benton, we understand, is not asking the wing:
for direct reelection, for that would unmask
and destroy his plans; but as the position OF par
ties in the legislature will probably require the
election Of a democrat as his successor, if he il
TO have one the effort is to satisfy the wing party
as a partly that they can do no better, or perhap
not so we'll, in partisan sense, than to see he il
not defeated. In the use OF these words, We meal
what we say, and Col. Benton, upon proper ap
plication, can procure from us the authority OF
which the declaration is made. His langusg
was, in a we'll understood and authoritative con
versaion, that if defeated, a democrat wou
have to be chosen who was personally more hos
tile to Mr.. Clay than himself.
All this the reader will perceive, is purely pc,
sonal, and therefore below the grade Of party
which is itself inoomparably too low 10 enter in
to Senatorial election, when conducted in tn
spirit Of the constitution. The argument, an
effect intended, cannot be misunderstood: If
democrat is to be elected, and Col. Benton is pei
sOndlly less hostile to Mr.. Clay than any other,-
and moreover publicly committed to some Of tn
essential views Of northern whigs-why not pc
NIT personal considerations 10 prevail, partza
feelings and principles being also in his favor
This, we admit, is pleasing to The ear, and i
moments OF excitement, calculated to win upo
ardent and devoted men, bat patriotism and trut
are stronger and safer ingredients, and to thes
we intend ~ devote ourselves and our columns.
Safe and sound wings. we know, looking Il
national efforts and results, prefer Col. Benton
If a wing cannot be chosen, md this preference
already TOO prevalent, we intend TO combat w
admit with them, that he has rendered importan
service to our cause in the present canvass. w
admit his Texas speech was sufficiently com
manding, in its statements and principles, Il
Justify whig edition OF two hundred thousan'
copies, The circulation and reading Of which hal