The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-05
w A S II | N G I 0 N.
MONDAY MORNING, FEB. 5, 1914.
MIR. BENTON.

Benton upon Judge Porter, in seconding the re-
solutions of respect offered by Mr.. Barrow, on
announcing the death of his late colleague IN the
Senate on Friday, were among the most touching
and appropriate we ever had the melancholy plea
sure 10 listen to in that Hall. He who can utter
sentiments expressive of such deep sensibility, in
language glowing with the warmth OF private
friendship and high esteem, has heart suscepti-
BILE to the finest impulses, and capable OF harbor-
ing all those generous feelings, which, when per-
United to have full play, elevate and adorn human
nature.
We have entertained prejudices against Col.
Benton, believing him to be cold, austere, selfish,
and destitute of the finer feelings of humanity;
various circumstances, however, have of late led
us to believe we have formed wrong estimate
of his character. AS politician he is firmly at
tached to his own principles, and inf1exible in
maintaining them and yet fair and manly in his
course towards his opponents, never seeking to
gain his purpose by anything like unfair strategy,
and scorning to take any undue and unmanly id
vantage. In his opposition he is open, frank,
bold, and above board; pursuing his object,
however, with an eye that never sleeps, and
an energy that never tires" he heeds no OBJ
stacles listens to no renonstrance, fears no oppo-
stion, and sets at naught public opinion, content
TO attain his purpose, and, SO he can accomplish
that, caring, apparently, for nothing else
These qualities fit him to be, as he is, the lead
er Of his party, and render him at times the ter
ror of the timid, the indomitable commander,
IL ,loJ< II IL; Sc a. II =.
it's soul and embodiment
The following is Mr.. Benton's beautiful, eo-
quent, and feeling eulogum upon Judge Porter,
his early and cherished friend, though political
opponent, to which we have alluded.
The resolutions having been read Mr.. BENTON
rose and said:
| RISE Mr.. President, to second the motion
which has been made to render the last honors
of this chamber to our deceased brother Senator
whose death has been so feelingly announced;
and in doing SO, comply with an obligation Of
friendship, as we'll as conform to the usage Of
the Senate. ! am the oldest personal friend
which the llustrious deceased can have upon this
floor, and amongst the oldest which he can have
in the United States. 1t is now, sir more than
the period of generation--more than the third
of century-since The then emgrant Irish boy,
ALEXANDER PORTER, and myself met on the banks
of the Cumberland river, at Nashville, in the
State of Tennessee, when commenced friend
ship which death only dissolved on his part. We
belonged to circle of young lawyers, aud stu
dents at law, who had the world before them, and
nothing but their exertons to depend upon. First
a clerk in his uncle's store, then student at law
and always lover of books, the young PORTER
was one of that circle, and it was the custom of
all that belonged to il to spend their leisure hours
in the delightful occupation Of reading. His |
tory, poetry, elocution, biography, the ennobling
speeches of the living and the dead, were our So
cal recreation; and the youngest member of the
circle was one OF our favorite readers. He read
well, because he comprehended clearly, felt |
strongly, remarked beautifully upon striking pas
sages, and gave new charm to the whole with |
his rich, mefuous Irish accent. II was then
that became acquainted with Ireland and her
children, read the ample story Of her wrongs,
learnt the long list Of her martyred patriots
names, sympathised in their fate, and ilnbbed the
feelings for noble and oppressed people which |
the extinction OF my own life can alone extn-
guish.
Time and events dispersed that circle The |
young PORTER, his law license signed, went to
the Lower Mississippi; | to the Upper. And, |
wears afterwards, we met this floor, Sena- |
tors from different parts of that vast Louisiana
which was not even part OF the American Union
at the time that he and were born. We met
here in the session of 1888, '34-high party times,
and on opposite sides of the great party line but
we met as we had parted years before. We met
as friends; and, though often our part to reply to
each other in the ardent debate, yet never did we
do it with other feelings than those with which
we were wont to discuss our subjects of recrea-
ton on the banks of the Cumberland
/ mention these circumstances, Mr.. President, |
because, while they honorable to the deceased,
they are also justfcatory to myself for appearing
as the second to the motion which has been made
A personal friendship Of almost forty years gives
me right TO appear as friend TO the deceased
on this occasion, and to perform the office which
the rules and the usage of the Senate permit, and
which so many other Senators would so cordially
and SO faithfully perform.