Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-06-03
Senator Benton's Speech.

On the evening OF the 18th ut, Senator Ben.
ton addressed crowded meeting Of his constitu.
ents at St Louis, upon the political topics acted
upon at the late session Of Congress. Upon the
Oregon question, he declared that he had ever been
in favor of latitude 40 as the proper boundafy, and
that the demand Of the American government was
wrongful when applied to Frazer's river, which
runs from 40 10 81. He devoted much Of his adj.
dress to the Texas annexation treaty. which in the
manner il was conducted, he said was the cause OF
the war with Mexico. Texas might huye been re.
covered with all ease but for the doings Of the Ty
Ter administration. "ior selfish and unworthy pur.
poses" The Senator glanced at the Lieutenant.
Generalship in his own peculiar way, and observed
that he "who had refused embassies Of the first
courts Of Europe, was willing TO 90 to Mexico he
who had refused to let his friends propose him for
first Malor.General in MAY, 1916, which would
bave put him at the head Of the army, was willing
TO have taken commission when the war began to
take the appearance Of continuing long, and be-
coming fanatica When the plan which he sub
mited TO the President comes to be made known,
1t would be seen that Gen. Taylor, instead OF sirug-
Cling at Buena Vista with 5000 against 20, 900,
would have been advancing with 90 900 that Gen.
Scott instead Of an intrenched army at Cefro Cor.
do, would probably have found the road open 10
Mexico"
The Senator's speech would not be perfect with.
out bit at Mr. Calhoun and after he had suffi-
cleniy discussed the question: he passed TO that
OF slavery. The report Of his speech in the ST.
Louis Union, evidently furnished by himself. says
lie alluded TO the slavery propagandst resolu.
tons, introduced into the Senate towards the close
Of the late session. and which he stgmatized as fire.
brand on the day Of their introduction. On their
face these resolutions contemplate subverson Of
the Union, throwing the guilt OF the sbversion up
on those who oppose their enactment into law; at
the same time they propose what no citizen Of a
non-saveholding state can ever stand, aud what
many from the slavehodng states, himself in the
number, would not stand if they could. They pro.
pose the abolition of all compromises, past and 70.
ture on the slavery question, and treat yioators
oil the rights Of the States and of the Constitution
and as subverers of the Union, all who will not
agree TO extend slavery toal the territories OF the
United States. even TO the most remote and hyper
boTean-to Oregon ITSELF in the latitude of Wis
consin and the Lake of the Woods. They 20 the
precise length of the Northern abolitonists, and
with the same practical consequences only in a re-
versed form. The abolition creed is. that the ad-
mission Of slavery in any part of the Union is VIC.
lation OF the Constitution, and dissolution OF the
Union; the new resolutions declare the prohibition
OF slavery in any Territory Of the Union, is a viola.
ton oil the Constitution and Of the rights Of the
states, and subyersion Of the Union true it is
that extremes meet and that all fanaticism, for or
against any dogma terminates at the same point OF
intolerance aud defiance
The first effect of this new slavery creed. which
the South was summoned to adopt mos, summarily,
would be to establish new political test for trying
the orthodoxy of all candidates for the Presidency
and as no Northern man could stand such test at
home, the whole Of them would be knocked in the
head, SO far as the South concerned, at single
lick. The next effect of these resolutions If adop-
ted in the non-slaveholding States would be to put
an end to the present political division oparties and
to substitute new party in the South, with its
antagonist in the North) bounded by geographical
lines and founded the sole principle Of slavery
propagandism. The third effect Of these resolu-
tons would be that which is stated alphabetically
on their face, namely-the subYersion Of the Union.