Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-17
COL. BENTON'S SPEECH.


Saint Louis, on your happy return from
your long, and almost fabulous expedition.
You have indeed marched far, and done
much, and suffered much, and we'll entitled
yourselves to the appauses Of your fellow.
OF your government. A year ago you left
home. Going out from the western border
OF your State, you re.enter It on the cast,
having made circuit equal TO the fourth OF
the circumference Of the globe, providing
for yourselves as you went, and returning
with trophies taken from fields, the names
Of which were unknown to yourselves and
your country, until revealed by your enter.
prize, illustrated by your valor, and immor.
tallzed by your deeds. History hos but
few such expeditions to record; and when
they occur, il 10 as honorable and useful, a.
it is just and wise, 10 celebrate and com.
memorate the events which entitls them to
return.
Your march and exploits have been
among the most wonderful Of tho age. Al
the call Of your country you marched a
thousand miles to the conquest Of Now
Mexico, az part Of the force under General
Kearny, and achieved that conquest, with.
out the loss of man, or the fire Of gun.
That work finished, and New Mexico, it.
self 50 distant, and 80 lately the ultlmathule
the outside boundary Of speculation, and
enterprise--so lately distant point to be
attained, becomes itself point of depart.
urea beginning point, for new and far
more extended expeditions. You look
across the long and lofty chain-ihe Cor.
dilleras OF North America-which divide
the Atlantic from the Pacific waters; and
you see beyond that ridge, savage tribe
which had been long in the habit of depre.
dating upon the province which had just
part only Of the subsequent Chihuahua col.
umn under Jackson and Gilpin, march upon
them-bring them to terms-and they sign
a treaty with Col. Doniphan, in which they
bud themselves to cease their depredations
on the Mexicans, and to become the friends
Of the United States. A novel treaty, that!
signed on the western confines Of New
Mexico, between parties who had hardly
ever heard each others names before, and
to give peace and protection to Mexicans
who were hostile 10 both. This was the
meeting, and this the parting Of the Mis-.
souri, volunteers, with the numerous and
savage tribe OF the Navajo Indians, living
on the waters OF the Gull OF California,
Sinaloa and New Mexico.
This object accomplished, and impatient
Of inactivity, and without orders, General
Kearny having departed for California;
you cast about to carve out some new
work for yourselves. chihuahua, rich and
populous city OF near $4,000 souls, the seat
| of government Of the state OF that name,
and formerly the residence Of the Captains
General Of the Internal Provinces under
the vice.regal government of New Spain,
was the captivating object which fixed your
attention. II was q far distant city--about
as far from ST. Louis as Moscow is from
Paris: and towns and enemies, and large
river, and defles and mountains, and the
desert whose ominous name portending
death to ravellers--el jornada de los muer-
tos-the journey Of the dead-all lay be.
tween you. II was a perilous enterprise,
and dscouraging one, for thousand men,
badly equipped, to contemplate. No mat
ter. Danger and hardship lent it charm,
adventurous march was resolved on, and
| the execution commenced. First, the des.
ert was passed, its character vindicating its
title to its mournful appellation--an arid
plain OF ninety miles strewed with the bones
OF animals persisted of hunger and thirst
little hilocks of stone, and the solitary cross
erected by pious hands, making the spot
where some christian had fallen, victim oil
the savage, of the robber, or Of the desert
itself--no water--no animal life--no sign
| Of habitation. There the Texan prisoners,
driven BY the cruel Salazar, had met their
drest suiferings unrelieved, as in other parts
of their march 10 the settled parts Of the
country, by the compassionate mnistrations
(for where is it that ,Donsan is not compass.
sionatsD Of the plying women. The des.
ert was passed, and the place for crossing
the river approached. A little arm Of the
river, Bracito lin Spanish) made out from
it's side. There the enemy in superior mum
bers, and confident in cavalry and artillery,
undertook to bar the way. Vain preten
sion! Their discovery, attack, and rout
were about Simultaneous operations. A
few minutes did the work! And in thi.
way our Missouri volunteers Of the Chihua
hua column spent their Christmas day o
the year 1916.
The victory Of the Bvdcito opened the
way to the crossing OF the river Del Norte
and to admission into the beautiful littl,
town OF the Passo de! Norts, where a nea
cultivation, a comfortable people, fields
orchards and vineyards, and a hospitable re
ception, offered the rest and refreshment
which tolls, and dangers, and victory hal
won. You rested there till artillery wa
brought down from Santa Fe; but the pref
" town OF the Passo del Norte, with all il
enioyments, and they were many, and III
greater for the place in which they wer
| I.,nd ma. MT C1Dun IN the men IF Mis-