The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-06-29
Mr.. BENTON'S LETTER.


The following letter from Hon. Tbos
Benton is highly important in many respects.
coming asst does, from Southern man and
STAKEHOLDER. Ii will be seen that be frankly
admits that the present move at The South is
the result of a determination TO give the
siaveholdiag interest the ascendancy in The
nation, to the utter exclusion of northern in
terests and rights.
ST. LOUIS. May 81, Is47.
DEAR SIR: j take the first moment OF
leisure after my arrival at this place to answer
your kind communication of the 18th Of Jam
uary, and TO let you know how much was
PANIED at seeing the proceedings of the most
respectable meeting of which you were chair
man. 1t was precisely TO fGrestal ard pre-
vent such manifestations in my favor, that |
spoke The point of the next Presidency in
my speech at Bonneville, in the Summer nj
1914 p; and al the sentiments which then
expressed remain in full force now. STRENGTH
ened and confirmed by all that has since
happened. then brought forward the
giaring fact that in above fifty wears exis-
tence of this federal government. the de.
mocracy Of The North had given but one
President TO The Union, and that one for but
single term; and this (of late) from a
Southern opposition to Northern men.-And
then took ii on myselfto say that this course
| oil things would have to be CHANGED other
wise there would be an end of the Democrat
1t party, or Of any party founded on political
principles, and expressed my qualification
that Mr.. Folks early and voluntary seIEde-
MAI mac Cleared the way for a Northern
Democratic candidate in IS4S.
1hese were my sentiments in 1874; thew
are my sentiments now and are not TO be
abandoned at the coming election when see
a new scheme developed from the South for
Inc permanent exclusion of all Northern men
from Southern support for the Presidency.
Inc hrebrand resolutions introduced into the
Senate toward the close of the late Session.
and their practical application to Oregon (by
which we lost the Oregon bill, and leave The
people OF That territory year longer with
Out law or governmenI reveal this scheme.
and present new test on the Slavery oues
'ion winch no NOrlhere man can stand, and
winch II adopted by the South. must put an
END 10 all future support of Northern men
from the Southern Democracy. Heretofore
we, the Slaveholdug States have stood to-
Sether upon Two points-delence and com
P:oHlse-ihe defence Of property and insti-
unions and the compromise of The laws and
oil tue Constitution; and on these two points
me great majority of the North. of both Do
i''Icai parties, have been able to stand with
us But now new position is to be taken
one ON which no Northern man can stand.
, fiopaSandlsm is now the doctrine of the
political sect which assumes 10 be the stab
dard bearer ofall the Slaveholdine States
and TO plant Slavery, by law in all The terri.
tories OF the United States, even The most
remote hypeIborean --even in Oregon ITSELF
and against the will of its inhabitanrs-be
comes the design and the attempt. The
words oil the resolutions, the speeches in
IheIr favor, and their practical application to
the oregon BILL all prove this, and show tina:
the new doctrine is intended 10 be made a
new political test to be applied 10 all Presi-
dental candidates 10 time TO come, and. like
all new tests, intended TO sepercede all form
er ones, and 10 constitute the sole criterion
lore the trial Of candidates. Now everybody
must see that If this new test shall be adopted
by the Slaveholding States, there is an end
to all political support Of Northern men in
these SiateS-thal the present organiza-
ton OF parties mus: be broken IN, and new
party formed. bound by geographical lines
and resting on the sole principle of Slavery
PropagandIsm. am not prepared for such
states OF parties, nor for the effect which
1t would have upon the harmony and s,abi H.
ty of our Federal Union.
see great danger iE this new move, and
leel the necessity of meeting it at once. IN
TACT we must meet il at once or not at all :
ior Ills pressed upon us now, and will con
quer US. If we do not conquer il. The Pres
IdentIal election of 1s49 is the crisis; and il
the new test can be made TO govern that cleo
lion, shall consider the danger consum
mated, and that there must soon be an end
not only OF the Democratic Fariy, but Of all
parties founded on principle and, eventually
an end Of the Union itself. Instead. then.
OF lndulginS PERSONAL or local feeling in
! favor Of particular candidates, let us, 1.-THE
Democratic partly look TO what the good of
the Union and of the party requires, and
wait TO receive a candidate from that section
of the Union which has given but one Demo-
cratic President in near sixty years. and thai
one but for a single term. and which is now
threatened, so far as Southern voters are
| concerned, with permanent exclusion from
the Presidential Office.
This, my dear sir. is my plain and seIlled
answer 10 your kind Communication, and ]
wish youto make i, known ito the mem
hers Of the meeting of which you were chair
man. among whom see the names Of many
old friends. and recognize the voice Of that
powerful County which has stood by me in
every trial, from my first senatorial election
10 1920, 20 my fifth and last in 1874, and to
which owe many thanks. which it is my in
tention to make 10 person during the course
of the coming summer. Respectfully, sir,
Your friend and fellow citizen.
THOMAS Ii. BENTON.
WADE NJ. JACKSON. Esq, Howard
County, Mo.