Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-06-15
A LETTER FROM Mr.. BENTON.

A LETTER FROM Mr.. BENTON.
FROM THE NEW YORK EVENING POST.
Mr.. BENTON ON THE New TEsT.-In letter
written year ago, MIR. Benton exposed the
danger OF the new test of attachment to the ex
tension OF slavery, which was then just begin
ming TO be mentioned, but which has since
been boldly and arogantly imposed, not only
in the case of candidates for office in the GEN
eral Government, but in the case of delegates
to the National Convention of the Democratic
party. The language in which he spoke of this
test does credit both to his sense of justice and
to his foresight. He said: ''The Presidential
election of 1913 is the crisis, and if the new
test could be made to govern that election,
shall consider the danger consummated, and
that there would be an end, not only to the
Democratic, party, but of parties founded upon
principle, and finally of the Union ITSELF"
We give the entire letter, which is as
perfectly applicable to the state of things
now existing as if it had been written yes
terday
Mr.. BENTON'S LETTER.
To the Chairman of the Ho,0ard County Con-
Ucntion avhich nominated him for the Prcsi-
dency.
ST. LOUIS, May 1S47.
! DEAR SIR i take the first moment of lei
sure after my arrival at this place to answer
your kind communication of the 18th of Janu-
airy, and TO let you know how much was
panied at seeing the proceedings of the most
man. Ii was precisely to forestall and prevent
such manifestations in my favor that spoke to
the point of the next Presidency in my speech
at Boonville, in the summer of 1914; and all
the sentiments which l then expressed remain
in full force now, strengthened and confirmed
by all that has since happened. | then bro't
forward the glaring fact that in about fifty
years existence of this Federal Government
the Democracy of the North had given but one
President to the Union, and that one but for
single term; and this (of late) from Southern
opposition to Northern men. And then took
|, it on myself TO say that this course of things
would have to be changed. otherwise there
would be an end 10 the Democratic party, or
any other party founded on political principle
and expressed my qualification that Mr.. Folks
early and voluntary self-denial had cleared
the way for Northern Democratic candidate
in 1913.
These were my sentiments in 1874; they are
my sentiments now, and are not TO be aban-
doped at the coming election, when | see a
new scheme developed from the South for the
permanent exclusion of all Northern men from
Southern support of the Presidency. The fire.
brand resolutions introduced into the Senate
towards the close of the session, and their prac-
ticable application to Oregon, (by which we
lost the Oregon bill, and leave the people of
that territory year longer without law or gov
ernment,) reveal this scheme and present new
test on the slave question which no Northern
man can stand: and which, if adopted by the
South. must put an end 10 all future Democra
cy. Heretofore we, the slaveholding States
have stood together on two points-defence
and promise-the defence of property and
/ institutions, and the compromise of the laws
and of the constitutions; and on these two
I; points the great majority Of the North, o
both political parties, bave been able to stant
: with US.
But now new position is to be taken-ont
! on which no Northern man can stand. Prop
. agandlsm is now the doctrine of a politica
sect which assumes to be the standard bearer
: of all the slaveholding States? and to plant
t slavery bylaw in all the Territories of the U
, States--even the most remote and hyperbo
/ rean; even Oregon itself, and against the viii
of its inhabitants-5ecomes the design and at
: tempt! The words of the resolutions, and tn
J. speeches in their favor, and their PRACTICABLE
application of the Oregon bill, all prove this
Il and show that the new doctrine is intended
/ to be made new political test, to be applied
5, to Presidential candidates in time to come; an
y like the new tests, intended to supsrsede al
q former ones, and to constitute the sole crieri
u on for the trial of candidates. Now, ever,
J body must see that, if this new test shall b
/ adopted by the slaveholding States, there is a
a end to all political support ofNorthern men i
/ these States; that the present organization c
+ parties must be broken up. and a new part
u formed, bounded by geographical. lines, an
resting on the sole principle OF slavery propa
E gandism. | am not prepared for such a stat
% of parties, nor for the effect which it woul
have upon the harmony and stability of OF
10 Federal Union.
ID see great danger in this new move, an
"a feel the necessity of meeting it at once.
ia fact, we must meet ii at once, or not at all
o' for it is pressed upon is now, and will conque
ie us if we do not conquer it. The Presidents
OF election of 1913 is the crisis. and, if the ne
D test can be made to govern that election, sba
8 consider the danger consummated; and tn;
III there mustsoon be an end not only of the Den
Ct ocratic party but of parties founded upon priI
&c ciple, and eventually an end of the Union i
e' self. Instead, then, of indulging personal
n local feeling in favor of particular candidate
hg let us, (the Democratic partly look to VIII
a. the good of the Union and of the party require
" and wait to receive a candidate from SCI
n ton ofthe Union which has given but one De
ocratic President in sixty years,and that
NO but for single term, and which, is now threa
'e ened, so far as Southern voters are concerne
III with permanent exclusion from the Presldel
lis tial office.
!: This, my dear sir, is my plain and settle
81 answer to your kind communication, and
ers tho n,eet;ng If ,rb;cb ,o, ,,.ero cb.;rroa
fuI among whom 7 see The names Of nanv q
ed friends, and recognise the voice of that powe
he al from nv FIRST Senatorial election in Is3o