The North-Carolina standard., 1848-08-30
From the Wash. Corr. N. o. Delta.
COLONEL BENTON.

EDS. DELTA: Do you see that parsonage sitting
in the third seat on the ertreme right of the Vice
President? Well, that is the UrSus Major of Mis-
souri,, alias Old Bullion,' alias the Hard.'' Ap-
proach him. and if your appearance and manners are
prepossessing, his face is at graced with natu
al and agreeable smile. If the contrary, you will
get of those artificial voluntary grins that
frights you from your propriety and checks the first
approach to familiarity. He belongs to the F. F. BIS,
which being put into the vernacuar, means the First
Families of the Bulldogs. Whatever he seizes on,
he never lets go; neither can he be choked off. Wit
for him the Expunging Resolution solitary
and alone he put that ball in motion, and pursued
it, session after session, and day after day, with
perseverance that tagged and industry that
never tired. No living man could have accomplish
ed it save Benton. l say nothing of its morality
nothing of its proPrety-the future historian must do
his duty in that particular; my sole object is with
the pertnaciy of the Senator, through which 1t was
finally plished. / shall forget the scene
it was appallng-the record was to be mutilated-|
time, nigh-the galleries crowded to sufocation.
There stood Benton over the Secretary like Shylock
waiting for his pound of flesh. He was the chief
director in the 1t to be effected by pen
never soiled by ink-the Secretary was directed to
procure virgin pen for the express occasion-it was
obtained, and the maker of it will live in story. All
ready for the sacrifice. The Secretary took the
pen-on his right stood Benton, the left Buchan-
an-all eyes intent on the parties-the black
lines were drawn, and the record was gone forever.
Suddenly, in the midst of the deepest silence, most
unearthly groan was heard and then hiss, so loud
and long, that you would have supposed twenty
geese had been introduced into the galleries. You
may well suppose the confusion that was created,
coming so unexpectedly, as it did. In an instant
Benton recovered his equilibrium, and looking up TO
the galleries, he roared out with his Stentorlan voice.
ss Turn out those Bank ruffiansn' and Immediately
the Sergeant-at-Arms, a large Missourian, by the
name of Shackord. with his police In the gale
res, and made capture of gentleman by the name OF
Lloyd, who was taken down stairs. The next thing
to be done to get rid of the prisoner-he deman-
ded to be heard at the bar, which refused him,
ha made a
next morning, but nothing was done. Benton took
the pen and after retaining it for time as proud
trophy, it by his little to old General Jack
son, where it is still cherished and retained by his
relatives. Benton is what Johnson denomlnates an
honest hater'' and the devil himself is not more
vindictiVe where he suspects dupllcty. Had 1t not
been for his energy, John Tyler and his Clique Wouo
have been quartered the Democracy. Some OF his
friends thought him obstinate on the OCCASION but
he resisted the amalgamaton to the death and can
not help thinking that he was rather too hard upon
John, to whom he was indebted TOR the veto on tne
National Bank.
The extra session, when the Wings came into
power, was a remarkable one. Clay was the very
embodiment of the one-man power-he was den0ml-
mated dictator" and well did he deserve the title
the roll was called 10 in the morning, and the drill
was continued until five P. NJ, without nermlsslon
CLAW triumphed in the two Houses, but his very VIC
tories fatal to his future prospects, benton then
led the opposition, and asked in his peculiarly nerT
GUS language, " Did they mean to create another
bank, to run like course, when the earcase OF the
dead monster still sinking in their nostrils $!
Benton is hard student; his speeches have done
for the Democracy than those of any other liv-
ing man. Time was when he rose to speak, that the
galleries were cleared in a moment: ." Never mlnd,
said he 81 speak to the country, not to the galleries. and
now no man. to use theatrical phrase, draws better
houses His speeches exhibit great research-he
speaks. as he admits, {" from the books, seldom IN
dulging in flights of fancy, and while he never for
gets the interest of that State that has continued him
for quarter of century, he may be
regarded as senator for the United States What
kind of Leutenant-General he would have made
Congress deprived of the power OF ascertalning
but we are bound believe from what we have seen
of him as political tactician, that though he mlgnt
not have won more laures than Scott yet he would
have received fewer wounds t' in the rearP Benton
has uniformly refused all Offices rendered 70 MIN
the different Presidents, preferrng his station IN tne
Senate to any other position, no matter how much
more lucrative. Many admire him, few love nm
At one period bis chances for the Executive cnalr
were exceedingly bright That day. has gone how
ever; still, ,he will live in history as very reFlafk
able and very memorable man. -. \
ia wtie gathering in Massachusetts, the follow
sentiment y fell from the lips OF an ex-memOer
Of Congress: >..s,s..4,,t;-,.-.i, - e,,, foot bv
six"