The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-22
MIR. oALHous.s REPLY TO ma. BENTON.
TO the People Of the SouiAsrn Staies.


speech delivered in the capital Of Missouri had been al
rected exclusively against me. The line of conduct ]
have prescribed myself in reference 10 him is to have
little 10 do with him as possible, and ! accordingly
never notice what from him, even in his character
as senator, when avoid doing consistently with
my public duties. regard him in light very different
the frequency and violence OF his attacks upon He
seems to think stand in his way and that
gagged in some scheme to put him down. on the con-
tTary, have never for moment thought OF raising him
10 The level Of compettor rival considered il oil
any importance to whether be should be put down or
not He must think he has something 70 gain by assa-
ing me |, on the contrary feel that have nothing To
gain by noticing him, and when compelled 20 do So aA
satisfied il escape without some loss oil seli,respecI
have another reason tor not desiring 70 notice nun On ns
and rng exceptions but the Teitefatons OF those
often made heretofore by himself and others, and which
have met and successfully repealed in my place in the
Senate That they made no impression against at
the time either in the Senate community, there can
be no better proof than afforded in the laborous and
tresome effort he made in his present speech to revive
Under the influence OF these reasons would have re-
NAMED silent, had alone been concerned. But such is
not the case His blow is aimed much at you than
me- He strikes for the double purpose Of weaken
ing me id your confidence. and OF striking at you and
your cause through me. which he thinks can be done
more efecualy indirectly than directly. Thus regarding
his attack. ieel it to be duty owe you and your
The effort Of Colonel Benton, from the beginning to
the end of his speech, to make out that have ever
been unaithfu 10 your cause and true 10 that OF the
free solers and abolonists while, on the contrary you
had in him an unknown but faithful friend on all occa
sions He assumes that you and they have been both
mistaken in reference to my course you in regarding me
as friend and supporter Of your cause, and they in re-
gardag me as hostile 70 theirs Judged Sy Ms
opJISt = ~ 80 BON ana vomr cause ,vhaf he bonas will
prove deadly blows This the abolitioniss and freeso
ers well understand. The disguise was not assumed 70
deceive them, but to deceive you. They understand
him. and have hailed with acclamation his speech, and
published and circulated it far and near and gored i
sh, = bas damnshed me. and this. too while Il holds
una IN ss ,sssi and hest friend 10 their canse II re-
mains to be seen whelbef you VIII understand nun as
ney no. ana wiz ss s ne 80 Ss
serton II is not the frat time that deserer has had
Inc tn address those he deserted and while
ossng reaard for their can.e de nouncei those who
remained faithful to it. The history OF our Revolution
furnishes notorious instance oil the kind The deserer
in thai instance failed deceive those whom he adj
dressed. or to shake their confidence in those who
NAMED faithful 10 Them and in return for his erontey
and desertion have sent his down 10 postery with
reprobaton II remains to be seen whether such will be
the fate of the deseiter in this instance.
He commenced his speech with attacking the resou
tious offered 10 the Senate the 10Th February ls47 and
charges that they introduced Tor The purpose OF dis
union That yo NAV Judge for yourselves whether they
are liable TO The charge or not, insert them:
Re,olued That the territories of the Uned States be
long % the several States composing ths Union and
held by them their joint and common properly
'Rsopsd That Congress, as the point agent and repre-
sentative OF the states Of las unao, na AZ xh. 20 ma *
any law or 90 @ A. ION n.yaa he S,ates of his
% NV which snv OF them shall be prived OF It's ul
and equal right in any ,enory OF the Ugited States
quired or TO be acquired, .,,r.
Resolved, Thai the enaoment Of any law which should
directly or by is effects deprive The citizens OF any OF hs
States OF THIS Union rom emgfa lng WIN ineh Popetl
n1 any o. tns .eln'o.es .. Wa v ,ss sa' i,a
- , nd he rivts of the s,a,s from wlet
acb ci,zens eivrasi and In dsrogaiion Of thai perle
equality which belongs 10 them us Of me Union
and would tend direcdy to subvert the Union llseL
Rssored, That. as fundamental principle IN our polit
ica creed people, IN forming cons.'nusn nave me un
conditional Ign, W ioIn anu aops .uo m VII
.neY msy @ mi ,ha, in consoSm,ty hs.,,o no 9TH.
cand,,an - ,,n,osed by The federal constitution on a Sa
IN order 10 her admission into this Union except
other by Congress would only be 10 OF the con
sttuon. but Ia direct conflict with the principle On whlc
our political system rests
They are, as you see, confined 10 asserting principle
appertanng the nature and character OF system
government and making inferences clearly deducib
from them and which are of vital importance in th,
question between you and the North in relation 10 tn
Wilmot Provso II the fsc be the resolutions state
there no denying the inference; and II both be true
then your right TO emgate with your slaves into the ter
rtories becomes unquesionabie under the constitution
This he felt and hence his bitter denuncaton OF them
But he has confined himself 10 denuncation, wiihou
making an effort To refue the resolutions by showinl
they contain error either as to the facts asserted or infer
ences deduced lie knew thai 10 be beyond his power
and pfudeny avoided H. But, If the resolutions be true
M he IL COMPELLED 10 admit they are by his silence how
can they be firebrand, be calls them, be Iusl
cbaWeabIe with dsunioni Col. Benton has his owl
way of provng things which appears TO be very salts
10 examine his assertions AM reasons.
De4arng Of finding anything like dsunion in th
resolutions themselves, he seeks for il in the motv
which he grsiaitously assigns to me for introducin