The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-22
Dol. Benton and the Territorial Question.

The Missouri Senator may not triumph In his
own State, In the conflict lie is waging he tel
Ing against him there is strong-and ne my be de-
feated. But one triumph he has certainly achieved,
such as falls to few men in political life. He has
conquered his bterest and Oldest adver saries and
| extorted high eulogiums from men and presses who
never bad before, in his whole political career, a
| word of praise or sympathy for him. In the South,
as was natural his detection to the Free Sellers has
disappointed many, and both political parties have
united in reproachng him for deserving the hour
| of trial. But in the North and Northwest, friend
| and foe, have received his demonstration with
| lively joy-and friend and foe hail him master
spirit. wlsese move has determined the Territorial
question, and accomplished a grea, National
triumph. There is nothing in the indications of
public opinion North, more conclusive, as to the
deep seated feeling in favor of the Wimot Provso
restrietioD upon the Territories, than the delight
with witch the speech of Mr.. Benton has been
hailed and praised, and, long it is, republisIed
by the presses Of the party to which he has
been so bitter, interchangeable, and so unreentng
adversary. Strong must be the zeal for the
Anti Slavery restriction which brings Col. Benton
into such grace wah the wing organs of New Eng
land and New York They return him public
thanks of "heartfels gratitude and gladness' for
having settled forever the exclusion Of slavery from
the soil of New Mexico and California. The only
exceptions find to th is chorus of graduation, is
in few of the presses, which, like the New York
Evening Mirror, conceding great merit and power
to Mr.. Benton, are unwilling to place him, in this
respect, above their own old tried friends.
1t would be great mistake to infer that this
warmth of welcome to Mr.. Benton, for this new
manifestation of his eccentric boldness in defyirg
the action of his own party, is sign of party ad-
hesion to him individually, omen of sup
port in that quarter, if he shall aspire, or be
named for the Presidency hereafter. The sign
is one of more permanent importance than de-
ponds upon the political fortunes of any one
man. The fact proved is, that zeal for this
Anti Slavery restriction, Overcomes in Northern
bosoms, even the most intense party dislikes, and
brings into sympathy with each other, the most
repusive political elements. And the more grave
fact is Swallowed, most intelligbly, that whenever
this question comes up before the Northern and
Western people, there will be, to that, no party
division worth taking into the account. If the
democratic party had any intention TO make oppo-
sition, it would be idle. They could muster no
strength to make their opposition available for any
good. Some of the most powerful among their
leaders attached openly to the Barnburner in
terest, and divided their friends when they were
strongest, and had more national motives for union.
Now the Barnburner interest, under the new lead
ership Of Col Benton is likely to be in the ascend
ant with their party all over the North and West
and the inevitable effect be foreseen, an undi-
vided sentiment Of the Free States, and an undi-
vded representation in Congress from the Free
States, in determination to forbid the existence of
slavery in the new Territories The frontier slave
staies-Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and now
Missouri, in part, evidently in state of prepa-
ration to take sides with them.
1t is not for originating these movements that
Col Benton gets such high praises, but because his
position in a slave State, and his position in
the democratic party where his influence is yet ex-
ceedingly powerful, added to his own peculiar
traits of determination, perseverance and great
knowledge, place him in an attitude where he is
supposed to CONTROL at least to dictate speedily
the issue of the struggle.
We do not mean to enter into the controversiona |
parts of this subject. We shall only report of cur
rent events. They are obvious on the face of
things, and they are important to be known
and understood, that men may know where |
they are to be in the day of settlement, which |
is crowding forward-the plain terms of which, +
too, laid down by the one side, and that the |
strong one, with so much distinctness.
1t is another singular circumstance, not less sig
nlfcant of the engrossing nature of the impulses
and motives now at work on this subject, that the
two public men of the South, who have been long
es, in the confidence of their party friends and
political adversares of each other, in all points, for
the last twenty-five years-ws mean Henry Clay
and Thomas H. Benton-should now be found to-
gether, and both in hostility 10 the sentiments and
wishes of the South, in which they Were born and
have lived.