The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-17

Il
had promised it for Friday, tthe 9th instl gave mo-
tics on that day that circumstances beyond their
control had compelled them 70 postpone il until
the next Friday the l3thl. The Messenger pro-
nounces it, 10 advance, TO be triumphant vindi-
cation Of himself from the charges made against
him by Col Benton, and " complete exposure OF
the base motives which actlaled Col Benton IN
first deserving and then maligning his own section
Of the Union"
This may be ao--but we had much rather read |
the document for ourselves than trust TO this pre-
lminary flourish of triumph. u has got to be too |
much the habit of the press.to Iak in hypsrbole Of
the efforts OF political leaders, whatever may be
their merits. They are all grand, overwhelming
and conclusive. Mr.. Benton's own speech at JEFF
fefson City is an example, 1t has been extfava-
| ganlly praised as production Of extraordinary
ability and power. The Colonel has that opinion
himself for he said so in his late speech at Boom
vile, where be complacentlY assumed that he had
| finally upset, unanswerably, the dogma" that
/ the Wilmot proviso is unconstitutional, position
which he calledthe unconstitutional dogma"
In fact pursues the orator, +" the unconstitu-
tiOnality Of that dogma is universally admitted.
/ Since Me speech al Jefferson no man Of any mind
or character preiends 10 justify it. The man who
would non deny the constitutional power Of Con-
gress to legslate slavery either into, or out of,
1 Territory, would beiray obbqtity Of mental and
moral Usioh, frcotty Of intellect, and procllUitg
for legal aisehood which should forever disqualify
! him from sitting as judge or juror in any case of
/ law OF equity whatsoever
! This is Col Benton's published estimate of his
own speech, and YET setting aside the pungency Of
the personal controversy, which gives it so much
interest," it is remarkable chiefly and merely for the
zeal and industry, with which it gathers and ar
ranges facts already known, and renews arguments
often made before, and quite as ably It is the i'm
portance Of Mr. Benton's position, the boldness Of
his political aims and the interest of the struggle
into.which he has thrown himself with such fierce
determinaton-not the simple greatness Of his
speech, either in its ideas its facts, which have
given it much prominence. In spite of Mr..
Bentons confident opinion Of its effects, very sin
cere, very able and pure men do continue to think
the Wilmot proviso inconsistent with the principles
Of the constitution.
The proclamation that Mr.. Calhoun's forthcom-
ing address is a triumphant vindicaton Of himself,
and an absolute annhilation Of Mr.. Benton, we
place in the list of Idle vaunts with the Boon
vile boast 1t never had any thing to DO with the
real merits Of the question, even if Mr.. Calhoun
had been all that Mr.. Benton says he has been for
many years-a systematic plolter against the peace
Of the Union, from motives Of revenge and disap-
4 q
inquiries into the rights which it is bound to secure
10 US, have nothing in common with the faults of
political leaders, except to become confused and
perpiexed from the articles Of those who seek to
disconntenance principles by blending them with
the unpopularity Of men. II Mr. Benton could
succeed in making Mr. Calhoun odious, it would
not really advance, by hairs breadth, his propo-
sition that the Wilmot provso is constitutional
not if he could show Mr.. Calhoun himself to be
the original Wmot. ID is one of Mr. BeRtons
| ruling eecentrictiss TO make target 81 Mr.. Cal
houn; and it idle tot say that there is nothing true
in bis charges OF inconsistency on various, and
some very critical questions, and if Mr. Calhoun
attempts the same sort Of defence he will exhibit
great weakness. The manly confession Of error
and frank explanation Of the process of change
in an active and penetrating intellect, is what the
real friends Of Mt. Calhoun expect from him-not
bold, " triumphant assertion Of a consistency
/ which no man of intelligent acquaintance with
i political history will believe. The denial or dis
proof of corrupt motives, or wicked objects, is
easily made, and will be easily credited. 1t re-
quires an intensity Of personal rancor like that
which boils in Benton's bosom, to assign purposes
continually evil for the faults Of political men,
Mr.. Calhoun may not aequt himself Of all the po-
litieal errors contained in Mr. Benton's recital Of
Vic iaula y ms cVuuucbs Dut ne chhs we uOuDJ not
repel with force and power the impuations upon
his integrity.
The Messenger tells us in anticipation, that
there is in Mr.. Calhouns explanation, com
plete exposure" of Mr. Benton's baseaess in the
public course he has lately taken. This looks as
though Mr.. Calhoun had inclination to repay his
Missouri enemy in kind, by attacking his previous
career and assigning sordid motives fof his public
} conduct Il will be a departure from Mr.. Cal
houn's customary selfcommand, which we did not
expect and which, however skilfully done, out Of
the ample materials which a course of thirty years
presents, cannot fail to lessen the estimate held by
men of all shades Of party opinion of the real dig
nifty Of his mind. We do not rank among his pc
culiar admirers, but we shall be disappointed in
him if he commences at this stage Of his life wal
Of personal Tecrimination with Col. Benton
I I'M