Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-11-01
THE BENTON WAR.


growing less exciting, rather seems to
incIea in warmth and vitupera,ion.
Since the publication of his famous
appeal. Col. Benton has evinced rather
more than his usual energy and indom.
liable perseverance. His appointments,
as far as made public, end on the fifth
instant, at Jackson, Cape Girardeau
county. From 81. Louis TO ST. Joseph,
he has spoken at almost every town;
and frequently at points some distance
from The river. Then he takes tour
10 the southwest, speaking at every
county town. Then up the Missssip
pi as high as Clark coun ty, and down
the same TO Cape Girardeau, in the
southeast, where, we suppose, he will
end the canvass. In addition TO the
labor of travelling and speaking, he has
written out several of his speeches for
the press. kept up as we learn, a heavy
correspondence with his friends in the
State. and in other States and, his
enemies say, furnished editorials for the
different papers in his interest in the
State. (This we doubt-for the pa
pers that favor him are conducted with
less ability and zeal than those that OPP
pose him, which certainly would not
be the case, had he turned editor.) For
man Of his age, all will ackno Wedge
that this has been a herculean task-if
not for a man of any age. Our candi.
dates for Governor. in stumping the
state, usually break themselves down,
ere the job is completed, and they are
generally used TO on, door speaking, and
the fa,igues of travelling. Yet Col.
Benton is apparently as vigorous and
fresh, as when he made his first speech.
His opponents, meanwhile, have not
been idle. Atchison. Green, Jameson,
Birch, Napton. and mos, Of the Circuit
Judges, two-lhirds Of the members of
the last Legislature, and host of others.
have all been sashing away, as if their
lives depended upon the result-which
is literally true, in a political sense.
Many Locofocos in the State have long
cherished a secre, hatred to Benton
personally; and they have embraced the
present as an oppor,une time to give
vent TO their long pen,up wrath
Others desire his place, and hence their
zeal. Others, again, want new lea.
der, in order to make new channel, n
which to reach The object of their hopes
any office of profit. All these inter-
esls combining to dethrone an old lead.
er, who loves power, has produced a
feud, which, for bitterness. blackguard-
ism. and low, personal scurrilily, is
without parallel in the annals of polit.
ical warfare. So far as principle is
concerned, the leaders of either side
care not one jot: their efforts are purely
selfish, and are only put forth to crafty
malicious feelings, maintain their pre-
sent positions, or 10 secure more lucra.
tive ones. Ia such contest, il is no.
wise astonishing that even the family
circle has been invaded, or the reputa
ton of ladies asPersed. Such charac
ters are not moved by any oflhe emo
bling or elevated feelings Of man, bu
vul'ure-like, ever wallowing in filth
would debase every ono else TO lhei
own degraded level.
Is the country to be benefited by all
this hue and cryl So far as any rea
benefits are to accrue, il matters bu
little whether Benton is put down OIL
sustained. If sustained, it will be of nc
benefit TO the State at large; it will pro-
fit his immediate misunderstanding
more. lie has ruled this State twenty.
five years, and she is just about that far
behind her sister states, although pos
sessing natural advantages superior to
many of them. If put down, what
better, is to be hopedl The contest is
no, about any matter of state policy
Nothing is even promised by the oppo'
sing party-they are not waging war
against The heretofore do nothing poll
cy, that change may be effected, by
which the interests of the State will be
advanced--by which railroads will be
built, turnpikes constructed, rivers rem
dered navigable: nothing of the kind
They simply want Office, for the bene'
fits of office.