Democratic banner., 1849-06-11

cAdS W tue OuIO0.- 1ne 0aIIOH was t0fOWDl
into a wonderful excitement. The Texas
question, ike The rod Of Aaron, Swallowed
up every thing else, and editors and politi-I
clans stood in fearful doubt. The Wash
iRg0nl Globe, would blow hot, then cold.
The IntelligehceI was mum. Norman ooad
tell one day what the next would bring
forth. ME- Clay was certain to be the
candidate of the wings, Mr.EVan Buren, Of
the democrats. Neither had expressed his
opinion on annexation. The excitement
still increased, and the people became more
and more interested, until finally letters de-
6ning the position Of these gentlemen, stimuli
%taneously made their appearance-one in
the north and the, other in the south, and
both in opposition to- annexstion. The Bal
timore democratic convention, in accord
ance with what proved to be public senti7
ment, cast aside MIR. Van Buren, and nom
mated Mr.. Polk, who was known to be an
advocate of annexation, as wes his particular
friend and neighbor, Gen. Jackson.
This announcement was the death knell Of
Col. Benton's hopes, and It is s id that when
the news Of Mr.. Folks nomination reached
him. he exclaimed siDouh to God The BALI
more Contention ,cere sank ten Gathoms in
He'll fre!r From that instant to the present
Col Benton has hung like a milestone
around the neck Of the Democratic party.
He took no part in the Presidential election
Of that year, except TO attend conventions
and make speeches in v~indication Of bis
own position on the Texas question! At
the Bonneville Convention, he said nothing
lin favor Of Mr.. Folks election, and at our
Convention near the city of Hannibal, he
was studieusly silent on that subject until
request by Gen. Durkee, Of Lewis county,
Walker Leuthan, Esq, of Palmyra, and
finally a third person who went up 10 the
stand while Mr.. Benton was speaking, and
Offering his hand, exclaimed, 500, Col. BEN
ton tell us something about our candidate
for the Presidency, James K. Polk All
Mr.. Benton pleasantly observered that he
knew little Jimmy when he was . small
boy that one day after he had made .
speech in a law case in favor Of old Mr..
Polk, Jimmy's father, little Jimmy came to
him and told him it vas the BEST speech he
had ever heard in his life.' During the
whole four years Of Mr.. Polk's administIa-
ton, Senator; Benton has done nothing to
identify his name with any Of the numerous
texci,ing questions that have been acted
upon by Congress, except to cast personal
reflections upon Gen. Cass, insult Senator
Butler, snarI at Mr.. Calhoun, frown con.
tempt at Gen. Kesrney, before court martial
lin the Fremont trial, and in trying to PIo-
cure for himself the appointment Of Lieu
tenant General of the Army. Col Benton
stated in his place in the Senate, that Mir.
Polk soften consulted him on matters OF ma.
tionsl policy, which plainly proves that the
President was not lacking in respect or at
tentions 10 him. Yet il is we'll know that
Inc was marked and formal towards the
president, and scarcely spuke at all for
months previous to the close of his term
lof Office. IT'S true Senator Benton voted
lfor the Tariff of 1886, but expressed his
%Idisapproval of the measure at the time. He
opposed our claim to ffty-four forty minutes
lin the Oregon controversy, as set forth in
1.-The. resolutions Of the Baltimore Conven.
ltion of 1914, which was contended for By
the democratic party as . prominent issue
in the canvass Of that year. he was not IN
realty in favor Of Mr.. Clayton's Com
promise, in providing territorial government
for Californis, and voted against the amend
'tmeRt of Senator Walker, Of Wisconsin,
which proposed to organize a government
lfor tue territories without saying anything
IIfor or against sIavery-lsasing that question
Ito be settled by the people residing there
HE voted in favor Of the motion Of the no
Itorious abolition recreant, Hale, Of New
,tHsmphise, proposing TO strike the wore
s.,rh,te' out Of the Oregon territorial bill, 81
las to allow negroes to vote in that territory
lin ali these instances, Col. Benton stood il
to bis party-the good oIdDsmo'
' cratic: party. which hes made him what h
Ills as q public man, and to which he owe
. Ihia all
From the foregoing, it will be seen tina
dlSenafor Benton has evineed aremarkabl'
Sdeclension from his former party associa
lions. Step by step, little BY little, gradu
: ally, cautiously, shrewdly, but certainly
s has he been breaking off from bis forme
friends and political afinitiss, Until atlength
ticking advantage Of what he considers
plausible pretsxt to bolt from the party ant
carry Off Ell be can to bis new allies, b
Q profs sses TO have made the important dis