Democratic banner., 1849-07-30

uONCONJ vi INA ISSS
have long stood. Consequently when { saw
a notice of the "appeal," I did not fall to
cursing and denouncing him for those iden-
teal acts of former years, for which / had
Ilauded and praised him, but pronounced him
wrong in his ~'appeal," and expressed my
sincere regret at his course in the follow
ing extract of a letter which I addressed to
the editor of the Metropolitan, and which
appeared in that paper Of the 10th July:
My good old Friend: I am glad to see
you so bold and fearless in defence of the
action of the last Legislature. Ihave long
been a warm and incorporating friend of
Col. Benton's ready to stand by him when
others forsook him, and even ~excusing his
.follies heretofore, when his conduct was
more or less reprehensibls as a man identi-
fled with the principles Of the democratic
party. When individuals denounced him
in IA, l exposed myself to their sharp shafts
by supporting his course.-Consequently !
was forced to read his late speech with
shame and confusion, because to renounce
my former position and the acknowledged
position Of the democratic party, Il could
not. suppose there is no man in the State
who more sincerely regrets the late action
of Col. Benton than myself. look upon
him as a man possessing all the elemenents
of usefulness TO our State and the Union at
large-am man of great intellect, and decided
abilities IS a statesman and one who, with
a continued attachment to the great prin-
ciples of our party, would have easily Sc
cured the most elevated point ofhuman am.
bition, and left behind him a name as dear
to every democrat as that of TIE Sage Of
Monticello or the Statesman Of the Hermit
tage.
What Col. Benton can mean by traducing
the Legislature as he does, | cannot imag-
inc. That he seriously believes any man
in the Legislature had any designs upon the
Union of our States, ! cannot for a moment
believe. lean only say that l supported
the Resolutions, and supported them cor
daily and if this day called upon to cast a
vote once more upon that question, should
do as 1 have done,-trusting with a firm re-
lance upon the good sense and intelligence
of the people. and regardless of the anath-
of any man.
am the last man to desire a dissolution
of the Union, and such a thought never en-
tered my brain at the time of the passage Of
the resolutions. Indeed there is no ques-
ton of present political agitation which, in
my mind, is Of sufficient importance to in
duce in its settlement a desire for such seri-
Gus consequences. But I am yet to be CON-
WINGED that a fair and honest expression of
opinion, either by the people in primary
meetings or by their representativesin Con-
eral Assembly, upon questions affecting
their interests and having a direct bearing
their institutions, should be treated in the
light of an attack upon the Constitution Of
the country and the Union Of the States
Col. Benton is of course entitled to his views
upon this as upon all questions; but | sim
cerely regret that he should have yielded so
much to an ung%cvernable passion and blind
ed excited feeling, as to charge upon the
whole Legislature an objectionable igno-
rance or a settled design to commit an act
of treason against the country.
With the warmest feelings of respect, Il
your friend.
In the above letter I stated that Mr.. Ben
ton is entitled to his views upon this sub
ject as upon all others, and not only has he
a right to entertain them, but an u%ndoubted
right to express them; but at the same time
every freeman has Alright to confide in them
or not, as he may choose.
For instance l should suppose that no
sane man can for a moment honestly enter
tain the belief that John C. Calhoun was the
originator of the Resolutions in question,
or that the same mad spiri. of fanaticism
and hostility to the Union, which has at
actuated his course, had infused itself
into the bosoms of the members of the last
Calhoun surely had but few
political friends in that body; Benton had
many; but no spirit of personal enmity a.
gainst any man, or opposition to his former
political course, should be permitted to-
drive us from the support Of a good mea-
sure, which he might happen to advocate.
Nor, on the other hand, should a feeling Of
personal friendship for any mortal, a pro-
admiration of past deeds and a sim
cere respect for his knowledge and ability,
induce us to swerve from a settled princi-
pie, or the advocacy of that which we be-
to be identified with the happiness and