The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-06-20
Col. ISenton's Letter.

There are some politicians who cannot
pursue a consistent course through life, and
who, like the COW which gave the good buck
ct of milk, must find an occasion to kick it
over, and, in the decay of mental and physi-
cal faculties, realize the worst predictions of
their political enemies. MIR. Van Buren, took
the initiative in realsing this fact by springing
followed suit in his letter to the people of
Missouri, advocating the detestable wilmot
proviso, both becoming panders to the tricks
of their political opponents, both used like
the cat to take tho chesnuts out of the fire,
and both finally discarded by all parties. The
Legislature of Missouri directs COL Benton,
her Senator, to vote against the wilmot provi-
SO, and he, who thought life has advocated
and carried out the doctrine to obey instruc-
tons or resign, now appeals to the people of his
state against the instructions of it's represen-
tatives, and endeavors to divide the people Of
Missouri on question pregnant with danger
to their rights, institutions and freedom,-to
become the allies Of old federalists, fanatics
and abolitionsts in their cursade against the
rights and character of the South One of
the objects of Col. Benton is to attack Mr..
CALHOUN in his uniform consistent and direct
course connected with state rights, and the
obvious and clear construction of the Consti
tuition, as to the power Of Congress to inter-
fere and control those rights by sectional Leg
slation. He will fail in this as he has failed
in every thing he has attempted to achieve
through life. With the abilities. copious and
laborious industry, indcfatigable energy and
ndomitable perseverance of Col. Benton
through long political life, it is a remarkable
tact that he never possessed the entire conf
dence of the party he acted with; he never
was popular with the Democracy of any sec.
ton OF the Union excepting in his own state,
and, now finding himself behind the age and
in tho decay of influence in Missouri, he is
making tremendous effort to make Missouri
believe in the very doctrines which he has
assailed for the last thirty years. General
JACKSON used to say that Col. Benton never
recovered from the effects of the BURSTING Of
Stockton's "big. gum on board the Princeton
steamer, near which gunhe was standing at
the time of the accident, and, looking at his
contradictory and most singular adoption of
Old federal principles in his letter, we are
disposed to arrive at the same conclusion
He claims tho wilmot proviso as Democrat.
icmeasure, the Wings laugh in their sleeves
at giving that political character to a meas.
nro which they only have adopted to assaiI
the rights of tho South. Col. Benton and
the Northern states declare that Congress has
right to exclude slavery by law in the ter.
rltorles belonging to the Union. Insisting
upon the possession of right does not estab,
llsh lt'-evcn claiming that right by proce.
dence, does not make any thing in favor of
its justice, the right must bo positive, lepal.
constitutional and admitted; how can that
be SO with the wilmot proviso, when the
South unanimously deny the power of Con.
gress to prohibit slavery, by law in tho terri.
tories! Here, then, is unquestionabIy a doubt.
ful power; why should it be used in lepisa.
ton! Congress is required to pass laws es.
tabllshIng governments in territories. What