Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-08
RICH MOND, VA.
Thursday Morning, June I, Is4s.

cord the apostacy of so distinguished citixel
rs the senator from Missouri, the Hon. Thoma
81. Benton. But, when the occasion does arise
the editor would be recreant to the high trus
which be has voluntarily assumed, should h
hesitate for an instant in the performance o
his obligations to the public.
COL Benton has for many years Represented
the State of Missouri in the U. S. Senate, iodee'
ever since the admission Of that great Stat
into the contederacy. His career there ma
been high and commanding, if not brilliant ant
great. He has for many years ranked amongs
the FIRST men in that august body, and wa
looked to by the Democracy of the nation az
champion to whose industry and capacity tn,
great principles of our faith might be safel!
entrusted. His original capacity is good, BIZ
ability for labor and application unsurpassed
Flooding in his nature, determined in his pur
poses, pertinacious in his pursuits, democratic
10 his principles aud associations, ambitious il
his aims, he could not fail TO reach an elevation
seldom attained, even by the most gifted son:
OF America.
Randolph, Macon, Lowndss, and the dis.
tiDguished men of that most distinguished Pc
riod, were the exemplars Of his early career
Buchanan. Woodbury., fancy and Tasewell,
were tho associates of bis msturer manhood.
He has fingered upon the stage, whilst his
compeers have nearly all passed away; and this
circumstance has greatly contributed to his con
spicuousness; albeit, it may prove in the end
the snare to his feet, which will assuredly cause
his overthrow. Colonel Benton was valuable,
because he was generally accurate; no was va.
lued, because he was indefatigable; he was
houored, because be was Jealous in sustaining
the great principles Of the Democratic party
He is an off.shoot from Democracy-tis verdure
and his strength are derived from that sustaining
root. Severed from that trunk, and few re-
voying months will see him dead and wither-
ed branch, useless for all valuable purposes,
and even impotent for mischief.
General Jackson is reported to have said that
Col Benton never recovered his mind proper.
ly, after being stunned BY the bursting of the big
gun on board the Princeton steam ship of-war
Many, since Ina, dreadful occurrence, have en-
tertainad the same opinion. Colonel Benton is
ambitious, but his ambition itself is erratic and
No mans chances were 80
good for the Presidency as bis, but by mon
strous blunder he sacrificed them forever, with
his uncalled for, unwise and unstatesmanlike
"Texas letter." He is bold and independent,
but there is in his course trucking subser.
v!ency, fawning sycophancy towards the willy
political grimalkin" of New York, which
richly merits, what it is abuudantly receiving,
the scorn and contempt OF the party which have
made and have honored him.
The misguided and even criminal z:al of an
adversary, we may sincerely pity and depiore,
whilst We find it imperatively necessary TO pun
ish. General Washington is said TO have wept,
while he signed The death warrant OF Major
Andre. But the deliberate .reachery OF ono who
has been honored and confded in, wins for the
traitor as large an amount Of contempt and ba-
tired from those who profit by the treason, as it
does Of loathins and scorn from those who are
betrayed. Benedict Arnold was lot more hate
full in America than he was contemplate
ami condemned in England. The Communication
which The treason of Judas Iscariot attached 10
his "thirly pieces OF silver" was so great, that
even the rapaci,y of Jewish usurer, refused TO
handle the "uncean thing" Whether Colonel
Benton stands in the attitude Of The guilty zealot
or the deliberate traitor, the South will scarcely
hesitate to condemn him.
Col. Benton was for many years, Democrat
OF "the most sric, sect" his chart the conslitu.
ton, his creed drawn from the school OF Jeter.
son. Let US for a moment see how Tar his re-
cent positions can be reconciled with his former
professionalism far his present opinions are
war with the doctrines Of the Jefersonian Repub
lcan, the Democratic belief.
Il has been quite manifest, for a long time
that Col. Benton vas shaping his course in sucf
a way as 10 forsake his former party connection:
and 90 over TO our opponents. The strenuous
efforts made by Mr. Polk to coaciiale him, only
served to initiate TO still higher degree his already
insuferable vanity and seli.conceis. An opporlu'
nity, prelext, was all Col. Benton waited for, tc
abandon his standard. That pretext has been
afforded him, and now, be is doing service TO
his former enemies-not only against bis friends
but against his country, which has upheld ano
sustained, and made him what be IS. but Il
the comparison Of his former and present opn
ions.
The Senator from Missouri professed 10 be
Republican, Jefersonian Republican, Dem
ocra,. Believing him sincere in these profes
sions, the Democratic party has trusted, con6de'
il, honored him. Every man knows, that III
first great fundamental principle Of Democrat
is strict construction OF the Constitution OF IN
United States. The powers therein expresse
are powers which Congress may exercise. Blu
such powers as are not expressly granted, or ne
cessariy result from those which are express
granted, the Congress oil the United States ha
no power or authority to exercise in any shap
whatever, or upon any preleIt. This is In
doctrine, these are the sentiments and principle
heretofore entertained, but now abandoned b
Col. Benton.
This gentleman has run up the banner Q
Wilmot Provisoism. He now claims for Con
gress the right land also the expedience
its exercise) to control, by acts of tina. body
the entire question and subject of SLAYER
throughout all the territories of the Unite
States. Yet there is not one syllable in tn
Constitution giving to Congress any such power
II is arrived at, then, by implication but Co
Benton has been. warning against implica,io
all his life. Admit the right of Congress
use a power by implication in one instance, an
they have, by that admission, the right to use
in every instance whatever, where they in the
discretion may think it necessary. Such are M
Clay's and Mr.. Webster's opinions; it is fror
this source that they derive the power to estat
lish tariff for protection and the United State
Bank. and these are now Mr.. Benton's opinion