Democratic banner., 1849-11-26

alarm from the very centre-the very Cspl-|
toll Of the State /! and from that moment,
that united and determined opposition which
once marked the councils and opinions Of
M~issourians, constituting their strongest
shield of protection, was dissolved-its NOR
al force destroyed--itS olive branch Of Peace
wiihered and blasted.
When the leading man Of our State for,
twenty.6veyesrs--trusted and rev"Ied with
ell the confidence that . noble sad gsner-
ous people could bestow, suddenly desert his
post-repudistes the cherished doctrines Of
his life, and strikes down the moral barriers
erected for II defence, what better could
we expect? When such a man as Benton
unites the influence of his name and fame
with freesoilism, and record his votes in the
Senate with such notorious abolitionists as
Hale and others to raise the African blood
to social and poLtical equality with us, can
we expect safety to our property, or respect
for our constitutional rights? When our
Captains and Generals turn traitors, can we
hope the enemy will not invade us, and dis
poll our property? No sir! no! Such
hopes would be delusive-vould be vain
and evanescent.
Will any one say that this IS a mere fancy
sketch? Let them turn his eyes TO the
north-what does he see? Instead Of the
vision Benton saw in 1880, and applied to
Webster, he beholds a stern reality in its
stead-not Webster, but Benton himself
figures as its chief. He hehnlds at the head
of every free soil and abolition newspaper.
the name of Thomas H. Benton for Presi.
dent in ls52-upon every abolition and free
soil banner, that NAME is inscribed He
beholds an army with banners-with mot
tos-wIth inscriptions-their skirts red With
the blood Of murdered constisu,inns-vi,h
the grim carnage Of frsternal massacre,
moving on, hymning the praises of their
chieftain to the next Presidency.
Democrats! how is this? How long has
it been since Benton became the f~arorite
can 'idate Of free snilers-of sbnlitionists!
Wake up from your lethargy! Examine
your political chart. and see where you are.
Cen yom--You-Democrats fraterrise with
such as Mese-the blood hounds who ere
hunting you to the death-and TEARING the
vitals of your desrest civil and political
rights? No! never! never! You would
scorn the associstion-you would shndder
az the contaeion of their blightinp touch!
We don't charge that his speech at Mon
ticello was the immediate cause of the diff
entity with our negroes. But we do charge
that his speeches through the State'ahd his
sgitation Of the question have produced It
al. We know, as an illustration. that manv
farmers and others were doing we'll, and felt
perfectly satisfied with their condition, I'M
til the California gold agitation spread a.
mongst us. Then they became dissatisfied
with their tondition-left family. friends and
ell, in the hope of doing'better. Just go,
with the negroes. When Benton came to
the State last spring, al was peace-the
negro was happy and contented with his
Benton made his Jefferson City
sp~eech-passed on. making daily speeches
through the State-the agitation spreading
wider and wider. The negro began to hope
dissatisfied with his cohdition--i
began to plot to change it--and recent
events are only same of the bitter fruits
His speech in Monticello but Matched the
plot. which his agitation speeches elsewhere
The negroes eat il ever open,
and his mind ever crednlous to prospects Of
freedom; and whether present or not, he
learns al that may be uttered on the
Whether Tom Benton is an abolitionists
or not, they at least claim that he is engag-I
ed in their work in Missouri. Whether he
it or not, the effects Of their mis-.
deeds follow him wherever he goes. In
deed, disguise it ss you will, whether he in.
tended It or not. his passage through the