The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-24

ering this last harangus OF Mr. Benton as of the
most remarkable productions OF lhls remarkape age. ~
would appear To have with unusual favor IN certain
vcinages, and to have called forth lusly commentator
rom one two editors, who have not been heretofore
classed his admirers. Indeed, he Is said TO have
been actually nominated for the presidency itself IN
several rather obscure abolition neghboIhoods And yet
tor the life OF me, can nothing either in the speech
or the speaker which should provoke such admira-
ton Ii Is evidently long medaied, iabonously pre-
pared, and diligently memorzed discourse, upon certain
national topics of surprising interest; and yet do
feel that observe OF II Justly, and without the small
exaggeraon that It's feeble and confused reasonngs.
It's tawdry grandoquence IN some places its sour
ry in olhers-its awkward and clownish attempts at
sort of Cceronic facetousnesslts anmannerly dogma
sn-its nauseang egonsm-and that internal spirit of
magny which it breathes throughout and which would
have been far better suited to animate the outcres of
some 'gobln dentned devil broke loose from hell
than TO give grace and dignity TO aught OF human mould
and temperament-would be sufficient extnguish the
glory and blast the fame OF the most distinguished
orator that either ancient or modern times have
afforded. | will not weary you by dlating further
upon a theme which could not but prove unsavory
You have heard this man of head and intellect" al
tempt grappe with great questions OF State when he
evidently seemed suppose that hit OF genuine rheori-
cal inspiration mad upon him. and You Will have no
officially in appeciatng the encomums which have been
lavshy bestowed upon the august delverer oil Cal
homn,aS.
Mr. Benton keeps up his pursuit OF the favorite states
man of South Carolina The issues which he makes In
his Jefferson City speech are all made WIN MT Cahoun
His denunciatons all for him. He rldcules him-he
maligns hin--without stint He mentions no
other sgner OF the Southern Address by at all He
sances to be sure furtueiy, and almost if by pure
accident once or twice, those who united with the
draug htsman OF the address in the act OF subscribing
affects to recognise mothers son OF them as mere
oio1ers OF sort OF dolzed political leader His reason
for adopting this parcu ar course obvious enough ne
imagined that there YET lurked in the public mind rem
nant OF that once prevalent prejudice against Mr. Cal
houn the erpounder Of notification; and supposed
winter with the noted measures OF State resistance
adopted by South Carolina few years SINCE his TIL
umph in the contest which he has sought would
be quite easy Besides, he had but little right
Ito expect that Mr. Calhoun would into the
is we'll known very seldom indeed to notice anything
which chances TO fall from Mr. Benton in the Senate,
and to cherish for him only sentiment of mmeasurabe
contempt By cautiously avoiding any special alusion to
other sgners OF the address, he expected to be able
assail them thus indirectly, without aording them pre-
text for retaatng his hostility regret to feel compel
ed to dsappoln this anticipation OF inpunIty Represent
ing, have the honor in part to 40, valiant patrl-
otic and Union loving constituencies constituency who,
upon all questions which involve the honor OF the ma
ton their own domestic security, are united to a.
mana constituency firm, discreet, enlightened; who
.'--Ther duties know
But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintains
pvecsnt the Ion & aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant when they end the chain %
acting by the authority of such constituency in high
place. dare not prove recreant before their enemies or
patiently permit my standing and good faith trusted
funconary to be called in question by any inflated and
uemagOIue that has yet cursed the
republic with his presence.
I respect Mr.. Calhoun very highly, and believe
that few better, purer and more patriotic men
ashamed Ie 10 acknowledge nv R"h reverence for his
mind and character, | not afraid of being regarded
by any who knows me as his obsequious tolt6oer
few days will determine, whether he who has been set
forth leader, may not in spite OF his known aver
controversial strife, and the feeble state OF his
physical health prompted by the peculiar perlls OF the
hour, deep and swelling OF long accommodating
wrongs and this last vandac outrage upon his feelings
and character snatch the sword of vengeance from the
scabbard where ii reposes, and WELD It with giants
strength for the destruction of such monsters have
seldom appeared in the world since the old days OF Myth
] cal renown:
Psrppn Acheronta H,rcueus labor:
ant he shall consider his assaants worthy of death al
his hands. it would ill-become one wholly uncom-
mssoned for the purpose to presume to hit lance IN his
defence. shall confne myself to points which involve
alike honor of all who subscribed the Southern Ad
dress ht the circumstances connected with the
origin OF this muchcensured document They are easily
stalled, and easily comPrehended. Let it be borne in
mind, that when the meeting convention OF the
southern members OF Congress was held in the Capt.
tol last wlnter various aggressoas OF most serious
character had from time time been committed upon
the peculiar institutions of the South graphic denea-
uon OF which will be found in the address itself These
aggressons have been most serious and alarming
as all will admit that the outrages perpetrated within
few years past have been grosser and vital than
any heretofore complained Of and since it is fact, aso
that so early the year 1880. Mr. Benton himself who
has the efrontery declare, his Jefferson City
speech that he has danger to the slave prop
ery of any State in this Union from the action of Con-
gress;' then, nineteen years ago. in his speech on
foots resolutions, averred, with every appearance
OF deheration, that the passage of general emancpa
ton iaw by Congress was not only :" by I'm !
probabe but on the contrary, absolutely certain, the
even 81 the Success Of certain measures then foot"
When we held meeting in the Senate chamber, a
resolution had been introduced in the House of Repre-
sentaves, the object OF which was to repeal all
parts OF acts which recognise the existence of slave
ry, which authorize the selling or disposing of
slaves in the District of Columbia; and almost enough
votes had been cast in support of this resolution to carry
it trumphantly through. AT this PERIOD also, reso-
siructng the Committee Territories forthwith to- report
bills providing for the exclusion of slavery from Califor
MIA aud New Mexico. This had been followed up by a
bill providing for the taking OF the votes OF the
Inhabitants OF the District of Columbia, inciusiue
Of sfaues and free negroes, upon the question whether
slavery should not be abolished therein. reso-
luton had passed the House, by vote of 90. to|
So, directing the Committee the District of Co
\ lumba TO report bill, soon practicable pro.
several questions much exciting debate had occurred and
the language OF eproach and menace had been freely aud
hercely employed by certain abolition members. Vari-
recruits also, had in the progress of these trans
Actions been to take their stand amid the ranks Of
enemies Mr. Benton affects to think that there was
nothing in the least degree alarming in this state Of
things though, repeat he had expressed his fears OF
the passage OF general emancipation law by Congress as
early ls30 yea, had asserted that me passage of such
iaw 'aiost absolutely certain the event OF Ms
success OF measures then foot" We of the meeting
did agree with Mr.. Benton. We saw dangers, in the
most appalling form, about and around us, and that
there was absolute necessity for oskng at TO our
own safety and that of constituents We believed
the Union itself to be in imminent peril and resolved