Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-12-15
COL. BENTON AND THE sovEREIGNs.

q Ii
An incident is set forth in the Cape Gira ardeau
Standard, which showst the character of the con-
test going on between Col Benton, and the Marty
The questions proposed to Col. were by demo.
crais.
AT l O'Clock Col. Fenton commenced to sneak
from the steps at the end of the Courr House
Just rs he took his sand, and before commencing
10 speak, WeIton O'Tannon, Esq., one OF the most
respectable citizens pf this county, presented him
The following paper:
Col. Benton-W,, the undersigned. Il portion of
your constituents, 10 respectfully request that. in
your speech of ttday, you will give direct and
positive answers the following interrogatories :
lst. VIII YOU 'ote for law of Congress ex-
tending the lins of tile Missouri Compromise
through the territory recently acquired from Mex
leo west of thePacfic Ocean-admting that Dor.
ton of 1t souu 30 degree 30 minutes slave
State. or Stale or States, into the Union
I'd. Are va or not in favor of the right of the
Legislatures IF the States to instruct their Sena-
tors in Congpss, and of their duty to obey the in
structions
Col. Bentn refused to receive the paper with
contemptuels shake of the head, rema rking that
he wc1ld got be interrupted that he could hand
it to him then he was through.
The StndGrd chronicles. however. some of his
sayings Cape Girardeau. after he had made the
private cnversation. in the case fudge ATcHTsoN
1t may d be out Of order to copy them. The lan.
guage ESQ like BENTON that it cannot be mis-
taken.
SPcaIng of the paper that was handed him be-
fore iacommenced speaking, he said he had been
Inieruted In that way before, and once DIR. Han
cock.Vho handed him paper with questions for
him answer When DR.. Ii. handed il to him.
IS I'd him. said he, sto read it. and bo stood
cd
word repeat his lesson. When he finished told
hip 10 read the names signed to it. He read
thtn over but did not give his. / knew him |
krw his name but said TO him who are Won
81 ana he SAID. "my name is John Hancock
lYas determined to make him stand I'D there and
81 me bis name like niger. At Jackson thew
en-, O'Bannon to me with paper, and told him
p hold 1t till got through, and he obeved me he
held 1t three hours and five minutes. and was so
badly scared that he forgot to give it TO me when
was through. He held il tight with both hands
Just like id nigger.''
In speaking of the opposition TO him, he said
that the nuIlfiers, he stgmatizes his opponents
were boder here than in other parts of the State:
and ne then named and abused several Of the old
citizens, among whom were Capt. Byrd, Frank.
J. Allen, and Gen. English. OF Mr.. Allen, he
said; - ''lhed-d rotten, when was here before
he was so CAD TO see me he got drunk but now
he won't spak to me- | made him got him a
fine Office, and made him all he s.''
He vas 4'ery severe on Gen. English ho de.
uounced hin as the 'roitenest Of all rottens." To
give his exact Ianguage:
Tom English wants Benton seat in the Senate.
Now, he wclld look well in it men would come
into the SerAte and pointing to he seat, would ex-
claim. ''wht thing is that in Benton's seat
When kilihim next dog-dayS, won't leave so
much as ggeaSe spot; there won't be any thing
left but lille acet place.
No furtha notice was taken of the interroga-
tories.