Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1850-01-14

vision in the party, unless the supporters of Mr..
Benton agree to giue him up for the sake of peace
and harmony and such consideration ought and
will induce them to give him up, unless they
love him more than they love the Democratic
party. Much as they love him, they would lose
nothing by giving him up for the good of the
party they would get just as sound Democrat
in his place---and having served thirty years, he
might give place to some orc else, al least for
season. Those who support Mr.. Benton, can
not for moment, pretend that his opponents
have varied hairs breadth from the old Demo-
cratic paths. In standing with them then, they
would make no sacrifice ofany political principle.
In regard to the opponents of Mr.. Benton, the
case is widely different. They never can, and
never viii support him, let the consequences be
,rhat they may and for their justification in COM
ing to this determination, we offer the following
facts for the consideration Of all impartial and
reAecting men:
I. Their opposition to Mr.. Benton, in the first
place, was not personal, but political. They be.
lieved he was attempting to betray his party for
selfish purposes, in imitation of his friend, Mar
tin Van Buren,. This appeared by his refusal TO
obey the instructions Of his Legislature and his
appeal to the ,rhOle people, including, Of course,
the WHIes, who had never helped to elect him.
II. His appeal is a denial of the doctrine Of
the right Of instruction, and his opponents hold
that no sound Democrat can sustain any man
who denies this fundamental article of his coun-
ltry's creed. Every man admits, that if Senator
Atchison had appealed from the instructions and
refused to obey them, he would have been indig-
nantly spurned by the Democratic party Of Mis-
souri,. Why does Mr.. Benton deserve better
treatment?
Ill. Before Mr.. Benton returned to Missouri
last spring, an address was published at st. Lcuis
to the Democracy Of Missouri, and signed by a
little squad of Van Buren Rarnburners, in which
they stated that Mr.. Benton agreed with them
upon the Freesoil question. At this, the Dem
ocracy of the State were indignant, regarding
the publication as outrageous and unauthorized;
and hence, they expected, that when Mr.. Benton
reached the State, he would explicitly and fatty
stead Of doing SO, in the most insulting manner,
he refused TO answer plain and civil questions
asked by his constituents, as TO how he would
vote upon the Wilmot proviso. Thus, by his
conduct, he furnished the strongest presumptive
evidence, that he was in favor of a doctrine,
against which the Democratic party protested,
almost without exception, until Mr.. Benton pub
lished his appeal.
w. The resolutions of the Legislature on
the subject of slavery, were passed with aston
ishing unanimity by Democratic members; their
passage was urged by Austin A. King, Demo-
cratic Governor, who approved and signed them;
they were published and endorsed as sound and
proper, by every Democratic paper in the State
that said anything about them; they were well
received by the Democracy, North, South, East
and West; not a whisper of dissatisfaction was
heard; not single lurking suspicion lay con-
cealed in the breast of any one; nay, no one had
cren dreamed that the dreadful bug bears of dis
union and notification were contained in the
resolutions, until after Mr.. Benton's appeal.---
Until then, no one had mind to comprehend, or
eyes to see, what Mr.. Benton pretended he could
see and understand---and this, with characteris-
tic modesty, he stated in his appeal. We chal-
lenge the production of a single line in any Dem
ocratic paper, in opposition to the resolutions,
any time before the date of the appeal! Shall
the Democratic party throw away its principles,
like snake hrows off its skin, to enable it to
keep with the progress Of Van Buren and Bentonp
V. Apart from his political apostacy, the op-
ponents Of Mr.. Benton never will, and never
can sustain him; whatever others may think or
say, they know that he is reckless, dishonest,
and unscrurulous they know that he is wick-
I'd, deliberate and pill liar, in charging and ar
lraigning them before The public, in his speeches
and letters, as conspirators -plotters-n nullifers
I-disunionists and caitiff knaves. Can any one
suppose for moment, that they can ever so far
lose their self-respec: as to countenance or sup
port man so utterly corrupt---so destitute Of
every manly and honorable attributep
vi. We have shown that the Benton men can
cire him up without apy sacrifice of principIe.-