Democratic banner., 1850-02-11
"UNITED We SrAND-DIv1DED We FALL

partisan "dItdIe " pc LniputCoi W UuI
Ipostion on the question of slavery, it is an
,unmitigated calumny. We are for the Un-
ion, now aud forever-we are for the Union
under the Constitution as it is--and we are
resolved to preserve the Union BY preserv-
ing the Constitution. We have no sympathy
with those who can stand still and see the
Constitution, the bond of our Union, tram.
pied under foot by sectional majority, wishs
out coming to the rescue with all their hearts
and souls-.we know nothing ofthe charac-
ter of the patriotism of those whose remedy
for preserving the Union is to acquiesce in
the violation Of the Constitution"
Our resolutions of instruction, as before
remarked, seem to have been drawn with
the special intention to condemn the Will
mot Provisn, and all measures of q kindred
nature. And the fact that Col: Benton is
opposed to the resolutions, and will not obey
them, as he has himself declared, induces
me to believe that he is really in favor Of
that fanatical and treacherous measure.
But this is not the only thing thst ind duces
me to think 50. His recent speeches and
conduct afford strong corroborstive evil
dence of the same fact. Take, forinstance,
the following: .',
First: He is evidently trying 10 make the
people Of Missouri Indifferent TO its pas
sage, and to have it considered as unimpor-
tant and imperative as possible, by calling
it "goat's wool''-a mere nothing--s non
entity, &C.; whereas, If he intended to OPP
pose it, and its concomltsnts, knowing, as
he does, our State to be against it, be would
seek to exaggeIate rather than diminish IFS
importance, in order to magnify his own
services against it. This is his uniform
character. a
Second: He is evidently trying to gire il
character by come citing the name Of a popu-
lar statesman, whom he processes to admire,
with the "proriso," calling it .he "Jefer-
son prOriso." Now it is little remarka.
bic that man should connect the name of
his best friend whom he iores, with an odi-
Gus measure that he hates andit is contra
ry to human nature te' do SO. He never
called the Bank the Jefferson Bank," (" nor
the tax on.salt the "JefsEsoa4axS1,sQd ie
he was really opposedto he .Proviso," and
intended to vote against It, he would not
take so much pains 10 make it popular by
calling it the "Je fferson Proviso." Besides,
the Free Sellers and Abolitionists have been
in the constant habit of calling il the same
wsy; and it is very extraordinary that he
should make use OF the same terms they do,
to give that measure popularity, when it is
known that no man opposed 70 il has ever
done so. ..,...
Third: He claims full constitutions al pow
er to pass il, and iob0rs TO show numerous
precedents in favor Of its exercise, which
could hardly be tie case If he were oppos-
ed TO it; nor does he say one word against
it in any part of his speeches, although on
that subject, above all others, the people
desired TO hear his opinions. II is not res-
sonsble if q man opposed TO particular
should make many long speeches
in favor of its constitutionaliiy, and yet say
not a word against the measure itself.
Fourth: His particular and intimate.co
fdential friends in St. Louis represent him
as in favor of it, and he has never denied
It. He is hailed % a Free Soiler through
put the North, and he has never corrected
that, though he has been very prompt to
deny other things that were said against
IiuIs Ills iTIenuS anu Ills enemies nave
both represented him as a proU,soist, and he
Ias not dared to deny it. Now his under
aking to set himself right by denying 9TH
er charges made against him, and then fail
ng to deny this, when his attention was
'pscially called to it, is, TO all intents and
purposes, equivalent to a confession.
Fifth: He says, in his Jefferson City
'peech, that It would be un,oise to oppose
he passage of the '.prou,sO," and pre-
'ume it will not be pretended that he in
ends to. do what he himself considers an
ln,Uise act"
Sixth: He says, in his Boonville speech,
hat if the prouisO should be passed by Con-
yress, it will be ''no wrong" Now right
md urong are correlative terms, and if it
De not wrong, II must be right; and surely
lie cannot design opposing what he thinks
s right. And even if he should do so, con-
rary to the expectation of his friends, af-
er what is past, he could not undo the great
mischief he has done, nor satisfy the public
70 as to regain lost confidence.
Seventh: He says, in his Jefferson City
peech, that if any person wishes to know {
Iis principles about The extension Of sla-
,erY west, he mar see them in bis proposal