The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-16

From The q Louis In,sIlissneer,
GENERAL CAss AND COLONEL BEsTos--THE CON-
more striking contrast has rarely il been
presented than is exhibited in the course OF these two
eminent statesmen on the great questions which for two
years have agiaed the country and 10 serious extent
General Cass senator from free State, where all
the preudices OF the people against slavery, and
where the public sentiment has for years set powerfully
wherever has been claimed that Congress has power
abolish IT, and in favor of the prohibition of slavery by
act Of Congress from any Territory where il does not
Colonel Benton is senator from slave State, where
large portion, perhaps majority, of the people believe
that Congress has no right sgsaie on the subject OF
slavery, to abolish il or exclude il from any Territory
district whatever, and where, granting difference OF
opinion this point the public sentiment is unanimous,
strong overwhelming against the exercise Of the power
Reasoning from probabilities and most obvious propen.
sites. would say At once that Col Benton would be
the stand by the rights and sympathze with the
feelings Of his own constituents men who for thry
years. had honored him with their confidence their sup
port and their highest honorsand that he would by all
his ability, eoquence. and influence try TO stay the in
vading pillows Of abolitionism and free solsm which
were beating heavily against southern institutions, and
threatening By nundation to destroy and exngush them
the coruptve influence OF Office seeking would have
supposed that Gen Cass would have yielded TO the strong
bias OF northern prejudice and to save himself and make
strong his political position at home that he would have
consented to the policy by which the free soil spirit
sought 10 hem IN and ultimately weaken and despo the
South E
The remarkable facts have. however. been observed
that the OF the two has been exactly the
verse Of what public judgment would have predicted
General cas:s constituents: speaking through the lsEs
against southern prde rights, and equality by voting for
the Wilmot Proyiso General Cass refused 10 obey He
directed the minds Of the people Of his State the njus.
ce and the danger OF such course He pleaded for the
rights and feelings Of the South He revived the aernal
spirit which should animate all parts Of the Union
The he 9s Of biz let
duty and they repealed the dangerous instructions and
rallied with their noble senator for the Compromise and
for the Union.
Bat what has been the course OF Colonel Benton the
representative of slave State Has he stood up open
ly and manfuly for southern rights Has he rebuked
nsCent and arrogant anacsm q The North Has
the Compromise Has he been found associated with
the eminent statesmen Of the South in their patriotic eff
forts not to secede nuly, but to vndcate southern
rights, and establish them upon just and firm basis
The contrary Of all this has been true. He has been
silent when i was bic duty, to speak he has affiliated
with abolitiOnsts and free s0iers in their efforts TO
barrass and distract the South; he has grown marvel
lously into favor with those who speak and write slight
ingy not 70 say scornfuly Of southern institutions and
In this course he dealt fatal blows to the moral power
Of the South. which the South alone derive from
concert OF action and sympathy Of feeling and at the
purposes Of fanatcal soer and abolition.
list in the North For conclusive proof Of this, have
only TO point 10 the numerous nominations which prints
OF this type have given Benton for the presidency.
Gen Cass battled for the South--or rather for the
Union, by preserving the rights Of the South Col Ben
ton deserted the South. distracted southern counses rd
culed southern measures aided and abeed northern
tonal fanatics and strengthened. enthousandfod, the
e-solers OF the North.
What contrast Cass, the patriot, overcoming by
his proud independence the fanatical spirit OF his own
people, and bending them to the support Of the Union
Benton, creating dstrust in the South, and chilling the
hearts Of his own people by his dubious course and feed
ing the fires of northern anacsm that they might u
maiey fame up and destroy his State and his own
constituents Let Cass and Benton be named now for
the presidency, what would the verdict of the people
be!