Democratic banner., 1851-05-14
Col. Benton's Letter.

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The following is an extract from the letter oil
Col. Benton to his friends of the last Genera
Assembly. After his defeat, the faithful wOr'
shippers got together and offered him ell the con-
ISOLATION left, by assuring him that they had done
all in their power TO secure his election, ant
swearing eternal fealty 10 his cause. He replies
in the usual boastful and egotistical style, prais'
ing his servants and heaping curses upon the
heads of those who oppose his reckless ~free-sOi
course. He says:
"Those who, (calling themselves democratic,
voted the Wing ticket, those who encouraged
that vote without having the nerve to give il
themselves, and those WHO approve that vote
since it was given, all belong to the wing party
and will be found cooperating with that party
in all time to come. Those who condemn thai
vote belong to The democracy, and will return te
it themselves. HeDceforth there will be baI
two parties in the State--the Wing and the
Democrafic."
BY this remark Col. Benton excommunicates
a large majority Of his friends and himself from
the Democratic party. Who but his peculiar
friends secured the election of John G. Miller
end Gilchrist Porter to Congress? Not only
did they encourage their election by words and
conduct, but they actually cast their votes for
them and therefore, according to the doctrine
of Col. Benton, they belong to the Wing party.
Leading and prominent men of lis party have
since boasted that the Democrats we're beaten by
their stratagem and influence, and have not only
approved" the course pursued by them, bat ac-
tually rejoiced that the State had been transfer
red to the Wings.
And sgain, we need but lake This letter in con-
~nection with previous ones Of Col. Benton TO
prove him q member Of the Wing party. Last
spring when a proposition was made for a union
of the Democratic party, Col. Benton addressed
to his friends the celebrated letter in which he
declares she would rather sit in council with the
six thousand dead who died Of cholera in Saint
Louis, than to 20 into convention with such a
gang of scamps." He then encouraged" the
of Wings, declaring 'it would be a tri-
umph over Them "a victory in behalf Of the
Union"
Again he said, "fear Of seeing Wings elected
can have no effect upon me, not even the fear Of
seeing a Wing elected in ny own place" The
here given to his friends was strictly fol-
With Col. Benton and large portion of
his party the election of Wings was "encour-
aged" not only by refusing to support Democrats,
but by openly supporting the most rabid and de-
Wings.
Although he then praised the patriotism Of
The Wing party in every speech, and regarded
success as a "victory fer the Union" aud
even encouraged the election Of one Tin his own
place" yet he now has the efrOntery to denounce
the Wing party, to classify the Democratic party,
snd heap odium upon those Democrats who dis
like his abolition propensities, for dong the very
thing which be advised his own followers to do.
Thus it is that d~emagogues and political wealth.
crooks can involve themselves in absurdity and
when they have no guide but those Of
and revenge.
He prepared the poisoned chalics for the lips
of others, and is enraged that it should be pre-
ferred to his own. Like Haman, in the wicked
ness Of ais heart, he erected the gallows for the
innocent, and is forced to expire upon it himself.
ale made his own bed, there let him lie" "un.
pitied, unsung."