Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-06
Defeat Ct Col. Benton.

Defeat Ct Col. Benton.
The defeat of this distinguished statesman,
We are disposed rather TO regard as an inevita-
bic result of the practical working of the true
principles of our government, than 10 an oppo-
sition prompted by personal party mailgnlty,
according to the opinions of some OF our po-
iitical brethren of the press. That Mr.. Ben
ton is one OF the strong men of the agc-dls-
,nguished for profound and extensive erudl-
ton, vast political experience, indomitabe IN
duslry and uu,irng zeal, few will deny-that
he has done good service for the cause of dem
ocracy is also true-that he was entitled to an
election after having received the caucus nom
;naton of a majority of the democratic party,
the policy of party organization unequivocally
Observation-Disclosures all which, we look
upon his defeat as demonstratiye of and in per-
feet accordance with the fundamental prlncl-
pies upon which our government was estab-
lished-principle which have been Incorporate
ed into the democratic creed, and which distin-
guishes in marked degree, our government
from the governments of the old world.
No rule of government, however monarchi-
cal or absolute, but is subject to limitations or
infractions. Take the condition of Great Rri-
tain in 1888, and see what strict construction
lists the supporters of the crown were,-con-
tending for the full exercise of the implied
powers of the Executive, and the most liberal
construction of the ancient constitution, and
denying the right ofthe people TO change their
rulers under any circumstances. This was
the rnle of government, and so tenacious were
the people to preserve it, that rcrosWionistS
.prang up and contended that the assumptions
of the executive were so far intractlons of the
constitution that there was but one alternative
to set aside the reigning family and substi-
tute another. \ limit was set TO the Royal
prerogative, and the people, in thus exercising
the right of revolution, advanced another step,
and acknowledged the right et changing their
rulers. The revolution was justified by the
wings of those times on the ground that they
had not made revolution, but had resisted
ne,-in that they had prevented the executive
from disturbing the constitution by the undue
exercise of his prerogatiyes. Here we recog-
nize the first manifestation Of that principle
the right of the people to change their rulers
which became one of the pillars of the
American Republic. The revolution of the
American colonies was precisely the same in
principle, as that of the English revolution of
l6SS-the colonies did not make a revolution,
they resisted one. The acts Of King George,
in exceeding his royal Prerogative by impos-
ing unjust taxes, against law, created a change
of rulers, that has resulted in important adj
vances in constitutional government.
Yet it was some time before the English
system-whch distrusted the ability of the
people to govern themselves was entirely re-
pudiated. A strong party was found here,
contending for strong overnments-endeavor-
inc to concentrate in the executive many pow
ers which it was supposed unsafe to trust to
the people-and up to this day, the same
principle has been struggling for loothold in
our government. Powers, not conferred in
the Constitution, have attempted TO be nsurped
and private ends soughtto be promoted by leg
islation at the expense of the public.
The attempt to centralize power in any set
of men, much more any one individual, has
ever been repudatcd by the American people
as antagouistcal to their principles, ard sub
f. yersiye of their rights. Now how is it with
. Col. Benton Ever since the admission of
the State of Missouri into the Union, has Col
b. represented the State in the United States
Senate The influence that he must necessa-
rly have swayed during this long period of
/. time-not only in his own State, but in our ma
tional councils, we consider as antagonlstcal to
the principle above referred to, and calculated
to invest him with power as dangerous as 1t
is great. Not only this, but in another view,
on the principal of rotation in cfce-whlch
has heretofore been held as cardinal princI-
of democracy-he should bow in submission 10
the will of his constituents.
Power, exercised for any considerable perl
cd, exerts pernicious INFLUENCE upon the hu-
man mind 1t weakens the obligations that
should exist between the recipient OF honors
and those who confer them upon him. And
this we should Judge to be the case, to
great degree, with Col. Benton. The Sena-
turial honors have been long enjoyed by
him, that he seems to think he has prescrip-
tive right to them for life.
While we respect Col. Benton for his ear
" efforts in behalf of democracy, we have
seen much Of late years in him to condemn
Had he retired from active, political life some
ten years ago, he might now be in the enjoy
Inent of more enviable fame.
Da1i