Democratic banner., 1851-01-13
Cool Impudeucs.

Ss0NS oAo W SAS ~
that when Col. Benton made his appeal from the
resolutions of the last Legislature, and commenc-
cd canvassing the State in support Of the strange
position which he had ASSUMED, much i'll feeling
grew up, and events began to indicate the bitter
contest which followed, and finally ~alisnatcd the
party. This thing was foreseen BY all. and many
of the prominent members Of the Democratic
party, unwilling to see its prostratiOn and the
success of Wing principles. in the State, began to
cast around to discover some course Of policy BY
which so disastrous a state Of affairs might be
avsrted, andthe supremacy Of conservative views
still be maintained. They made use Of every
honorable exertiOn 10 prev4t t the brewing di.
vision in their ranks. They saw the evil ten
denny of Col. Benton's views, and the obstinate
determination of his followers 10 recognise no
principle Of faith, but such as might be dictated
by his ambition and impetuous wrath. 1t was
easy to see that such a spirit of man-worship,
could be productive Of no other result than the
complete overthrow Of the party. It was per-
fectly obvious to every rejecting mar, that the
principles Of Col. Benton were not only clearly
at variance with the old landmarks of the party,
but we'll calculated, if pursued, to subvert the
of the Government, and ultimately
LEAD to a crisis extremely dangerous to the peace
and prosperity Of the country. They believed
that the friends of Mr.. Benton were deceived,
as to his designs, and retained their affection for
him, more from an admiration of his former po-
litical career, than from a desire to embrace the
dangerous doctrines he was then attempting to
At least, they were DESTROYS to meet
brethren in council, so that the principles
Of the party might be called to remembrance, and
receive the sanction OF re-assertion. BY this
means q platform might have been laid down
upon which all could have rallied, regardless Of
The hsresies or bigOted views of any enc man.
In short, it was proposed to the Benton party, As
it was styled, that the whole party should meet
in a general convention, and snce more rally un-
the old motto Of "Measures, not Men," Ii
also proposed that, forgetful of minor differ
ences, they meet together as usual in district and
county conventions, for the nomination Of can
to be run at the last election. When this
proposition reached the ears of Col. Benton, he
the famous letter to John Smith, which
will long be recollected by the Democracy of this
He repudiatsd all connection with any
but his professed followers and serfs, and de-
his willingness 'rathsr to sit in council
with the six thousand dead who died of cholera
in St. Louis, than to sit in council with such a.
gang Of sedmps." He ordered his friends TO-
nave nothing 10 do with them-to drive them to
own tickets-io run a ticket of their own,
and defeat them if possible. That "the election
Of wings would be a triumph" and that "he and
could never be pure until they could get
clear Of them.
Thus all efforts al reconciliation were defeated.
was out Of the question. His,
followed his advice, refused to council
their brethren, and actually united with the
in order to defeat every candidate who
not an avowed and open supporter of Col.
and all his ally notions. Thus was the
party overthrOwn, and thus upon his shoulders
rest the responsibility Of the act, whatever
/ may be.
The election has passed, and the members re-
urned to the Legislature have met at jefferson
City. The remembrance Of tina. election will
Ong be retained BY those who are Democrats from
The motto Of Benton was "rule or
and before the combined efforts of him and
he Wings, whose fortunes he had embraced
merely for assistance in his dying struggle, the
men were defeated, and Missouri almost
'svOlutiOnized in her political principles. The
Of that election is known. A large ma
GRITTY ofthe Democratic party repudiated Benton
md his ~insOlent appeal. The popular vote of
he State is recorded against him and his friends,
Though from the small counties they have sent
Up Benton men, and Senators holding ever re-
use to obey the instructions given them at the
POLLS BY their constituents, by which means they
lays a few more members than the Dsmocratic
,arty. And after all this, let US see what is the
thing done after meeting at Jefferson.
Col. Benton's friends meet in caucus and send
impudent and insulting inquiry to the Demo-
members, wishing to know if they will
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