Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-28
A NEW POLITICAL HISTORY FORTHCOMING.


T. FROM TEE JOURNAL COMMENCE
We learn from Washington that Col. BENTON
who is now in that city, is engaged in the prepare
.lon OF history of the working of the Government
from the day he took his seat in the United State
Senate to the 4th of March last, period of thirty
one consecutive years, during which he was
member of that body Into that history be will doubtless in
corporate sundy extracts from his speeches. of which
have been marked with extraordinary ability and research
The period alluded to has been full Of exciting and mpor
tan' events both in and out Of Congress and if an i'm
partial history be furnished Of the working Of our Govern
ment during that interval it will be Invaluable not only e
the present generation, but to poey. Whether COL Ben
ton Is able so to dvest himself Of his strong attach
ments and preudces wte impartial history of events
10 which ne was himself prominent actor we win no. un-
derake TO decide That he aims to be impartial we do NOT
DOUBT but It requires mighty effort overcome the tsnden-
ces Of ms nature In other respects few mon are better
qualhed to 90 jrstce to the subject He is dictionary
Oh ae's MS memory Is an ineIhaustble store-house
and there are within bis reach an abundance Of iusra
1--WE papers and documents public and private II is known
70 many that Colonel Benton has long contemplated this
inside history Of the workings Of our Government and a.
hes he had intended to leave it for publication after his
decease bat being out of the public service he will nh
lsn It soon correspondent Washington, Who We pre
sume has some knowledge Of the character Of the work saws
predict for It an extraordinary rum an extraordinary abuse
rom those who have unusy had credit with the party for
more Jacksonian Democracy than the history will be likely to
allow, and an extraordinary defence from its author"
Speaking Of the same forthcoming work. the
+" North American Al Ir-'-~. -,.-Ss 9 e1o's0 'sa'
the following remarks:
"Ths distinguished ex-senator Cool BrSros) is about
undertake literary labor worthy Of his remarkable career
and equal the scholarship and ability with which his pub
lie life has been snguary illustrated As the sivngs out of
says upon satisfactory information, that Mr. BENTON has
tered into arrangement with house Of standing in Bos
for the publication Of his forthcoming work is in
tended embrace all his important speeches during period
of thirty years back and of his writings Of earlier date,
with connecting contemporaneous history Of the times and
more particularly of the Administrations which succeeded each
other during the last third of century.
"Few of public better fitted for this laborious
and important undertaking than he who has engaged to de-
bis time and talents to it. Mr. Bentons mind 10 anay
teal and therefore, fortunately well adapted to this pacu
lar sort Of labor; SINCE amidst the Of confused and
dundant material before him, will become necessary, in
order to render bis book valuable, select that which will
readily engage public attention. and at the time
furnish useful instruction The toll which would dshearen
ordinary men will be him pleasure and pastme, not only
for the personal pride which is necessarily attached any
thing connected with personal history but also because hehas
long schooed himself to system Of study, research and
composition which does admit Of Incidence WEAKNESS
"We expect from him work which will doubtless be full
Of partialesthe personal views feelings and pejudices
natural the and tho politician, but which will be
valuable historical record notwithstanding"