Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-05-27

THE SPEECH.
Col. Benton, addressing the assembage,
said:
CITIzEvs: Domestic affliction had dis
qualified me, and indisposcd me- for public
appearance among you, and had made me
abandon the plan had conceived of canvass
ing the district and State-not for any object
personal to myself, but for the sake Of good
government and the welfare Of the country.
According TO my declared intentions and
well known plan, should have been in the
political field long ago, and now an hundred
days deep in an active campaign, not con-
fined even TO the twenty counties Of this
Congressional district, but co-extcnsive with
the limits OF the State. On the contrary,
since the afliiction alluded 10, have not gone
out Of my own house, even to the meetings
held in my own town, and within minutes
walk from my own door and have not gone
but to one meeting, in an adjoining county,
and that only to make an apology for pre-
vious isappointments-to present a new
one-and to submit to the people the ques
ton, whether they wished me to represent
them or not. Thus far had gone, and no
further. To serve, if called upon, was all
that proposed 10 do; and having drawn up
and published, for the information of the
District, the speech which had made at the
only place had spoken, l considered myself
done with the toll of canvass, and at lber-
ty to give my mind and time to a more con-
genial occupation, already neglected for six
months-that Of saving til; history of the
working of our government during the
thirty eventiul years that was in the Sem
ate.
This was my fancied concl,lsion-a belief
that | had nothing to do but to await the
decision Of the people-and ready to abide il
either way. Having nothing to do with
caucuses or conventions, myself, did not
expect any one to assume jurisdiction over
me-to ostracise me--to call me off from
public life--myself and my prominent
friends also. Vain expectation! A ''union
and harmony meeting; as it was styled, had
been called at Jefferson City, actuated by the
best Of motives, and sincerely desirous Of
harmony and peace; great many good citi-
zens-l include great many under that
head who had been deceived into opposition
to me-had entered into this scheme, and
the idea of this conviction was popular
The masses were for 1t. | had no belief,
myself, that any good would come of it, but
evil; and determined to have nothing to do
with it--nothing either way, either for il or
against it. | would not go to it, nor author
lze any one TO 60 on my account, or to speak
a word in my name, and got my connexon
(Col' Brant) not to go, because he might be
considered my representative. | did not
o. liSb IaIl in
which | spoke my opinion of conventions,
though delivered five days before the con-
vention assembled, until after it; and while
expecting no good from it either for the state
or the party, did not apprehend any special
movement against myself or friends. What,
then, was my astonishment--I may say, my
indignation--to find it openly proclaimed,
and acted upon in the convention, that the
prominent men of the Benton Democracy
| am forced to use that handle TO the name
in following their lead--were to be cut of
from nominations-a veto power assumed
over the nominations they should make--a
right to dictate nominations TO them, asserted
and enforced--little platforms constructed
TO prevent large men from standing upon
them--the trick OF the sub-convenion pro-
posed to bow-string some in secret, and
smuggle in others irresp sponsibly-and arms
actually brought into the Conventian, and
ready to be used upon Benton man, for op-
posing and exposing the trick. Yet all this
took place and here is part Of the evidence
| OF rit-l took it from a report in the Colum-
bia Statesman, afterwards re-published in
| the ST. Louis Union-ncver contradcted tc
my knowledge, and known to the common
sentiment, and confined to those whose word,
were reported:
"AIr. DoNey, Of Charlton, moved that the
Chairman appoint Committee of fifteen tc
report candidates for the various Offices tc
he nominated by the Convention. A racy
discussion, terminating in fight, (nearly, J
followed. The Antics went for the resolu,
tion; the Benton men aganstit DIR. Penn
of St. Louis, made remarks in its favor
Mr.. Bogy, (Anti,) of Ste. GeneyieYe, sad
the resolutions would secure harmony-tha
the day had passed iii Missouri when a nom
ination by the Democrats was equal to al
election. (True.) He said his wing of til,
party asked no Office; that they fought fol
| OriDCinle of tho nj thor u,iuU DrpSant IN ri