Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-05-07
Benton's speech at HiIIsbOro, MO.


sentiments do, from the lips and heart of slave
holder himself, they are entitled to consideration
The hero of thirty years siege in the Senate, !
talks like himself and man. lie has received
the nomination of the masses in his district, as
a candidate for Congress at the coming fall cleo
ton, and he believes he will receive an election
of such majority of votes, as will not only
please the liberal democrats of every section,
but confer lasting honor upou an approaching
constituency.
His vast experience and his ripened wisdom,
will be OF the greatest service in an assemblage,
too much distinguished for recklessness and sec
iionality in legislation, and lowdyism in man.
ners.
Success to the old hero ,cho has distinguish
ed himself by thinking more of right than him
SELF Hear him talk:
81 do not believe in a guardianship over the'peo-
pie; DO not believe in the mission of any man.
or set of men to save this Union. That creed
belongs to the POLITICAL party who believe that
the people cannottake care OF themselves. 1--WE,
THE PEOPLE" make the Consti,uton-so says
the instrument itself, in its first line-"AND wE
THE People," can save it so say the masses
The salvation. of this Union is not in the contr-
vances of politicians, but in the love and affec-
ton of the people not in force, or cataplasms.
but in JUSTICE lin doing justice to all the men,
bers of the Union. II is libel TO say of the au-
thors of our constitution, that they did such bunR-
ling work that 1t cannot hold together without
periodical patching; and it is another libel, and
upon the people TO say that they cannot take
pf ba Wi ioh tbo;.
for them.
believe in.the compromises of the constitution,
and swore allegiance to them, and keep the oath
do not believe in the compromise made by pol
itcians, candidates for the presidency. | have
seen TOO much OF such work. What was ever
more boosted than the compromise of 1882 or
more worshipped in its day? or more sworn by?
or more relied upon to save the Union or more
ferociOusly adhered to for its hour as the watcn-
word of party or more omnipotent. over deli
cate nerves and attenuated pates . or made a
more memorable test of political salvation or dam
nation and what more utterly and ANONYMOUSLY
abandoned, and by all its followers, high priests
and deciples, the moment it was found that it
would make nobody President 1t was my pre-
rogative TO see through that continuance ut the
time Of its device and to think as little of it ut
its birth as its authors did its DEATH The com
promise of 1920, also had its day of laudaton and
glory; but it made nobody president! and now
it is despised. Aburation of it, is the order of
the day. Reputation of the authority to make
it as test tor the presidency and judicial de-
cisions treat it as a nullity. The compromise of
1850 is, in the first place, deception, the COM
promise bill having failed, and its conglomerated
measure passed separately, as independent meas
ures; and with very little help from their pres
q aSSt m rdiapS In tho JpIao
it was contrived upon the avowcd ground that it
was to make its champions Presidents, and is
now stuck to upon that principle; and if it fails
TO do the job it will take the track of its two de-
tunct predecessors, and soon be with them, GIN
THE TOMB OF THE CAPULETs." This is my ex-
perience of Congress compromises, and nobody
need to set up these little clay-goods for me to
worship, especially when those who set them up
do i, for purpose, and knock them down when
they don't answer IT,
am an enemy to the institution OF Slavery,
yet practice it, and want no one to interfere with
my property. was the potential advocate of
the clause in our State constitution in relation to
slavery, and for the express purpose of quoting
the question, and keeping it out of our elections
Some old people ought to remember that if they
do not, the newspapers will show. | got my
principles on the subject of slavery out of the
Virginia school OF 90 years ago, out of fuckers
notes 20 BaCksones Commentaries, and have not
apostatized and shall not, since [ see the new
political evils which it brings upon our country,
destroying the harmony of the States, poisoning
the Legislation OF Congress, introducing mer-
itless test into elections, giving TO the flexible
an undue advantage over the unbendabe. en-
dangerng the Union, and hurting the cause
of democratic government throughout the world,
in exhibiting great republic split into raging
parties by dissention on such subject.
| did not vote upon the passage of the Fugitive
Slave Bill but did what some others did not
i'd est, sat fast in my chair, and voted upon all
the amendments, and helped. to make it lust
what the south wanted it but had no opinion
of its efficacy, or of its healing properties and
left il to those to pass it who deemed it good -
Now | am little more in its favor; it is do
ing some service-cuttng the throat of whig-
gerry from ear to ear most beautifully. The 9th
err measures were mostly my own, and need no
guardianship from anybody, much less from
those who were absent when they were passed,
or against them when present. They guard
themselves, by their character, and the public
sentiment.
| know all the cause Of the present disaffac-
ton in the South, political disappointment, act
ing on real grievance and preteXted by feipn-
eO one. ne real grievance IS the financial or
fiscal working of the federal government; and
upon that grievance, the first notification was
founded. But after few years trial, it was
found that the South could never be united on
that ground that she had been leader in pro-
tective tariff herself and that Louisiana, on &C
count of her sugar interest, would never come
into it. Then the cause was shifted TO the slave
question, U835,) have all the documents, Jack
sons private papers inclusive. In the mean
time, slave property is in NO danger; and that is
proved by witness which makes no mistakes
the market price higher now than it ever was
before a circumstance which does not attach to
property in any danger from any cause what
ever, either of title, DEATH revolt, or even fu-
gacty.
To conclude this head OF slavery, and to sum
up all in one word, | have to say that the whole
practical question in dspute-the only thing to
differ about in action, all the rest being talk-was
the question to the extension of slavery to terri
tories in which it did not exist and on that point
my position was infexible, and agains. the en-
tension. Bat that is no longer practical ques-
ton. There is no longer any territory in which
the question is not settled OF there is any faith
in law or compromised settled in the North |
West, above Wisconsin by the ordinance of 1897; |
in Minnesota and all the rest of the former Up |
per Louisiana, by the compromise Of 1920; in |
Oregon by the organic act Of the people, and by |
tho act of CONGRESS- in 1913. in New Mayico