Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-01-01
Col. Benton's Letter.
To the Democracy Of
Jefferson County.

thC L/'btOI'ttJ "
Jefferson County.
St. LOUIS, Dec. l3, 1851.
1t was my wish to have been with
you at your meeting on the 18th inst.
but telegraphic dispatch just re-
ceived calls me to New York on bu
siness which cannot be delayed or
neglected, l owe a cordial visit to
your county, which mean to pay,
and hope this will be the last prom
Use which precedes the performance.
Your county is a star, and bright
one, in the political frmanent of
Missouri, and true to the name which
it bears. 1t is not only always right
in the elections but in ali its acts and
sentiments. When the Nulitiers un-
dertook to get their secession res
olutions sanctioned by popular meet
ings in the counties, in the spring of
lS49, and had actually succeeded in
some half dozen counties, they were
first baked and repulsed in yours.
Now when the reunion, of the De-
mocracy is proposed your county
is among the first to make principle
the basis of reunion, and to repel all
approaches on the basis of dividing
spoil or ofpros cribing a man. Iadmire
the spirit Of the resolution which you
adopted at your late preliminary
meeting, and commend them TO the fa-
vorable consideration ofall the friends
of the cause. They contain the prin-
ciples on which every true Demo-
crat can unite, and have only to be
made known and understood, to re-
concile all who have been innocently
and temporarily led astray.
FIRST: The Reputation of the Sc
cession resolutions adopted by the
General Assembly in lS49. There
is no longer room for any candid man
to be deceived about the reasonable
character of these resolutions. There
was room for deception at t,and a
great many good men were deceived.
Incredulity was excusable two years
ago, and even honorable to the hearts
ofthose who could not then believe
in the enormity of settled design 70
break this Union, and to establish a
new confederacy Of the slaveholding
States. Few could believe then,
, even upon the strong proof which
exhibited; but the season for incre-
| dulty has passed by.
= The events of 1850 have proved
every thing which I proclaimed in
lS49, and which | knew in lS47.-
! That was a proud day for me thai
! Friday, l7th, of February, ls47-
;, when Mr.. Calhoun first produced in
> the American Senate those disunior
!. resolutions afterwards adopted ir
t Missouri, and some other States.
: struck them upon the spot-pro'
: claimed them fire brands and in ;
e fierce passage with their author, tol(
: him where | should be found wher
II II we came to their trial: "on the sid
u Of my country" Where were :h'
n great defenders of the Union then
v Sound asleep! and sleeping on unit
: 1850, when the thunder of disunion
d loud enough to awaken the dead
e wakened them also. saw the clont
at which was charged with that thun
ID der when it first appeared above tn
g horizon in lS47, and drove it out Q
1t the Senate. 1t was then sent to Mis-
u u souri, to be gathered up by the littl
9 Jupiters here, to be sent back &
,r drive me out of the Senate: and the
m were sent back accordingly. Bu
- the end is not yet. saw what the
r, were at-came homeland appeale
as to the people. And although tia
- appeal shared the usual fate of move
lea ments which are abe ad of the times
- and what Isaid could not be credite
U' ., yet it found credit enough to do on
ID ID thing-to sare the State Of MiSSoui
| from The anfamy Of being represente
IN an the VashviWe Contention! Their
ut is no room for any candid man
m doubt now.
ng The intent of the resolutions
ho hs proved by ia cts, and will be recorde
70 70 by history, and all who now adheI
nv to them (though innocent in the b'
st ginning) will take their place by ii
en- side of the original conspirators,-
mt Though not carried into effect
of 1850, these resolutions are still upc
nd the statute book ofthe State, land Mi
ek souri, now stands, precisely ,
20 the same foot with South Carolina
,ut Sd cooperation State bound by LEI
yas islative pledge to "eo-Operate" wi
iii other slaveholding States when th
unite for secession. The wings