The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03
Letter from Col. Benton.

The following letter appears In the 81. Louis
Onion
TO the Democracy of 81. Louis county and city.
STEAMBOAT, ONO RIVER, JAM / /, 1852.
Citizens | received, at the moment was
leaving st. Louis, your invitation to join the
great Democratic meeting at the courthouse on
the 9Th instant. Could have remained until
that day, should have needed no special invita-
ton to have been present among you. Both the
day and the occasion would have made it my
pleasure, as IL would have been my privilege, to
attend, and that upon the same general notice
which would have brought the rest Of the De-
mocracy together
The day is memorable one in our annals
and worthy to take its place among those which
constitute eras in nations history. The hero
Of that day became President by the will Of the
people, revived and re-established that great De-
mo6racy Of which Jefferson was the founder
and which was so fatally losing its landmarks
under his later successors. Jackson re-estab-
lshed it, and crowned his military with civil
renown.. A double fame salutes the day--the
fame Of Washington and Jefferson united with
Jackson.
The occasion is worthy Of the day. The. De-
mocracy of Missouri has been betrayed and sold
betrayed by traitors, and sold into Wing bond
age ~ 10 yOuT uiSSIOH (Wltu your uIctuTtu
throughout the State) to redeem her and you
commence this day the work Of redemption.
Three Wings sit in one branch Of Congress, and
n Wing and Disunionist in the other, from the
Democratic Union State of Missouri. This mis-
representation must be corrected "The Goths
must be driven from the capital" The Demo
cratic star of Missouri, now eclipsed and OBJ
scured, must reappear in the political armament,
and shine again with all its pristine splendor.
Notification and high treason resolves pollute
your statute book, pledging Missouri to co-ope-
rate in Southern secession. It is your duty to
purify the record, by expunging the stuff, which
is as false as it is infamous.
Bargain and sale, as well as trcachery, dis
graced the proceedings Of our last general as
seinbly. II was the first instance of that infamy
in our State, and all honorable men should uni Q
to make it ths last.
Wings and nullifers have coalesced to rule
the Democracy; and the fist retain the second
as spies and traitors in our camp. Expell them!
or be betrayed and sold again-as you will be,
and deserve to be if you suffer them to remain.
Two sets Of senatorial instructions appear
upon your statute book--one set affirming the
right Of Congress to egislate upon slavery in
territories and declaring the permanency of the
Union to depend upon that legislation in 1920 ]:
the second deny that right, and make the DISCO
luton of the Union dependent upon its exercise
in 1850. l obeyed one, and appealed to you
against the other. What say you! Both can
not be right. Both are not right One is true
and polilic--the other false and traitorous. Let
the true liye--the false die.
There is a party in Missouri which calls itself
anti Benton. The name announces the personal
malice which rankes in.the hearts of its mem.
bers; their acts prove II to be anti Democratic
mere " bushwackers" to the Wings hired for
wages, patted on the back"-and of no service
to their owners, or damage to US, except when
in our camp. Expulsion is the word for these
intestine traitors Rome was safe from the mo-
.ment that Cicero drove Catalne out Of the city.
Jackson became stronger every time he drove
off the traitors So will it be with as when we
have got the Wings and nul!ifiers into open, as
they now are in secret coalition against US.
Citizens, / shall soon be back 10 take my part
in the great work which you commence, and to
asss; in restoring Democratic Missouri to the
exalted rank which che held in the days of Jack
son. Your obliged fellow citizen,
THOS. H..BENTON.