Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-11-16
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RALEIGH, SATURDAY, NOV. 12. 1853.
THEN AND NOW.

The following extract from speech delivered by
Col. Benton in 1s43, before the Democracy of Mis-
souri at Manchester will afford some idea of the
difficulties and trials encountered by Gen. jackson
during his Administration. Col. Benton said:
But another and harder trial was still to be
encountered Gen. jackson was reelected; and
combination of politicians, aided by the Bank of the
United States, and by nearly thousand subordinate
banks and by vast body of merchants Qor whom
he had procured rich ndemnities) confcdcrated to
make good their prophecies-to scourge the country
and to charge the distress which themselves created
upon the President whom the people preferred, and
thus accomplish in the second term of his admins
tration what had failed in the first. The panic of
1S33-'S4 and the execrable sentence Of condemna-
ton which the bank demanded, which the Senate
pronounced, and which the people expunged, was
the fruit of that confederacy. Then, indeed, we had
war, in which many stout hearts quailed, in which
many mid friends fell off, and in which many weak
counsels were offered. The whole earth seemed tobe
in commotion against one man. Revolution was pro-
claimed. The Senate chamber resounded with de-
nunciation; the bank columns marched in succession
upon the Capitol; distress meetings were universally
held distress memorials poured in daily the public
press groaned; all business broken up; terror
and calamity spread in every quarter; and all
charged upon the wickedness of the man whom
the folly of the people had elected President He
CIR. b. had and clear view of all that tremen
dous scene; and witnessed the calm courage, the
composed reliance the perfect confidence of the pa
tot chief-the hero President-in all that dreadful
cOmmoion. Often, at a late hour of the night, when
the battle of the day over, (ony to be renewed
with more fury the next mornngO he had visited the
presidential mansion and found its former thronged
halls silent and deserted the venerable President alone
in his chamber; and never behelda more impressive
or instructive spectacle. While friends and foes be-
heved all lost, and that his administration was
completely overthrown, lie himself had such fear.
lie trusted in God and his country! He relied upon
Providence and the people! He confded in the Pow
g above which protects and in the intelligence which
sustains! He never faltered for an instant-neyer
accepted counsel from the timid or treacherous-
never dreamed of captuatng to the bank or its
hderates His confidence was complete, perfect un-
Vaverlng, that the American people could and would,
sustain him! and sustain him they did. The expung
ing resolution and the election of to car
y out his policy, the response of the people to
the confidence he had reposed in them.
Thus the second great trial was over; and the peo
pie were second time found equal to their high vo
cation, and capable of sustaining the form of govern
ment which their ancestors had founded. The ter
mlnatlon of the second term of General Jacksons adj
mlnsratiOn was still more glorious than the first,
and still higher proof of the capacity of the people
govern themselves 1t terminated in peace and
prosperity; with the respect of all nations, with
universally improved condition, Of the country the
public debt entirely paid; half our imports free from
noemnltles in gold brought home to the merchants
from France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Naples for
Spohatlons committed on their commerce forty years
peor and in the time of his carly predecessor The
nero President retired from his station, as great in
peace as in war, and justfying by the events of his
administration, the choice of the people,"
The hero President " did outride the storm, and
conduct the ship of State into secure haven, with
u'e sunshine of hope and prosperity playing upon
~e stars and stripes flying from the masthead. He
went before and blazed the way for those who were
=" come after him; his genius always rose as dan
eefS increased-hesitation, doubt, despair, had no
pace IN his counsels-no lodgment in his heart. He
aas man glorious old jackson IA man to whom
"e masses rallied and clung as to the very embodi
s'ent OF confidence and power-a man who, if not
'Sutess, was never fathless to his pledges, to the
people, or to the Constitution and liberties which
"e mad bled and suffered to establish man who
as ne said in his farewell address, thanked God that
1t mad given him heart to love his country with
Ne anectlon of a son'-and a man who walked right
VII III the performance of his duties, over faction
'er the treachery of pretended friends, over dena
sVsaes and traitors to the party, and over all comb
Aa.ons OF whatsoever character with will like ror
Nu purpose as unalterable as the DEGREES of fate
Ahe present besetments and difficulties of the ma
~ la Administration bear no comparison with those
y, 'ackson's day. Disappointed aspirants, misera
~, nv pace-hunters, and bad men may, however, con
nau u'e 10 increase these difficulties; but they cal
do". sner move Gen. Pierce from the policy he has
p'ea nor detach from him the masses Of the Dem
A.. ' AZ party They are just where they were. The,
lo.. e same men on whom the arm of jackson
,e-s. '0r support, and who are looking now, q
h.., not to see whether the President will fail
nesaa, ''.operate with him where cooperation
'-1o cheer him by the interest they take ii, hi