Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-23
The HON. THos. H. BENTON AT NEW YORK

On Tuesday evening the Academy Of Music, at Nsw
York. filed to overlooking to hear the Discourse uf
Col BENTON the physical geography Of the cozztzy
between Missouri and California, with view to szk5bn
the feasibility Of the construction Of railroad from I'm
Atlantic to the Pacific. The Journal Of Commerce 81
Wednesday says:
Gan immense concourse Of people, such has newer
yet been witnessed within the interior Of this magnicen1
edihce assembled to hear this distinguished ststesnan
The preparations made scale equal to the vast
assembage anticipated and yet for half hour before
the time appointed not vacant seat in the vast
not standing place, not passage-way remained
cupied save where the eager hrong pressed forward 70
look In vain for some eligible position catch
transient glimpse Of the orator. and these conDaea 10
arrive and depart until the close Of the lecture r.
would not be an undue estimate to say that from 600
to 10000 persons visited the Academy Of Music last
evening Doubtless many awaited themselves of the OPP
portuny to view the gorgeous magnifcence of the bn
ing and its interior decorations The orator received
with enthusiastic applause and it indeed have been
gratifying to him to have witnessed SO vast moltisnae
be they friends or foes in politics; among whom sAons
manifold bright gems Of the fairer SEX assembled to
ceive him. Surely the Academy has never before Wit
messed such scene II very evident that be was
bent on raising an excitement"
Mr.. BENTON commenced his discourse about O'clock
speaking without notes, and held the attention or All
within reach Of his voice while he discussed the tbems
which he had proposed for the occasion. The Eysng
Post briefly describes the lecture:
The main line of his argument was the same 20 Ehat
adopted in his second discourse at Baltimore. Ii CON
tanned many illustrations and passing allusica 10
his visit Of New York in 184S which afforded much
amusement. He was frequently and enthusiastically
cheered especially when speaking Of Fremont and stthe
close. The practical result which he sought hiring
about by these addresses which he said he delivered nj
great personal Inconvenience, is the getting Of
dozen men in the great cities of the county, known To
the people and possessed Of their confdeneemsn Of
means and character, not men Of strawto allow their
names to be put into bill, which Congress pans
without constitutional scruple, giving the right Of way
mile wide, through its Kansas and Utah Territories,
to this company and others who shall join them, they
serving one year to accept the grant in which time
double examination by practical roadmakers going Ont
in summer and coming back in winter, solve IN
business way every question which prudent business
ought to have expense settlement
and the population and cultivation which the support
and protection Of the road would require He scotDa
the story that road such he advocated would
hundred millions He said thirty millions would build it
easily and all he wanted dozen Of the right sur4
of men to allow him to put their names in BILL"
When Mr. BENTON closed the Chairman Of the Lectnrs
Committee Of the Association offered the following
lutions, which were unanimously adopted:
Reso1ued That the thanks Of this Association r0 ue
to the Hon. THOMAS H. BENTON the eloquent and
sructive discourse with which he has favored xhis
evening.
ReolOed That cordially sympathze with him IN ihc
efforts he s making to bind together the Atlantic and
Pacific States of this Union by chain Of iron; and
earnestly hope that these efforts may be crowned with
speedy and complete success.