The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-09-22
WASHINGTON, Sunday,
Sep. 10, 1854. {


WASHINGTON, Sunday,
Sep. 10, 1854.
have seen II stated in several papers, and
Il il appears to be the general impression, that
Col. Benton has gone to Missouri to canvass
the state This IS nm error. The colonel,
not long since. departed from Washington
for some watering place in Virginia, be.
lieye. His health has not been very good
this summer, and he has experienced several
chiIls. for the cure Of which the physicians
aid had been fund necessary. The diathe
sis. indicated by this is very uniavorable in
aged persons. And now another and n
deeper trouble appears to he impending. Ia
his domestic relations Mr.. BENTON has always
been the most exemplary Of men, and de.
servedly honored and loved by his wife aud
children. Paralysed few years ago, his
wife has seemed 10 him bat as the young"s,
and most helpless Of children. Her percep-
ton Of passing events has been bat indis iuct
and her only positive happiness has been 10
sit near him, and to be conscious of his pres
ence. While reading or writing in his stu
dy no has ever had her as bis companion,
silent and almost. listless, and yet evidently
grateful. When his seat has been at The
hall door, in the morning or evening shade,
his book was often held in one hand, while
her hand was gently clasped IN The Vthor
The memoir Of the happy days Of the past
and a consciousness Of the presence of him
who made them happy, have seemed to make
up the sum of her being. But the mild
and gentle lamp of her life is fast growing
dim, and il is believed that within few
more days at the least it will cease to burn
Mrs. Fremont, with characteristic courage
and affection, is ever at her side. The sum
mons That shall recall her husband to his
home will be a dirge like sonnd, and trust i,
may not prove "the beginning Of the end" to
him also-"the end of EARTH
From the Globe, September IL.
Died, in this city, at 8 O'Clock p NJ. Sun
day 10th inst, Mrs. Elizabeth Benton, wife
of the Hon. Thomas ii. Benton, aged sixty
years. Her protracted illness of several
years, which from the FIRST was known to be
beyond remedy, was borne with patience
and propriety Of demeanor that proves how
the noble faculties and affections may survive
to wreck Of the mortal frame. Deprived
Of utterance. ofall her energies, Mrs. Benton
still preserved the bearing of one whose
mind would not allow the most prostrating
affection to overthrow the fine character il
had formed. No part Of it gave way under
the long trial to which it was subjected
The simplicity of manners, the domestic and
social virtues, the generous, heightened, well
regulated feelings the religious faith, severe
TO herself, liberal to all the rest of the world
| 10 which she was nurtured in her fathers
house among the Virginia Puritans Of r OK.
bridge, stood The test Of thirty years spent
amid the fashionable life of Washington and
the prejudces Of its political strife withou,
reproach. Her exalted character bore tho
more trying ordeal Of malady which con.
quers The will and often breaks down the no.
bier traits Of tho most happily constituted
natures. The ruling feeling 10 Mrs. Ben
tons heart, and strongest to the last, was
her devotion to her husband. OF lutte she
has sat constantly by his side when ut lis
labors at home, and indeed their lives may
be said to have been inseparable, for she has
made her home wherever his business called
him. She was reconcled to part with him
on his late return to Missouri because she
was too weak too accompany him. and know
that his duty required his presence ut home.
When she felt the approach Of the crisis
which terminated her life, she led her daugh.
ter to the vacant chair in which her husband
worked and, by look and gestures, made il
apparent that she required his recall. 1t
was too late. She walked to the bed in The
next apartment, from which she was never
able to rise again.