The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-09-20
From the Ha,ttord Tunes.
The Downfall of Benton.

+. = rom TIE Hartford Tunes.
The Downfall of Benton.
Thomas IL. Benton has been defeated as
a candidate for Congress in the 81. Louis
district. HIS successful opponent was a
Whig, and many Democrats voted for him,
not because they liked Whiegery, but
less than they hated Benton. This defeat
very probably finishes the career of the
great Missourian, as public man. Ills
public honors lanerly have been dwindllng
down, growing "small by degrees and
beautifully less" descending by apid gra-
dations from 80 years service in the Sem
ates to two years service in the House,
and finally ending in his exclusion from
sthat body and defeat in his aspirations to
whss is commonly regarded as the inferior
post Of honor. For this result. he has
nobody TO Llame but himself. Nobody
but Benton could have pulled down Ben.
ton. lie, probably had the creates. talent
for making personal enemies, of any man
living. There was time when he had
the game Of political promotion to any
station. not excepting the highest, COM
pletely in his own hands, if he had only
chosen to play it with the most ordinary
degree OF address and discretion. His
intellect and capacities OF all kinds we're
of the very highest order, but unfortunate.
.fy. high as they were. they were overtop-
ped by his overweening arrogance and
egotism, and his towering wilfulness. If
he had been more conciliating and had
sheld his passions under more restraint, he
might have been President of the United
car NTH
his pre-eminent ability and long tried and
;Feteran service in the Democratic cause.
apart from his defects had clearly entitled
him to that position far beyond any Of his
siyals or cotsmporaries. But people do
mt ike to see man show too much con-
sciousnsss OF his own powers. They
rather prefer that he should be little
hypooriiical on that point, and pretend to
,underraie himself, and humbly call him.
self their servant when he knows himself
sosbe their master. They do not like to
see even great man pause at every step
in his career to admire himself audibly,
sAna exclaim. sssee what great man | am
see what mighty things / have done and
hnw | alone have set this ball in motion!'
No Democrat can everforget the unequal
.ed service Benton performed in putting
down the corrupt Bank Of the United
States, or his dogged and indomitable per-.
severance in carrying through his famous
expnDging resolutions. against the strenu-
osls opposition OF such men as Henry
CLAY and Daniel Webster.
sDogmatic and overbearing beyond ex-
ample, Benton could never brook opposi.
lGensirom any quarter, but always pursued
these who crossed his path with a bitter
.xiHdicliveness which was never forgotten
or forgiven. He undertook to tear his
way through the world like mad bull.
bur the world is ..too many for this rough
practice to succesd, and il has gradually
tangled net about his horns and rope
about his legs which at last has laid bis
giant bulk PROSTATE on the arena. star
floAtings' like that Of another powerful,
bur also over-conident aspirant, s'many
rood ~
The giant is down at last. slain by
pebble from the hand OF pigmy. But be
bis faults what they may. there is no deny.
ing that the man does not live in public
life who can begin TO make his place good,
of fill bis great tracks, or bend his iron
bow. The niche which he fills in Con-
9tess will never be filed in our day.
Forty noisy politicians Of modern dimen-
sions msy scramble into il, with the aid of
q ladder, and jabber loudly and rattle
about il, but they never will iillit. One of
his boots, intellectually speaking, would
hold dozen OF them. The yelp set up
over Benton's downfall by his punny enc.
mics, reminds US or the exultaiion, Of the
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