Columbia gazette. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-18
For the Columbia Gazette.
Col. BENTON.

AS pubic men are 10 considerable extent,
legitimate subjects of remark and criticism,
you will please permit US to occupy a small
space in your paper, in expressing our views Of
one of the great men of the Republic. We
mean Col. Benton. And at the commence
ment Of this article, we would disclaim any
expressions of fulsome abulation, of an individ-
ual whom we admire fo- his many noble quail
tiles Of head and heart; being assured, too, that
no newspaper article can add lustre to his al
ready illustrious name.
We speak of him, however, as great
statesman among the distinguished men now
in the political arena. BY the term greatness,
as connected with the human character, we
would be understood to mean, the possession
Of those qualities, which in the council cham
Der of the nation, upon the tented field, or in
any situation of public or private life, vindi-
cate the claim of their possessor, to e, eatness,
viz; decision of character, energy Of purpose,
and strength of intellect. These qualities, we
think, the subject OF these remarks possesses
in pre-eminent degree, and which, may be
said to form the salient points of bis character.
The compass of his mind, in powers of an
alysis and research, would never permit him
to rest satisfied with any superficial view of
public measures or public policy, and it is gen
orally conceded among his compeers in the
Halls of Congress, that little that is new is sell
dom added to a subject, upon which he has
expended the energies OF his mind. His de-
clsion of character and uneompromising cner-
Of purpose will not permit of his tamcy sub
hitting to opposition from any source, and,
he always attempts to vanquish his opponent
and triumph over every obstacle. This has
made him many implacablc enemies in his
own political party, as we'll as among his po-
litical opponents.
We we'll recollect his appearance and bear
ing when he canvasscd the State of Missouri,
after appealing from the instructions of the
Legislature to the people; and he did not on
that occasion come limping from the field
his effort was victory. Many his enemies
hid their diminished heads in confusion, when
they found that he was in their midst, and
even the Brobdinagians, the tallest giants
among his enemies, quakcd with fear!
So accustomed has he become to the con.
aict of debate, that, now, when age has wrink-
led his brow and crowned his head with the
frostwork of time, he possesses that e1ultation
and pride which
"Warriors feel,
To meet foe worthy Of their steel"
A distinguished writer has very truly said,
that great men are only great, on great, and
momentous occasions. And by reference
TO the public records, we shall find Thomas
H. Benton has been among the first aud FORE
most, when "deep interests were at stake or
weighty subjects at ISSUE" in the Halls of
Congress.
A Senator Of thirty years standing A
most illustrious distinction under ono of the
greatest Republics ever established in an.
cicnt or modern times. He has been identi-
fed with the political history of the country,
and an active participant in the movements
and affairs Of the Capital for long series of
years. And it now only remains for history
to say, on his retirement to private life, if he
has not nobly signalized himself and rendered
his name illustrious, in the annals of his coun.
try.
We would not he understood to endorse
his political course receive his political creed;
for in respect to all the leading principles which
distinguish the two political parties of the day,
we have always differed from him. But we
admire the man for his intellectual greatness
and for the sincerity and energy of purpose
which he manifests, in urging forward to hap
Ply consummation his views of public policy.
And we are inclined to think, that his public
life, on inspection, will be found to have been
as consistent and as honorable, as that of any
other statesman with whom he has been asso-
ciated. These remarks have been elected
from reading his work, lately issued from the
press-a political history of the times in which
he has lived and acted, and which will better
perpetuate his name, than any monument of
brass or marble which could be erected.
DELTA.