The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-19
GALL AND NORWOOD.


of the Saco Democrat, who prays with fer
ven, zeal in the vestry, that "every yoke
may be broken and the oppressed 60 Free"
and advocates in bis paper principles which
would lead to the establishment Of Slave
breeding plantations on the virgin soil oil
Nebraska, and tho keeping Of packs OF dogs
to hunt runaway negroes, vents his spleen
upon Col. Benton and ourselves, in nearly
column Of editorial gal and trormrood.-
Col. Benton's offence is, that he made
crushing speech against the Nebraska iui-
putty. Ours is, that we published the speech.
We know that Col. Benton will survive this
overflow of editorial gall and trormtroOd !;
and we think there is reasonable proba-
bility that we shall recover from its effects.
We are not sure we are entitled to the hon.
or Of being abused in connection with Mr..
Benton, but the matter is not OF our own
choosing. and we will try to bear il patiently
and meekly. We might wish the source
was little different, but here, also, We were
denied the privilege Of choice. A democratic
friend Of ours, and we have scores Of them,
besides the editor OF the Democrat, says
that the publication Of the Democrats arti-
Gle in our paper would do nearly as much
service in the county as the publication OF
Bcnton's speech; and iuclinins to this view
Of the matter ourselves, VIC make copiOus
extracts from the article.
After remarking that We have published
Benton's speech, our pleasant tempered
neishbor says:
"There has always been manifested by the
conductor of that paper great affection for
any democrat who, from whatever cause, has
opposed the measures OF q democratic admin
is,ration and the more open and revolving
the perfdy to the democratic party and the
popular WILL the more cordial is the embrace
he gives the traitors. We speak not alone
Of his ncw.found love for Benton, though il
is well known that he has either opposed or
hung us dead weight upon the democratic
party for many years - having become a
disappointed and embittcred old man, lin.
gering in the halls Of Congress to be con-
spicuous monument of what politician may
become when the noon of life has passed,
and he must turn his back upon the shining
mark which till then filed bis eye, and there
remains but the look down the Western slope
where the mists OF sunset shroud the grave.
Nothing but tho ver-brightening hopes oil
the Christian and heart filed with the
milk Of human kindness, it would seem,
can then save the whitening hand from
grasping the sharppointed sword Of ridicule
and sarcasm, TO pierce all younger hearts in
which is kindled the FIRE which now smould-
ers in ashes in his own. These genial quail
tiles seem not TO exist in the heart OF Mr..
Benton in 50 large measure as they did in
those of his departed co,emporaries and ri
val aspirants for the Presidency - Clay and
Webster"
There is spice of the pathetic in the
foregoing, Which, did not the article appear
as editorial, would lead us to suppose the
genial temper of another democratic candi-
date for Congress had used the goose quill, in
the preparation Of the article.
Benton "a disappointed and embittcred
old mani" Democrats who have long 70.
vered the name Of 4" Old Bullion" and who
have associated his name with the proudcst
triumphs Of the democratic cause, drop
tear here. The editor Of the Saco Demo-
crat, with his wide world reputation, says
that the glory Of Ichabod has Departed
Tom Benton hangs as dead weight upon
the parity" and the editor Of the Union cor
daily embraces the traitor. But Benton
shares no undivided honoIs. Hear our neigh
Dor again:
"When Van Barren beteayed the demo-
cratic party, he became at once great man
and very honest in the estimation Of our
federal neishbor and his free soil admirers -
who had till then, found no language too
strong to express his alleged meanness and
knavery. So when Jack Hale turned traitor
to his party - hOIloig. hearted demagogue, rs
he was while in the democratic ranks, and
is still = no became ut once almost saint
in tho estimation Of tho twaddling .oppnents
Of democracy; and is made candidate for
the Presidency, and invited 10 visit all parts
Of tho country To blackgua:d honest demo-
Gratis and teach public morals"
A portion Of the above lacks the little es-
sential element Of truth. We never praised
tho honesty Of Van Buren,, though we con-
fess to some idea Of his ability. As to
Jack Hale" We are inclined to think we
have spoken favorably Of his honesty, u thing
which we should not be willing to do for the
Nebraska democrats. Again:
"Tho staple Of Benton's recent cpeech -
which is just now rubbed in the hattering
spittle Of this traitor-loying federal free
soiler and presented rs sweet morscl to the
palates OF his whig readers and large
number Of democratic readers lis ridicue
and sarcasm better termed blaekguardism
These weapors he uses against the Pres-
dent, Mr.. Douglas, Mr.. Cass, and other
democrats. lie may have annoyed, but has
moi injured those against whom he has thrust
them; and rs concerns the Nebraska bill,
his speech will, on the whole, COMMEND Il 10
Northern roters."
Our neighbor should thank US kindly, in
language as pleasan, as tho silvery tones Of
the lutte, for Publishing Benton's speech,
I" il ]: upon the whole commends the Ne
braska bill to Northern voters"
Instead Of doing this he dips his pen deep
into the gall, calls US "trai,or.loving fed.
eral free soilcr"- says the speech " is ridi
culc and sarcasm better termed black
guordism," yet will commend the Nebraska
hill In Northern ,,ofsrs. Oh. admirable looie !,