Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-01-17
coT BVYToI-A SUDDEN CHANGE.

COL. BENToN-A SUDDEN CHANGE.
}Ir. Denton Gays the Washington Sentinel made
q short speech day or two ago in the House of
Representati7l5 That is to say, Mr. Benton was
absent but his written remarks were read by one
ofhis colleagues, (Mr. Oiver,) who, by facetons
and very pleasant fiction, was supposed to be-Mr.
Benton. This is, perhaps, the first time that any
human being has ever even by affection, been ia
ken for that man Of marked, unwrought and strik-
mo- individla.ity- Benton. We cannot spare
the Space for Co Benton's entire speech, but will
ey.rac, some Of his remarks, which we design to
make the subject OF a few brief comments:
"Mr. BENTON. NJ Chairman, the member
from Indiana, TMr. MAcEl who made the speech,
AMI gave notice Of the mouon to bring IN the bill
which cave gisa 20 this discussion sat out with de-
clargc that it was his intention TO restore things
10 what they were twelve months sgo-to restore
The harmony OF feeling in this House and in the
,,7ur+Tv. "a what It was at the commencement of
The last session Of Congress- This is good intent
and he man who can accomplish it viii Justly be
Guided 10 the character of public beneactoI; but
do rot ;hil! tle measure he proposes viii accom-
rlish tLs purpose; on The contrary Inay make mat
t=rs worse, which are bad enough What are bis
measures. They are-.frS' to repeal the clause in
tie Kansas Nebraska act, which abolished the
Missouri compromise line; secondly, to oppose The
admission cf lie State Of Kansas into the Union,
jIsap r-ce9-t- herself a. q slavehoiding State
Nov, do not think either Of those measures al
y;-zlla t-er e practicable, and viii give MY ress-
ass 'Jr inst opinion. With respect TO the first one
d. not thfn5rc vi be passed at this session, and
its ;ai.z..Ja could only lsquet the settlers in Kan
.a=. and rerhaU5 retavG It's PopaaGon; aud with me
me rand settlement al tue Territory Is over
,rlf-f ccrsi9era'iou rs p-onoipg the construction
Ffha central road ID tie Pacific audas giving pro-
lection 20 clai--sr.5 now travelling through the
s.i,3 domain. without ROAD OF any kind made by
the q gyernrient and exposed 20 murders AMI rob
berries. which the United States military posts can
neither prevent nor ayenge. The present agitation
Of the repeal could, therefore, effect no repeal and
f1.rht have q bad effect upon the settlement Of the
Territory. and, consequently, upon the contempat-
I'd road and uDCu the facilities due 10 the emgTants
aud these considerations I think, might dispose of
she motion Cor the present session. At the next
I think it will he supecseded, by all events; that
Kansas will he ripe for a State government, and
he demanding admission into the Union.
The me.nJer from Indiana then proposes to re-
sst the admission If she has established slavery
Ills in 1ay opinion. .r85s resisting right, holding
cs do. that he STATE Will De ENTITLED TO ADSIs-
sIoz-Iaciag the osssr requisites WITH OR WITHOUT
Slavery As sHE TLuAsgs; and lis not By Virtpe Of
rfy act OF Congress to tGt eject, nor eUea by rits
cJ the CoaStjiutloa But by VIRTUE OF RIGHT AETG-
RIoR AND SUPERIOR, BOTH TO CONGRESS AND TIE Coz
arIrUlIoyc gqegn on ndercstTgh Of State s9gsrsg'
e. possessed tefgYs he Constitution made, not
surrendered % Re FGsr7l G9ysrn 9snt 1ghsr 4 ,ra,
made and Therefore retained By TIC 5tGtes Add 70
lis q I-c7to g5C4t TO tie same eject Kansas isl part
cite former 9TCvsce OF Louisiana, acquired ty NJ
Tsgq and has a right gpdeT that treaty, 70 be f,1-
-g rgsef IN tie CioY. as soon as /! can be done
,--tng 70 tie grisciples Of tie Federal Constitution
he third article cftts treaty IS ePslct to that eject
50 tqt tie gi7 OF De State TO admission l0iH be ab
gct3 urac. tsr sguseJ Hty and the treaty, ag5thoEt
Gy regard {, Lar s,!i5n IN relation 10 sSaveTy.'
Saint PaaL ha. Ills IS queer! The Ike of it
Hss not b5cu Known since that day when the great
Apostle was ua.5aou lou-y changed from s persc-
cutov Of Christians iato e Christian It IS indeed
"a change las Shakespeare has IL into something
rare AID strange
The great 81. on Of the North" and bulwark Of
the observation-disclosures faith. has been marvel
lousy transmitted Jy most magical and mysteri-
ous process into a Sta,e-rights' man!
Bat a few shor, months have passed away since
the Nebraska Eauq5s Ill was before Congress. 1t
pr5aoeed to reneal the unconstitutional restrictive
c,aas- Of tie Missouri Compromise. Col Benton
opposed tlat repeal and opposed the Hill with all
h. might and main. lie landed that compromise
ard pronounced !, to be Of so sacred character
IL he binding Tie bill passed and Immediately
the CIV Of Icaes' was raised So 8c'ivc had Col.
Benton shown himself in opposition to it, that the
re7ca'ers looked to him IS their candidate for the
Presidency. lie WAS put forward by many Of
their papers sai Lis peculiar organ, the st. Louis
Dss9.ro', sana.zed its devotion to him, by copy
ing. with appropriate comments, all the norniua
tons he received.
But, 10! q change, sudden and miraculous has
been wrought in his view! II is indicated by Mr.
Mace. that ha means TO oppose the admission Ct
Kansas into the Union rs a State if her constitu-
ton does not inaibl slavery. Mr. Benton instant
" protests, but with tenderness by no means
Bsntouian. Yet, while tender, the protest ia very
strong. and quite circumstantiaL he says, by
virtue OF . right anterior and superior both to
Congress and the Constitution, ITO wit: IAN inhe-
rent right OF State sovereignty, possessed before
the Constitution was made, not surrendered to the
Federal Government whenit was made, and there
fore retained by the Ststes"-by this "anterior
and superior right" Kansas, as 8 State, IS en-
titled, other things being right, to come into the
Unicn, either with OF without slavery, IS she
pieases.
Never was a truar thing said than this. But
the wonder IS that It should have come from BsI-
ton.