The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-29
FIERCE CONFLICT in MISSOURI.

To understand the extent of the operations of the three
parties in Missouri the reader must recoect that the
superficial OF that great State is almost as great as
that of New York and Pennsylvania united The State
divided into lo7 counties and these arranged into
congressional DISTRICTS that of Major Phelps 1.-THE
sxh and which is the great battle-ground in this cam
pagn 20 counties the smallest of which contains
400 square miles Il spreads a southwest Missouri
and runs to the Missouri river as well as to Arkansas
and at one point approaches within so miles Of St Louis
more than $50 miles from Kansas Territory, which is the
western boundary of this mammoth district Several States
contain fewer acres than this district
Both parties for reasons necessary state felt that
result this district would probably control the
general result and they took their measures accordingly
Mr. Polk the democratic candidate bsiEg younger than
Colonel Benton made tremendous list Of appoiu
far beyond the ability Of the old gentleman to fill these
were filled By Mr. Polk with eminent success and reused
old Bullion into putting forth bis best efforts. The old
gentleman entered the district at its extreme northeast
corner and before he finally left II at the extreme north
west corner he had travelled in open carriage in
brong sun 10 June and July speaking nearly every day
more than four hundred mIas For violence and abuse
not only Of Major Phelps and Judge Douglas but also Of
the administration and OF democratic prncpies asd Of
democratic usages and conventions his speeches de-
scrbed by the country papsrsdemocratc American and
Benton-ar exceeded anything before delivered by
him The political e6ect Of this Extraordinary
fight over such broad space has by his indscreon Of
language been unfavorable TO himself Overcome by the
Of his labor and by the violence Of his feelings
be made assertions Of the unguardsd character and
made the country people believe him TO be reckless
to assert whatever occurred him. without regard is
truth An instance OF this kind occurred at Bolivar
where Col Benton made statement about Major Phepss
authority to be in the Cincinnati Convention; Colonel
AcoC the venerable old gentleman referred to author
ity happened bp in the meeting, and rose and stated
that Col Benton had been misinformed To escape this
unexpected heading of, Col Benton Egadenly exclaimed
that Major Phelps himself had told him col To this Col
Acock replied that be must be excused from believing that
assertion as everybody know that Major Phelps had not
been on speaking with Col Benton for several years
As the whole audience knew this the effect bp easily
imagined
Still the campaign has been most extraordinary one
both sides Mr. Polk remarkable for bis calmness
and for modesty of language Col Benton is for the OPP
poste aid besides is speaker Of great power and erpe
ence YoungeS stronger better vorsed in local politics
of better temper direct earnest and without, the
Lightly Of and with FAR better voice than, Col Benton
Mr. Polk has fairly driven him from the beldt Io Ben
ton frequently became exhausted after making his long
rides that II was often difficult for him TO upesk loud
enough be heard where's not only Mr. Polk able
to be heard by everybody but would stay and hear any
who wished to reply him. and then deliver ono OF bis
effective reiondsrs He also able TO make numerous
detours to the right and I Of his route and make add
tional speeches.
VNow for evidence Of the effect Of this wonderful GUNNER
campaign Of Benton and Polka campaign probably
never exceeded in this country by seysny years
old. We say Bsnton and Polk, for Ewing, the know
nothing seemed to have depended almost exclusively on
the secret arrangements and combinations made and
making by the lodges in back rooms.
Colonel Benton succeeded in procuring the withdrawal
Of Professor Wines the knownothng nominee in fave,
Of General Emmerson and thus has concentrated the whole
Benton and know-nothing vote on Emmerson against
Major Phelps in the third district He has concentrated
his friends on Mr.. Lndley the know-nohlng candidate
(now in Congress- against the democratic nominee Mr.
Green he has brought out without nomination. Thomas
L. Price 1.-THE who headed the delegation that broke