New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-05

There is an old saying, that the longest way
"reund is the shortest way home" We presume
that COL Benton has heard of this adage, and is
disposed to put its truth to the test. Having made
his home so long in the United States Senate, it is
no wonder that he should have homesick yearnings
after it, and that he should be willing to do almost
anything to get back there. We can see, as in the
case of COwper's schOOlboy,
with what inten,e desire he pants bis home,'
by the pains he is taking to return thither. They
have saying in the Bay State, when they wish to
illustrate something superatvely eircumbendibusi-
cal, that it's undertakers had gone "by the way Of
Sagadehock" Eve are not sure of our spelling)
to do it. This metaphor the veteran Colonel has
transmitted into fact. His goal being the Senate
Chamber at Washington, he has undertaken to find
his way thither from Missouri, by Boston, Port.
land Bangor, and, for all we know, SagadehOck it.
self. The route is somewhat circutOus, but if it
brings him safely to bis journeys end he will not
grudge his time and pains. Most politicians prefer
the line of beauty to the line of directness. They
generally think it the shortest as well as the most
graceful.
The dodge is not an ill-magined nor badly
carred-out one. by way of precautiOn against
fire in his rear, which the Colonel is too old SOL
der not to look out for, he has taken out copy
right of his Lecture-not that there is any violent
danger of its being stolen as piece of literary prop
erty Though possibly he may laDc- under the delu-
sion that there is), but to put a stopper upon the
busy pencils of the Reporters for the press. Thus
he has in bis own hands the command at what shall
90 abroad authOrativey about it. If anything should
creep into the papers which would not be precisely
permane 20 the matter he has in hand, he is at full
liberty to deny its authenticity and to hold up the
@gis of his copyright between himself and his as
sailants in that direction. And, when the proper
time comes for making his direct move upon the
LEGISLATURE OF. Missouri, what budget of works OF
supererogaton will he not have to lay on its table to
bear witness TO him How he stOrmed the ctadels
of the Yankees sword in hand, and carried fire and
confusion into their most inaccessible Businesses;
how he tickled their tObies for them and they had
not word TO say; how it was his compensatory
art alone that SO cunningly cOopered the glorious
Union, that its hoops still hold, and without which
it would have long before have tumbed into an I'M
distinguishabe heap of shocks 1--WE state by way Of
convenience, that this signifies the slaves of which
barrel is made, before it is made). Will it not all
be written in the History ofthe Next Thirty Tears,
and be told on all the stumps of Missouri ?
Now we can quite understand how Colonel
Benton should sigh for the hesh-pots of Wash
inetOn when he finds himself in the wilderness
of Missouri, a wilderness bowling with Border
Ruffians and all manner of doleful creatures We
can fully comprehend his longing to exchange the
stunps of that scarcely sem-savage State for the
soit-stufed and goodly arm.chairs of the Senate
Chamber. And il he thinks that he can compass
ii by comprising all New-Engand in the pursuit,
we can see very clearly the of his describing
that particular arc Of that particular circle. Blu
we do not perceive SO plainly the motive the New
England people have in helping him to fetch his
compass. Why need they be so forward with flat
tering urgences to this sayehOldng Ulysses to take
them in his way back to his longed-for Ithaca
What object have they in helping to boost him up
the tree from which he has foundered down to the
ground What need have they to thrust the noz-
ze Of their bellows into the already bursting blad-
der Of this poor old gentleman's vanity, 1t can't
be for the sake of the lecture itself They know
altogether too much for that 1t must be thrift
after all. They know he will draw for once. His
daughters father could not fail to fill hall for one
eyenlDg-if only for look at him. If it be faul.
the managers are probably aware that it is one
which brings its own punishment with it.
Now we think it is a fauN, this running after
such persons TO enlighten Northern Lyceums. 1t
sayors Of snObblshness and sueakishness. OF
course, 1t is of no advantage to the hearers, for
there is not lecturer south Of Mason and DiIon's
line that could get invitation to the most rural of
districts he lived at the north of it. And it gains
the inviter no respect at the South. The motives