The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-08-06
Speech of Col. Benton at st. LoniS.

We give below that portion Of Col. Ben
tons recent speech at st. Louis which refers
TO the Cincinnati Convention and the do
nestle policy of the Administration
Citizens: appear before you in an unex-
pected cllaracter-that Of candidate for the
governorship Of the State of Missouri. 1t was
place which had not sought, but which
felt bound to accept in the present condition
OF the cOuntry-its peace greatly endangered
both at home and abroad. and the services Of
all good citizens required to aid in preven-
ting the double calamitysof civil and foreign
war.
went to Cincinnati to be near that Con-
yention, the first one | ever approached.
went to see how things were done, and to
assist little al safe nomination. | found
a garrison OF oflice-holders inside Of the Con-
yention, and beseging army Of the same
gentry on the outside ofIt Packed delegates
were there, sent to betray the people. Straw
delegates were there, coming from the States
which could give no democratic vote. Mem
bers Of Congress were there, although forbid
by their duties from being at such a place.
A cohort of 0flice-holders were there, politi-
cal eunuchs in the Federal system, incapa-
BILE Of voting for the smallest Federal office,
yet sent there by the administration to i'm
pose President upon the people.
IL was scandalous collection, excluded d
BY the constitution from being even electors
Of the President, and yet sent here TO vote
for tie admlnistration-and to vute upon the
principle Of the OK that knowet his masters
crib-upnn the principle Of the ass that
kn9wetll the hand that feedeth him. Bullies
were there frum the eustnm-hnuse and the
Five Points in New Yurk-all with the ap-
probation Of the administration; for the Office
holders would not be there (absent from tlIeil
duties and drawing theirpay) without the con.
sent of their employers. Ii vas srandaiOus
collection. The members Of Congress were
in the double breach Of their duties. They
were neglecting their legislative duties, aud
doing what they had been intcrdicted from
doing.
Thirty years ago the nomination Of Presi
dental candidates was taken from Congress.
on account Of the corruption which il engen.
desed, and given 10 delegates, intended {
be fresh irnm the people aud to obey theii
will, and The nomination removed from Wash.
ingtOn to Baltimore, 10 get out Of the reach
Of President making members. But thes,
members followed 10 Baltimore, getting prnv
les from same delegate when they culd &c
no appointment lrom'the people and to se
rid Of tiem--tO get entirely beyond theii
rcaeh-the Convention itself wss remuvcd
/ from Baltimore 10 Cincinnati.
Vain effort 10 escape them. They followed
on to Cincinnati. They broke up Csngres,
TO get TO this forbidden place. Surely III,
new President will be very hard hcarte,
| ii he does moi remember them when he come
/ to the distribution pf Office. From Washing
ton city came new corps. never before pn
upon such service the office holders in thi
city, clerks il the departments-hcads o
raj elertion-politieal hybrids, unable to &C
mans part in any elertiun, but sent 4
Cincinnati, as life guard TO support the ad
minstration.
Such was The composition nf nearly one
half oi the whole conventions m-hOus
officers. pust-masters, salaried clerks, packe,
delegates, straw delegates, political eunucls
members nf Congress, district attnrnics, le
,leral marshals. The place IN which the.
met, aud which had been provided By pack
ed administration committee, was worthy q
the meeting Il was 4 sort Of den. approach
rd by lOng, narrow passage, barricadrd b
three doors. each dunr guarded BY armc,
bulies. with orders to knock down an
person that approached without a ticketfror
The committee, aud special order TO b
prepared with arms to repuIse the Missoul
! delegation which come to vote Tor Buchana
, Ia rrpnlse which they attempted. aud z,
; themselves Knocked down aud trampled IN
! der foot
This dcn.liad nowindows by which penpl
! could look IN or see, or The light Of the 80
cnter-only row Of glass, like steambui
I skyIight, thirty five feet above the lloOr.
49,. III ..,.,s, ~ tI,s III ar