Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-07-17
SPEECHsOF MR..LINDLEY,

SPEECHs0F MR.sLINDLEY,
l-s. OF MISSOURI.
House Of Representatives, June 10, 1856.
Mn. SPEAKER, ask the indulgence OF
the House TO make personal explanation.
1t has not been my habit to trespass on the
time and attention of the House. / have
gone quietly on in the discharge of my pub
lie duties, attending 10 subjects and mat
ters ofinterest to my constituents; nor would
Inow consent TO say any thing Of the poll
tics Of the country, but that an article in
the Union-the Administration organ of
this city of the l7th inst, stigmatizes a
portion of my constituents, and duplicates
me in such manner as to demand impera-
lively at my hand vindication Of them and
myself. quote from that article as fol-
lows: .sa'. ." -t1
'In the northeast the Know No,hings and
"Bentonians will probably combine ON Mr..
"Lindley, the present representative, who
"has acted with the Know Nothings during
"the present session. There is an evident
"coalition throughout that State between
"the Benton or Black Republican forces and
"the Know Nothings, by which coalition
Legislature is to be elected, if possible; SO
"that the bargain for two United States
"Senators may be carried out, the electoral
"vote Of the State thrown away on Fillmore,
"and the choice for the Presidency devol-
"ved on the House, and majority of Ben
"tonians sent to Congress. =
In the whole article, Benton Democrats
and Black Republicans are spoken of as
identical; and as it is charged that they and
the Americans are about to combine in my
favor, l owe it not only to them as my COLI
stituents and former supporters, but owe
it to myself to stand forth in their defence
and my own vindication. And, sir, l shall
do this without thought as to what may be
their course in the future, and in total dis.
regard Of the effect it may have upon me
with others; for, believe the Benton De.
mocracy Of my district, who are thus, by
this article, falsely identified with the Re-
publican party, are as Union-loving, as con
servative, as true and loyal to the institu
tions Of Missouri, as any citizens we have
Since lS49, have observed with somt
degree Of interest, the unrelenting warfare
that has been waged by the Anti Bentor
faction Of Missouri against Col. Benton ant
his friends. If there was any pretence o
principle on the part of the Antics, the,
have long since abandoned it. There il
nothing in the contest more than persona
warfare. Col. Benton, the venerable chic
ofthe Democratic party, and leader of it fol
years in Missouri-he who had been ths
friend Of Jackson, who had been the vindi
Gator Of his character and defender OF hi.
administration; who had met his enemie.
when they came like the waves of the sea
and turned them back he was getting old
in his seat in the Senate-he had been toe
long in the way, and too much eclipsed the
younger and more ambitious members ol
the party in Missouri. Many Of them
wanted his place, and they combined togeth.
er for his destruction under the name ol
Anti-Bentons, as expressive of their perso-
nal hostility 20 him. From that tune this
Anti-Benton faction, except in its malignity
towards Col. Benton,bas changed with eve,
ry changing scene, and has not failed to be.
tray every thing with which it has been
connected. As Democrats they betrayed
Benton in 1850, and sold his seat in the
Senate to a Wing. As Democrats in 1854
they betrayed him again, and gave his sea,
in this House to an American. And YET
,hcy turn up their eyes in holy horror il
they even suspect that he might get some
outside aid TO crush the treason of his own
party in Missouri. The Antics next be.
trayed even Anti Bentonism itself, and
joined the American party by hundreds, be.
cause of its mysterious power as displayed
in the defeat of Benton, but with their ac.
customed facility, they soon turned recreant
to the American party. After the defeat
in Virginia they abandoned and denounced
it on the plea, poor innocent souls, that they
had been deluded and seduced into its coun.
ellis, though every principle and pledge hat
been fully explained to them in advance.
And now. in conjunction with the Wash
ington Union, they are about to betray Mr.
Buchanan, by attempting to drive the Ben
ton Democracy from him, and ensure hi
defeat in Missouri, il that is not alresd,