Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-23

our readers as II was 10 Us
/..v,. Bsa.oa on the Ua,on.-Mr Benton repeated
the lecture, which he has delivered in several citle'
of New England, at Rev. Mr.. Chapin's Church LAT
evening. On account Of the inclemency of ih'
weather, and a doubt on the part of many whethe1
from the distractions in travelling he would be abi'
20 De present. the audience was not so large rs i
otherwise enld have been-not more than nan nn,
ing the church; bat the discourse was listened 10 ~ilf
great attention by appreciative hearers, and was e1
ceedingly we'll received. The main point oil the
Speaker was that for the last twenty. five years a ae
agn has been prosecuted by prominent poi.cal me'
of the South to bring about dissolution OF the onlon
and that there never was 30 much danger OF tneh
succeeding as now, when the mind OF the south 10 u
such an snreasoDably excited state. ne was lot moa
GRAFTON and scrupulous adherence to the compromi
sss Of the Constitution. MIR. Benton mentioned ina
he Intended to deliver bis lecture in at least twenty
different States, both North and South-he being
penetrated with the conviction that the Patrlnt'
masses everywhere need to be aroused to the dan
GER
Il: is not at all remarkable that Mr.. Benton shoul'
(el himself divinsly commissioned for the work o
saving the country. Several crises have occurred il
5 history, when like Curtius, the Senator from Mis-
souri, was ready TO take the fatal leap; but somehow
unlike Curtius, the Senator from Missouri has neye
doneit. His present patriotic intentions are, perhaps
less thrllingly exciting and terrific, and he may pos
sibiy carry them out. We are inclined, however, t.
believe that, at least in one quarter of the Cnon, TIT
Senator from Missouri will fail either to have 'appre
oia.ive' hearers or large audiences, even though TIT
pights of hs lectures be fair and there be no obetruo
tons In travelling. The fact is, Mr.. Benton willhav'
some difficulty in creating the opinion that be has eve
had "a special CALI 10 the Office he has undertaken
1t 10 unqaestionsbly q very good cause, a holy en-
terprse, and should command the support Of all th'
lovers of their country, without regard 10 locality Blu
a. there are good causes which may be spoiled by in
discreet or vicious advocates. even the work Of saving
the country may fail in the hands of Mr.. Benton
But does the Union ssed saving7 From what 7 ant
how7
These are questions We would address to Mr.. Ben
ton if he were within striking distance but as, in al
probability, be 10 now in the remotest verge Of the
State OF Maine on his patriotic mission, we will ad
dress them to our resders-and attempt to answer
;bsm. We hope Mr.. Benton's benevolent: efforts will
save the Union long enough to admit Of a calm dis
cussioa of the subject.
1t has grown up to be a fashion, these latter days,
10 ruin the country in theory in order that the prao.
sical efec. of ~eleva,ipg unworthy men to office may
follow. In every exciting campaign, either in State
or national politics, prophets have arisen, like "birds
of evil omen," who oroak out their hoarse predictions
~ no luiu " II ~ " VI
the country. We do not remember, indeed, during
the past fifteen years, a single such campaign in
which this device has not been resorted to-some-
LINES with one design, sometimes with another
Tho evil had grown 30 great, that affairs recently as.
sumed an alarming aspect, and the danger prophe.
sled came 30 very near ful6lment, as to awaken aux.
iety in the minds Of the most courageous and thought
fu!. That etorm, however, has blown over; the sea
OF agitation has been in a measure Gained, and I'M
less the popular mind be lashed into fury again by
:ahp:udent patriots" burning to do something for
the glory Of the country, W. predict q future Of quiet,
unparalleled in our history.
While this may be true, It will not require any ex
traordinary exertions on the part Of indiserest or un-
prlncipied politicians to rouse anew the storm which
has just subsidized.
We do not intend to judge with harsh judgment
tie Senator from Missouri-we will not say that he
ss either indiscreet or unprincip'ed-we will not say
the' his purpose is to Lash into fury the public mimi
we will not say that he burns to do anything harm.
iui 20 others, or Of benefit to himself, in saving his
country" but we do say that the Senator from Mis-
49, '-~PP".s""o peituu ior Lis
mission and that he has begun the task in a manner
which will hardly fail to arouse opposition to his
course and call down npon his hoad censure from
thcss whom he handles so freely and Unfortunately
in his public addresses. Whether this opposition
shal rebound to the stability or salvation of the
country, would, to say the least, be a matter of ques-
ton, ii the country we're 10 danger.
Fer the last twenty-five years. says the Senator
from Missouri, "a design has been prosecuted by pro
minent political men Of the South to bring about a
dissolution Of the Union"
The names Of these prominent political men are
not given. What they have dous-what they have
said, indicative Of go foul a purpose, are equally a
mystery. Perhaps the lecture discloses these preg.
nant facts. Why were they not given7 Who were
the ~trsitorsi Are they dead or alivei Has Mr.. Ben
ton thrown of his representative cloak to gibbat the
names of Southern gentlemen and statesmen in the
Gsss, or has he singled out by name the foes to his
country, who for so long a period for a quarter OF
a cen;ury-have maliciously designed and wickedly
eontrived and plotted the ruin Of the %country1 Du
ring that period the Senator from Missouri represent
cd one of The sovereign States of the Union in the
Federal Senate. What whispers Of Treason" were
there given7 What indications Of foul work. What
signs OF treachery7 Was the North without a trail
tori And was the design wholly confined to promi-
pent political men of TIE South
We cannot undertake to vouch the good faith OF
all who have represented the South on the floor Of
Congress- and in National and State Councils. Many
from the South, as from the North, have aapired to
the position Of prominent statesmen. whom the Al.
mighty never designed for the post. Many have
filed ofhoeso OF distinction without being distinguished,
either for talent or forethousht or political ssgscity.
Among the best of these, some may have been found
who cherished the design the Senator from Missouri
eDenka nS III p,,r h,vo -l i.--
them. But that any prominent political men
OF the South looked upon as representatives Of
Southern sentiment, can DO pointed to, as for twenty.
five years. or for a day, seriously cherishiug the de-.
sign to Dissolve the Union, We do not believe, and
we shall await further disclosures than have ye,
reached us from the Senator from Missouri, befor.
we shall credit a fact go startling and significant.
The South has had bold defenders of her rights
able and vigorous def. nders, who have manfully
maintained her cause. Would to Heaven she had
had more. But, this surely does not indicate 'ths
design" the Senator speaks OF.
Would he have US bow in humble alteration to our
"msstsrs' at the Northi Would he have Southern
Statesmen resign Themselves to iuglorious ease, while
the rights and liberties and properties of Southern
patriots we're at stakef Would he check as iniouI.
tous and reasonable designs, the course Of such men
sc Calhodn and Giles and Madseni Would be tell
Us that our true friends, and the true friends of the
country, are Southern statesmen who, on every para.
mount question affecting the position Of the South
in The oontederacy of these States, are found casting
thsir votes beside Hale and Sumner and Giddingsi
1T these be the opinions Of the Senator, we shall
thank God that traitors to such opinions have been
found among the ranks of Southern sta,esmsn-even
though the oheri'hing of such opinions shall call
forth Mr.. Benton'' phi!lipios against the living and
the dead. And We would seriously urge upon him