Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-13
G5r aalIp Spp,
TUESDAY. APP II. 10, Is 8



When man of the fame and standing in the
~plitieal world Of Thomas Il. Benton, passes
away, notice of him naturally reVives many ss-
soeistions Of an important kind. connected with
the history Of the politics of the country. 1t 10
partieularIv noticta able fact, that so many Of the
foremos, and rival statesmen Of the generation
yust passed, were born the same year.
Webster. Calhoun, Cass, Van Buren,, and Ben
ton. we're each born in 1882. With each OF the
others the latter upon this list served in the sen
ate. though not with all at the same time ft
for considerable period. and that the pslmy era
Of our nations history, far as the ability OF ne
Legislators is concerned the visitor to the Sens'e
could not fail TO notice the four most prominent
personsses, the lions in that body whose hSu's
were in everyDody's mouth, from the ex'remest
combines Of the republic to its centre, and whose
spesches we're household words with every pom
,;c;s, in IN. land. we mean thegreat iriumvirate
Webster, Clay, and Calhoun, and their worthy
rival. sssociase and equal, Benton
These four names were for long time 50
slosely associated together, in the Teco'ds Oh
congressional proceedings, when giant met giant
IN senatorial debate, that the bare mention OF
FoaAN'NN'
ees Of times gone by, the most important and IN
asres,ins Of any since the organization OF the
government.
From the commencement OF the administra'
sion Of Andrew Jackson, in 1929, to that Of Hsr'
rison and Tyler, in ls4l, duri, all this period
OF tws We years, Webster. Clay, Calhoun, and
Benton, were each in the Senate, rivals and com
, titors for fame, and 1--WE may add with equal
trath) for the Presidency.
But it hiss for long time become impossible
for first class men to reach that high position.
Talent and qualification had to give way before
''availability'' and military eclat." Fourthra'e
men like Tyler, Polk, and Pierce, have too often
won the day over their betters, and disgraced the
chief executive Office of the country, by pander'
ing to pro-slaveIy lanaticism and party prelu'
dice.
Upon the accession Of Gen. Jackson to the
Presidency, Col. Benton became the acknowledg-
ed leader Of his party in the Senate. and III THIS
capacity, after the arrangement Of MI Calhoun
from President jackson. near the commencement
Of bis second term, In 1882, the great Missourian
was obliged TO encounter, single handed, In de-
bate, the powerful tnumvirate then arrayed as
amt against him. But Col. Benton proved equal
10 the task. His most distinguishing and re-
markabls feat was in finally carrying his celebra-
ted "Bxpunging Resolution" in the face of the
Immense opposition, then comprising majority
Of the Senate on this question, after being voted
down at one session, and renewed with charsc'
feristic persstency at the next The efforts of
Gil Benton to carry his point on this matter
oh all nd no
male on it most thoroughly, elaborate and pro-
found. ransacking all human history, ancient and
modern, for material for argument. Mr.. Webster
and Mr.. Clay were the chief speakers upon the
other sid Z, against expunging the obnoxi"us cen
sure of President ,ekson, which was passed in
she Senate. March 49, 1884. On the defeat of
hs A st resolution to expunge, at the session OF
1855. Mr. Webster having made some remarks in
sxlltation Of the Sastory to his side in the sup
posed death Of all attempts to attain Mr.. Ben
TONS OBJ ct, Senator Benton himself arose and
announced. in characteristic phrase, his deter
minatton to renew his resolution at the next
sion, which he did, in 1886, on the third anniver
sary Of the 6rst introduction OF the resolution Of
eensure by Mr.. Clay and tIiumphantly carried
his point, after a severe contest, BY vote Of "a
TO l9. The vote by which Col. Benton's ex-
punging resolution was defeated, the previous
session. was 20 to 27
The final success of Mr.. Benton resolution
has been considered the greatest Of all Gen. Jack
sons civil victories, aud coming toward the close
OF his public career, naturally created in the old
hsro the most Intense qualification, as well it
might, considering the severe nature of the cep-
sure which had been thus officially erased by tie
same body which made it.
Another Of the most marked features Of the
political life of Col. Benton. besides his defence
Of the measures of the Jackson and Van Buren,
administrations, opposition to the National Bank,
and support Of the hard money, sub.tIeasury pol
fey. was his implacabe hostility to Mr.. Calhoun,
during the latter portion of their senatorial ca
Teers. each terminating near the same time, one
by death and the other by defeat This hostility
was particularly manifested on the introduction
BY the great South Carolinian Of his famous res
olutions in lS47. embodying his peculiar ultra
Southern views upon constitutional law and the
rights of the slaveholding States, which the dis
tinRaished Mssourian characterized as sire brand
resolutions" got up for the purpose Of "fOment-
ing secession, disunion, and treason" This ami
mostly was renewed with increased vigor and ex-
tent. in speeches on both sides, during the dis
eussion Of the famous "compromse measures
in 1850, the country being deprived of one Of the
greatest senatorial efforts of Col. Benton, by the
rapidly failing health, and death of Mr.. Calhoun
before the former had delivered himself of what
be bad proposed saying, in reply to the lattci's
last speech in the Senate.
Col Benton was only waiting for Mr.. Cal.
houn's next appearance in his seat, when he in.
tended to come down upon him in a manner more
envenomed in vieor. and more conclusive in ar
gument and point, than ever before. But the
hand Of the King Of Terrors. laid SO soon after
upon the head of his illus,rious antagonist, com.
pletely disaImed the bold and iisscibe Missouriau
Of his desire to pursue the subject and his mag
nanimity would not allow Of hiA reply being made
during the prOstration Of his great rival upon
bed Of sickness. So il was never made.
Nh BENTON -the Washington correspond.
snt q the Philadelphia Enquirer speaking Of the
unabstsd energies OF Mr.. Benton, even in his
dying hours, says;
II havenow before me one Of his characteristic
notes, written only day or two ag0, addressed
-. Il 4