Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-21

to between the two friends until one or two
evenings before Gen. Jackson's final departure
from Washington for the Hermitage in March,
1888, when a very solemn and affecting conver-
sation occurred, the nature of which we may
readily conjecture, but which Of course has
never transpred.
Mr. Benton was determined member OF the
opposition to Mr.. Adams' administration during
his whole term. He warmly supported Gen.
Jackson for the presidency, and was one OF tue
main pillars Of support to his two administra-
tiuns 1t is unnecessary to specify the particu-
lar occasions OH which he distinguished himself
in his conspicuous parliamentary service. The
manic session. however, cannot be passed without
special notice. In this Mr.. Benton sustained,
aided by a few powerful Democratic debaters,
among them our now President the whole brunt
of the tremendous attack by which General
Jacksons administration was then assailed with
a fury and powerful array of talent and elo-
oucnce never before or since witnessed in any
legislative body. His services then rendered to
the Democratic cause ranked him among the
first intellects and statesmen Of his age, and
have placed his name among those Of our first
American statesmen.
His controversy with Mr.. Clay, in the famous
a specimen OF his powers in the gladiation Of
debate as any that could be selected. If either
knight in that celebrated encounter was borne
worsted from the ground, it was certainly not
the Democratic orator.
The measure upon which he won tue largest
degree of popular cclat was, however, that OF
the expunging resolution, a measure which lie
himself conceived, and, without broaching the
1,o,,p SoOypd in q
1t was on the 18th OF January, 1887, at the
close of the long debate which had occurred on
this famous resolve, shortly before the vote was
to he taken, that Col. Benton rose in his place,
addressing himself to tue chair, in the
course of brief and emphatic speech, referring
back to the scene which lad been enacted in
the Senate chamber three years before, on the
adoption of Mr.. Clay's memorable resolution oi
condemnation upon Gen. jackson Tor the re-
moval of the deposits, and to his own prophecy,
then fearle>sly hazarded, that that resolution
should be ezpu,yed by the people Of the United
States from the journal of the Senate-uttered
the wel-known words, which are thesynonymes
of his name, "soLITARY AND ALONE SET THIS
BALL IN MOTION"
We believe that it was in 1851 that Mr.. Ben
ton retired from the Senate. During the last
dozen wears, though the mortal part has fingered
amongst the living, yet has the esteem Of our
generation for him been chiefly Retrospective,
and been chiefly concentrated in the historical
man as he was in the pride of intellect and in
the prime of manhood.
These later years Of Mr.. Benton's e1enttul
life have been appropriately devoted to regis
terinc the events of those in which his intellec!
and his fame were at their zeninth. His two
great histaric.l works, the Thirty Years. piew
and the Abridgn,ent, though they may not be
exempt from defects and blemishes, are yalua-
Bile repositories of political knowledge, and the
former will popularize period Of the history
Of our institutions that will exert as great an
influence upon the destiny Of or country as
any equal length through WI p yet
passed.
1t would be superGuous tq upon the
character of man whose nj history are
as familiar as household among the
American people Of ggd kellect, strong
physical constitution and b presence, Of
ifniexible will, undaunted cot Ee, immense sp'
plication. vast erudition, capacious memory, d.
rect manner of thought, and nervous emphatic
eloouence-it was impossible that lie should
have lived under institutions like ours and
failed to reach, and to figure upon, tho most
conspicuous theatres of action--impossible that
he could have failed to stamp the impress o
his genius indelibly upon our public policy