The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-04-13
The Last Letter OF Col. Benton.

A few days before the death of the
venerable statesman, he addressed the
following letter to friend in st. Louis,
which is supposed to be the last letter,
he penned with his own hand. 1t con-
tains an account of the progress Of the
great labor which he completed with the
termination of his mortal career. II
contains just and eloquent tribate to
Mr.. Clay. Col. Benton had himself out
lived all his own political animosties,
and in all his recent writings has evinced
magnanimous spirit. in his endeavors
to do full justice to his rivals and CO.
temporaries. Into his grave--in imita-
ton of his own generous spirit--his
former opponents will cast all their ami
mosities and prejudices, and will re-
member him only as the honest and
sturdy champion Of what he conceived to
be the true principles of the government
and the lasting interests Of the country.
'!The 9th volume is issuel, and brings
down the abridgement TO the end OF Dir.
Monroe's first administration (lS2l). The
7th volume is printed, and in the binders
hands soon for delivery, and will come
into Mr.. John Quiney Adams administra-
tiCn. The Sth volume lis in the press, and
will come deep into General Jackson's adj
ministration; that, as you see, so fay as
the public and the publishers are concerned,
the great work is half finished. But rs il
concerns myself, am far ahead of the press
and, in fact, almost through. l gave out
publicly that will be done in two months,
but that was to allow q margin for accidents
or mistakes: expect to be done in less than
one month, being now employed on the great
compromise session Of 1S49-50. being the
last of Mr.. Clay's great efforts Oh the occa
sion. lie and appear as antagonists will
respect TO these measures; but the antagon-
; ism was as to the form, and not as to the OBJ
! ieets of the measures. He wished the wholI
z, Of the measures to be contained in one gen
|, oral compromise bill; wanted the sam,
measures COR the most of them, and thei
4 obiects). The omnibus bill miscarried, bu
, the measures passed separately, and wer'
Just as strong on the statute book, in sepa
u rate acts, as they would have been in a gen
eral one. The antagonism then was us t
form and not rs 10 measures, and ended il
= the establishment of the same measures anC
in the accomplishment of the same object
: | VIZ. me YdCWcUttON ~ he Country. II
. abridged debates Will show all this, and tina
y there was real crisis ut tie time-"a crisi
5 big with the fate of Rome"-its pacifcaticl
!: worthy of the last efforts Of Clay, and in nc
|! conn lishing which, his ardent patriotism
: his devotion to the Union. his disregar
g of self, his courageous self-reliance, all ap
y pcared IN their midday force and splendol
: 1t was not the blaze OF the setting sun, but til
o MONDAY blaze Of that great luminary.
u tba-a hos Cf apA r,utri n
I, ways struck ont when the Union was struc
s at, ne seemed to me to be the impersonatio
IS Of UNION, and ready to be laid Us victim o
D its altar.
II This beng the state aad condition of til
|, work, so far advf need rs to Cnabe the publ
: to Judge of it's character (which jadjemcr
&c has. in fact, been most favorable, and ais
to see the near completion of the work. I ie,
justified in expressing the belief that hay
5 rendered a great public service to the Unioi
" l have rendered accessible (and hope al
-, tractive) to the whole reading communit
" the history of the formation of this Union
+ and of the spirit out of which it grew, and
"a the spirit in which 1t was administered, cal
;" rying the noble vessel safely through ever
in danger for near seventy years. | have mao
"a all the knowledge accessible to every read
~ ing man, and knowledge is power.-especia
he ly political power! and as necessary to ador
. public mans life as to enable him to legi
late benefcially for the country and avoid Il
is mistakes and errors which often mortify hin
n self. That is one object of the abridgemen
and high one, but not the highest. I'll
highest lies among the most exalted of hi
= man action! among the objects which won
reconcile distracted Union by showing ii
Il examples of moderation, of justice. Of col
N dtioE of defense, which jointed us togeth
and kept us together. The abridged dcbat
will abound with such examples, and fro
re men of such noble character as will ceiamey
\ venei alton and imitation"