Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-04-23


of Buchanan, and inclined to unite with the
opposition that presented in the republican
party.
AFTER his defeat in 1856. Colonel Benton
devoted his time again TO literary pursuits.
Even before that time he had begun his
Thirty Years View Of the working of the
government This was contemplated and
published in New York in 1854 1t is a re-
Prospect Of the period during which he held
seat in the senate Of the United States, and
presents connected narrative of the times
from Adams to Pierce, developing much Of
the secret history Of the men and politics of
that epoch. No sooner was that off his hands
than he engaged in the still moro laborious
task of condensing, revising and abrdging
the debates of Congress from the foundation
of the government to the present time. In
this work, although at the advanced age of
&c, his daily labors were almost incredible,
and such few men in the prime Of manly
life could support This was accomplished
in great part by means Of a robust constitu-
ton, temperate habits, regular exercise. and
daily resort to a cold bath His health was
still as perfect, his mind as unimpaired, and
his interest in passing events as absorbing as
ever He also wrote in an interval Of leisure
a reyiow Of the decision Of the supreme court
in the bred Scott case which has attracted
great attention. With n strong, industrious
intellect, a dominating character, and a quick
appreciation Of men. Col Benton has oxer-
cised prominent influence upon national uf-
fairs. in Missouri his power was at one time
boundcss, and throughout the West he
moulded public opinion 30 his will for many
years. While adhcring to strict party lines
he was able to effect almost everything he at
I'll 4 "a
drew his party with him against the policy of
presidents and cabinets. In his last attempts
however, he failed. and was forced to rolin-
quish office as q consequence; but this crown
ing struggle was a testimony to his ndopend-
ence and sense of duty that will contribute
no less to his name with postcrity than the
honors he received through party allegiance.
Col Benton was married, after becoming
senator to Elizabeth daughter Of Col James
Mcdowell. Of Rockbridge county. Va. His
surviving children are four daughtors-Mrs.
William Cary Jones. Mrs. Anna Benton Ere
mont Mrs Sarah Benton Jacob, and Madame
Susan Benton Boilcau, now mt Calcutta, wife
Of the French consul-gcneral Benton
died in 1854. having been struck with paraly-
sis in 1874. and from the time of that calam-
ity her husband was never known to go TO
any place of fcstiyity or amusement
Mr.. Bcnton's private life was without re-
proach. Temperance, daily exercise, and the
pure enjoyment of his own Preside, kept both
mind and body in working order, and enabled
him to accomplish in his lifetime the labors Of
many men. lie was &c years and p days
old when he died
The Washington correspondent Of the n
Y. Tribune gives tho following particulars Of
his death
His last connected words were this [Satur-
day morning when Jacob his son-in-law.
asked how he felt, to which he family whis-
percd, comfortable and content"
His children and family were at the bed
side till the final summons. A few minutes
before his death the nurse applied ice to his
lips, which were consciously moved for the
acceptable relreshment.
The funeral service will be performed on
Monday, probably, when the body will be
conveyed to st. Louis for nterment, with his
mother, wife and kindred.
His sustcnance for three weeks past was
hardly sufficient for an infant. and it may be
that his life was prolonged by the will only.
His constitution was sound in every respect,
and the disease which precptated his death
was strictly local being cancer of the rcctum
ST. LoUGs.-The free soil sentiment of
this noble city grows with her growth and
strengthens with her strength The compar-
ison of the votes for Mayor at the last two
elections sufficiently demonstrates this fact.
Winner and Filloy are free soil Democrats
and they were elected by the following votes
1851. 1853
Winner. Praue and Lane Finley Taylor.
Majority $50 'V@' ro,i 'V
The St. Louis Dc,aocrdt SAYS that many
gentlemen on the defeated ticket were known /
to be opponents of Slavery, and that fair /.
estimate shows the free soil majority in the |
city, could it be distinctively brought out. TO /
be about twenty-five hundred 1t is rather |
significant of the popular tendencies in Mis-
souri,, when we find the st. Louis Republican
referring to the next election as follows:
1--WE assume, without further prelude. that
the election in August next for members of
Congress and of the State Legislature. and
even county officers, is to be fought upon the
issue distinctly presented by the Black Re-
publlcans, which proposes direct ,par upon
tbs institution Of SLAVERY IN This Statc This
was the issue presented by them on Monday
last in the election in this city, and jefferson
City, and Carondelet, in the two former Of
which they were successful
THE LAST CoNFIDrNcE GAME.-Wo are
undone, shocked, collapsed our feelings vi
olated our confidence destroyed Jessie
Fremont, 'our Jessie, is a humbug, a myth,
oanard, an clectionoering card. There is no
such woman-thore never was. Her name is
Ann-Ann Benton Fremont-plain Ann, and
nothing more.-Jessie was famly nick
name, perpetuated through 1856 to catch
voters and make poetry with The discovery
is fatal TO Col. Fremont in 1860. The re-
publicans can never survive the loss of 'our
Jessie" What becomes of that army of two
year old babies named Jessie Fremont? We
move they have an indignation moeting-in
Hampden Park, Of .-Sprinqfeid Re-
pubiioans.
HoRsEs SOLD AT HGGH F1GUREs.-We
learn from reliable source that Mr.. Hill,
owner of the late famous Vermont Biack
Hagk," has sold within few days, two
promising sons Of this horse, as follows:
"Oseeota,' dark chestnut in color, to G. A.
Austin, Esq, of Orwell, VT, for $1,000:
"hossuh, black in color, to !. l.. Church
Esq, Of West Fairlee, VT, for Si74O.
SALE OF Ex-PREsIDENr Primers HoRsrs
The horses which were presented by the mer-
chants of Boston to General Pierce previous
to his Inauguration as President Of the United
States, were sold at auction in New York on
Friday. Thoy brought S116 . tho ,norcba,t.