Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-12

THOMAS HAKr BENTON, the last survivor of
the able corps Of statesmen who so much distn-
guished the last generation Of our public men, in
the national councils, died at Washington. on
the morning of Saturday, April 10, at the hour of
half.past seven. From the intelligence of his
condition for the few previous days, this was en-
trely expected His death sewers the last link
which binds the present generation with the past
Of our active public men Martin Van Buren,, it is
true still fingers with us, hale and hearty, at the
same advanced age with Col. Benton, both hsv-
ing been born the same year, Tin l7S2) but Mr.
Van Buren, long since withdrew entirely from
public life, and from taking any prominent inter
est in public or political events. Not so with Mr..
Benton. He maintained to the last the most in
tense public interest i'll passing events, political
and otherwise. and labored with the most undi
vided zeal and assiduity to his latest expir-
ing moments, to complete the great work Of his
life, his Arrangement of the Debates Of Congress.
The following from the Washington correspond
snce of the New York Tribune written April 6,
four days previous to his death, will convey bet
ter idea of the character of the man, and his con-
duct in the closing moments of his eminent ca
reer than We can otherwise express, or gather
from any other quarter;
.'Col. Benton is dying. His disease, cancer
Of the bowels, has made such progress that he can
not survive much longer. He suffers extreme
pain, and is exhausted to almost the last degree
Of physical prostI alton. But his mind is as
clear and as powerful ever, and the high, reso-
lutte, Roman spirit of the old statesman struggles
with indomitable energy and toTtitude against
sickness and weakness and the awful presence
Of The king of terrors. He dies in harness.
working to the last for his country and mankind.
An old and intimate friend from Missouri called
upon him this morning. Benton was in bed,
scarcely able 10 move hand or foot, and not able
to speak much above whisper But he was
hard at work, closing up bis Abridgement of
the Debates of Congress, which he has brought
down to 1850, to the passage Of the compromise
measures. He was debating the closing chapter
Of the work. His daughter, Mrs Jones' sitting
beside the bed received it, sentence by sentence,
whispered in her ear, and repeated it aloud to her
husband, who wrote it down. 1t was then read
over to Col. Benton, and received his cOrrec-
tions, made with as much anxious particularly as
il it were the maiden work OF young author
Resting a few minutes from his task, Col.
Benton entered into conversation with his Mis-.
souri, friend He told him that in reviewing the
events of 1850, he was glad to lind that the ami
mosities Of the past had died out in his heart, and
he not only ready but eager to do justice to
his former rivals and open opponents He spoke
with much feeling Of Mr.. Clay, to whose merits
and services he had awarded the highest praise in
what he was writing about the compromise period
OF 1850. He dwelt particularly on the service,
the great service, MT. Clay had rendered TO the
republic at that time by battling and putting
down the traItorous secessionists Of the South,
who were seeking to destroy the Union and
plunge the country into civil war for their own
selfish and ambitious purposes.
The inspiration of this theme fired the languid
blood and terminated for moment the failing
frame Of the dying patriot In energetic whis-
pers, he told his visitor that the same men who
had sought to destroy the republic in 1850 were
at the bottom Of this accursed Lecompton bust
ness. Among the greatest Of his consultations in
dying was the consciousness that the House OF
lGepresent ,tives had bsffed these reasonable
schem,s, AMI put the heels Of the people on the
neck OF the traitors. Few events in our history
had given him so much satisfaction as the defeat
OF Lecompton. He warmly praised the intrepid
and incompatible Douglas Democrats who had
resisted the power and the wiles of a corrupt and
delrded administration
In taking leave Of his friend. Col. Benton said
that, although there was much in his life that he
regretted, he could honestly feel proud on his
death bed, OF his devotion to his country, in
whose service he had never been faithless or neg
ligent"
A telegram, dated Washington April 10, an.
nouuces that President Buchanan had an inter.
view with him the previous night, II states that
Col. Benton chad his senses up to the latest mo-
ment, and made every preparation for his depart.
ure, as II he was leaving for st. Louis"
Col. Benton was a native Of North Carolina,
and born near Hillsboro', Orange county, March
"a, 1852, and was consequently little over sew.
years Of age at his death. His father died
wksn he only eight years Of age, thus leaving him
70 6ght his way through his minority in the &C.
QUESTION Of an education, as best he might. He
was but very snort time inside the walls Of a
college OF university, and fnished no course Of
study there, being indebted to his own indomita.
Bile industry and perseverance, for the immense
amount Of learning and knowledge Of men and
things, whether Of classical, political or seen-
tihc nsiure, which he sfterward amsssed, and
which he displayed in his speeches and writings,
80 sminsnilg characteristics Of a profound and