The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-12
THOMAS H. BENTON OF HIS LIFE

49, AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
Condensed from the proof sheets of the Sd roll Ne,y Amer
icdn CyclopadiaI
Thomas Hart Benton was born near Hillsborougb
Orange county, N. c., March IA, 1882 His father
died when he was years old; his early education
was imperfect; he was for some time at a grammar
school, and afterwal at Chapel HILL the University
OF North Carolina, but finished no course of study
there, as his mother removed to Tennessee to settle
on tract of land belonging to his fathers estate
Ihomas studied law and eminence in that
profession. He was now elected to the Legislature,
serving only single term, during which he procured
the passage of law reforming the judicial system, and
OF another giving to slaves the benefit of jury tr
al, the same white men. One of his earliest
friends and patrons was Andrew jackson, at that
time Judge of the Supreme Court, and subse-
quently MajorGenera of the State Militia. Ben
ton became his abide camp, and during the war
also raised regiment of volunteers. 1t was from
that service he derived the title of Colonel, which
has chung to him through life. Notwithstanding
the close intimacy between Jackson and himself,
rude and sudden rupture took place in which Sc
we're pistol and dagger wounds were given, and
produced rencontre that estranged them for many
years.
After the volunteers were disbanded Mr.. Madison
appointed Colonel Benton, in 1873, alieutenantcolo
mel in the army but his way to serve in Canada,
in 1874, he heard the of the peace and re-
signed. He now removed to Missouri and took up
his abode in the city of st. Louis in 1915. There he
devoted himself anew to his profession. Engaging
in the politics of the day he established the Missouri
Argus, became involved in several duels In one of
which he kiedhis opponent, Mr.. Lucas-an eventhe
subsequently deeply regretted. In consideration of
his efforts in favor of the admission of Missouri into
the Union, he was chosen one of the first Senators
from the new State.
From this period his political history may be
said to date as a representative of the west, and
himself pioneer, sympathisng with the hardy
residents of the frontier he successfully advocated
reform in the land system of the General Gov
eminent by which all future sales were changed to
a cash basis, reducing the price to Sl.25 per acre.
But this was not all that was needed. First, pre-
emptive right to all actual settlers; secondly, pc
riodic reduction according to the time sections
had been in market, to make the prices cor
respond with the quality; and thirdly, the dona-
ton of homesteads to impoverished but industrious
persons who would cultivate the soil for given
number of years. and thereby develop the resources
of the country-these all points essential to
the needed reform. Col. Benton apprehended the
full scope of these changes and determined to per-
sst in urging them until they should be accom-
plished. The years 1924, 1926, 1928, accordingly
found him doing battle for such ameloration of the
entire system. A bill embracing these features
was moved by him and renewed annually until it
at last took hold upon the public mind.
Finally President Jackson embodied similar views
in of his messages, and from that date the uti-
mate triumph of land reform became only question
of time Col. Benton next directed his attention to
change the policy of the General Government with
respect to saline and mineral lands which it had
been customary to withhold from public sale and
farm out. By his efforts they were thrown open
to occupancy. During the session of lS29'3O, Col.
Benton sought to effect repeal of the imposts
upon all the necessares of life-regarding these
duties seriously affecting the prosperity of the
Western States.
In directing adventure to explorations in the Far
West, in fixing the attention of Government upon
the early occupancy of the mouth of the Columbia
in encouraging overland transit from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, Col. Benton was also prominent
He first elaborated the project of overland con-
nection; but science expanded and knowledge of
the intervening wilderness became more definite he
strenuously advocated the construction of great
Central Railway.
Upon the wider theatre of national politics the ca
reer of Col Benton was equally remarkable. When
the charter of the Bank of the United States expired
he studied with his usual ardor the whole question
of finance, circulating medium and exchange, and
proposed as the true remedy for existing embar-
easements, gold and silver currency.
The elaboration which he gave to these views
paved the way for subsequent legislation, and did
much to consolidate the sentiment of the Demo-
cratic party in favor of the sub-treasury system.
Throughout the long and critical struggle be-
tween the Administration and the advocates of the
re-charter of the National Bank Col. Benton was
the main stay of the President and the Senate. As
the mover of the ''expurging resolutions he made
himself especially obnoxious to political opponents
but finally achieved success, and gained great per-
sonal triumph.
During the succeeding administration of Mr. Van
Buren,, much of Col. Benton's time was devoted to
the defence of the new financial policy, then being
inaugurated. Upon the questions relating to the
Oregon boundary, the annexation of Texas and va
rious other important matters growing out of our
foreign relations between the Presidential terms of
Tyler and Taylor, Col. Benton took a leading and
influential part. On the first of these he differed
from the Democratic Administration of Mr.. Polk,
which had declared for the line of $40 4O' but the
powerful effort of Col. Benton in which he reviewed
the whole controversy and calculated the claims of
the United States with much force, was not to be
withstood, and the Administration and party were
content to acquiesce in his views, and accept the
line of 400 as the northern boundary.
During the Mexican War, ALSO his services and
intimate acquaintance with the Spanish provinces
of the South, to whose history he has devoted much
proved most useful to the Government.
1t was upon his suggestion that the policy of ''mas
terly inactivity" at first determined upon was
finally abandoned, and a vigorous prosecution of
the war urged in its stead. Valuing highly his
counsels, President Polk proposed to confer upon
him the title Of Lieutenant General with full COM
mand of the war, but the project was never con-
summated. In the slavery disputes which followed
the acquisition of new territory, Col. Benton op-
posed the compromise offered by Mr.. CLAY.
After the rupture between General Jackson and
Mr.. Calhoun, and in consequence of the defence by
the latter of the doctrine of notification Col Ben
ton, in his close utilization with the administration
became the leading Democratic opponent of Mr..
Calhoun on this question, and the personal friend
ship previously existing between these two Senators
ceased from that time.
But the position assumed and the views enunciated
by Col. Benton at this time and during subsequent
years were gradually arraying strong party
against him in the State he had long represented
Disobeying the instructions of the Missouri Lepis
lature with respect to issues made by Mr.. Calhoun
in opposition to the Wilmot- Proviso, Col. Benton
determined to the State and at the close of
the session of Congress returned to Missouri for
that purpose. The result in 1s49-5O was the return
of Legislature largely Democratic, but composed
of opposite wings-the Benton men being in a
plurality. By an arrangement between the wings
and anti-Benton men Mr.. Geyer was elected to
supersede Col. Benton in the Senate.
To vindicate his position, and to break up the as