Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-04-16
From the Washington Union, 18th inst.
Death of MIR. Benton.

Death of MIR. Benton.
Mr. Benton died at his residence this city yesterday
morning. after an illness of several days The event
was not unexpected by bis family, and the country has
long been prepared for the announcement Up to with
in single day of his demise he continued to labor at
the great work he had undertaken-the Condensed Con
gressional Debates which, believe he had nearly
brought to close His age was eXtreme-we belleve
about seventy-fve And his life had been full of hon
ors the award of his felow-men did he die full OF
years, the boon Of Providence.
/ His disease was cancer in the bowels He had endu-
rcd severe surgical treatment few months before his
DEATH and obtained temporary relief His atllcton re-
turned upon him, however, in more aggravated form,
and resulted in lingering and painful death. His in
telcct remained unimpaired to the end, and he made
every arrangement and preparation for his demise with
Roman tOrtltudt.
The President hearing of the extreme illness Of his
ancient compeer called upon him on Friday evening"
The dying statesman declared afterwards his exceeding
qualification at the visit The interview is said to have
been protractel Mr. Benton is said to have expressed
his extreme socitude for the condition of public affairs
and a painful sense of the imminent dangers which
threaten the country He is said to have exhorted the
President to rely upon Divine support and guidance
and not upon that Of men, who would deceive him.
Mr.. Benton was Il native of North Carolina, where
he reared His ancestors among the leaders of
the revolution The family Of Harris from which he de-
sended the maternal side, among the early emf
grants from North Carolina who settled in Kentucky
under the name of Pennsylvania colony and who were
supporters of Daniel Boon 1t through this crcum
stance that Col Benton led to choose the West for
his home when he had grown to manhood and left the
army. He established himself at Nashville, rather than
in Kentucky, where he Immediately to distinction
at the bar. About the year 1915, he egrated again.
still westward to ST. Louis, Missouri. His senatorial
life, which lasted for the unprecedented period of thirty
years. commenced in 1920 when he was elected by the
legislature of Missouri anterior to the formal admission
of that State into the Union His history since that
hog hot of Tho
country and for twenty-five years constituted Of
the most thrilling and usrious pages of the history of
the democratic party.
At the beginning of his senatorial career Col. Ben
ton sat on the committee military Affairs with
Gen Jackson of which they were both industrious and
valuable members, General Jackson being the chairman
Here necessarily renewed that intercourse which
had i'll former years in Tennessee been most friendly and
intimate but which had received unhappy Interrupt
ton from which became historical. This
second intimacy and mutual confidence and reliance
tnue thenceorward as well known during the whole
of General Jacksons eVentful and conspicuous public
service The early alienation never alluded to be-
tween the two friends until two evenings before
General JacksOns final departure from Washington for
the Hermitage in March, 1888, when very solemn and
affecting conversation occurred the nature of which
may readily conjecture, but which of has
TRANSFERRED
Mr. Benton was a determined member of the OppOsi-
ton to Mr.. Adamss administration during its whole
presidency, and Of the main pillars of support
to his two administrations. 1t is unnecessary to specify
the particular occasions which he distinguished him
self in his conspicuous parliamentary service The pam
ic session. however, cannot be passed without special
notice. In this Mr.. Benton sustained aided by few
powerful democratic debaters, among them now
President the whole brunt of the tremendous attack by
which General JackSon's administration then as
sailed with fury and powerful array of talent and eo-
quence before since witnessed in any legislative
hO1U lie thnrp To tho fio
ranked him among the first intelects and states
men of his age, and have placed his among those
of our first American statesmen.
His controversy with Mr.. Clay in the famous veto
debate in 1882 affords perhaps, as striking specimen
of his powers in the gadiaOn of debate any that
could be selected If either knight in that celebrated
encounter was borne wOrsted from the ground
| tainly not the democratic orator.
The measure upon which he won the largest degree
of popular ecat was, however, that of the expungng
resolution, measure which he himself conceived and,
without broaching the subject to human being, moved
in the Senate 1t the 18th of January, 1887, at
the close of the long debate which had occurred this
famous resolve shortly before the vote was to be TAKEN
that Col Benton rose in his place, and-addressng HIM
self to the chair, in the of brief and emphatic
speech referring back to the scene which had been en-
acted in the Senate chamber three years BEFORE the
adoption of Mr.. Cays memorable resolution of conde-
nation upon Gen. Jackson for the removal of the depos-
it's and to his prophecy, then earessly hazarded
|
of the United States from the journal Of the Senate
uttered the welknOwn words which synOnymeS of his
name,," SOLITARY AND ALONE | SET THIS BALL IN MO-
TON
We believe that it was in 1851 that Mr.. Benton re-
tired from the Senate. During the last dozen years.
though the mortal part has fingered amongst the living
yet has the esteem of generation for him been chiefly
retrospective and been chiefly concentrated in the his
torca man as he was in the pride of intellect and in the
prime OF manhood.
Iotor of Mr.
been appropriately devoted to registering the events of
those in which his intellect and his fame were at their
zeninth. His two great historical works, the Ihttu
Years tec and the fbrdgment, though they may not
be exempt from defects and bemshes are valuable de-
posltories of political knowledge, aud the former will
popularze period of the history of institutions that
will exert great influence upon the destiny of our
country any of equal length through which has yet
passed.
1t would be superuOus to dwell upon the character
OF man whose name and history are as familiar as
household words among the American people. of gil
gantc intellect strong physical constitution and impOs-
ing presence, of inteXbe WILL undaunted coafage i'm
mense application, vast eruditiOn, CapaciOus memory
direct manner Of thought and nervous emphatic eo-
quence-lt impossible that he should have lived
under institutions like and failed to reach and figure
upon the most conspicuous theatres of action-impossi
bic that he could have failed to stamp the impress of his
genius indeby upon our public policy. The history of
no public of our country during the Quarter of a
century which interviewed from 1920 to 1915 more close
interviewer with the history of our country than Mr.
Benton's.
In private life in the circle of his own family. Colonel
Benton possessed Of that sternnes of character and
anguarity of manner that distinguished him in public
AS husband, he was tender, anxious thoughtful and
gentle to degree exceeded and this feature of
character alone would have been conclusive proof of
noble and exalted nature. He was as devoted afec-
onate and assidous father as husband an ndefati-
gable tutor in his household no less proud of the
results of his unremtting abors in this domestic de-
nartment of ntu than of his ennSc1,ous laonr