Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-04-16
nnnth on lion. Thomas nj. Renton.


year Of his age. The deceased was one
Of tho ablest statesmen Of the nation, and
had been intimately connected with the
government. for nearly forty years. He
has descended to the grave full of years
: and honors. and the intelligence Of his
demise will be received throughout the
country with profound regret. 1t is sta
ted that his dying moments were distin>
guished by the same calm fortitude which
characterized his long and painful illness,
: Almost up to the moment OF his death he
worked with the full force Of his indomi-
table energy upon his great work. the
Abridgemsnt Of the debates Of Congress.
BY force Of will. apparently. he suspend
!. cd physical dissolution until that work was
completed. and he. in fact, brought it
down to the time proposed. viz to the
end OF the compromise session Of 1850.
For over thirty years Colonel Benton was
. resident Of Washington, and the people
Of the federal city. where all his children
have been reared and educated, have
long regarded him as one of them.
Mr.. Benton was born on the 14th Of
March. 1888. at his fathers residence.
near Hillsborough, Orange county. North
O0E0llua. x16 was 66ub W ot
Chapel Hill, but left it before completing
the regular course, and commenced the
study Of the Law at William and Mary
College. under St. George Tucker. His
father having died when he was only 8
years old, his mother removed to Ten
nessee. where he began to practice his
profession. 1t was then that he first be-
came acquainted with Andrew Jackson,
Who was then judge of the Supreme
Court, and afterwards Major General OF
the militia. He was appointed one OF
Jaekson's aids de camp, and when the
war With England began, he raised re-
gimeDt Of volunteers Of which he was
chosen Colonel. In 1918. the volunteers
having been disbanded. President Madi.
son appointed him Lieutenant Colonel.
but before he had any service. peace was
proclaimed and he resigned his commits
sion.
In 1916. he removed to 81. Louis
Whre he combined with the practice Of
his profession, the conduct of q newspa.
per. called the Missouri Argus. Those
we're stormy times for Western editors.
and he had to engage in several duels, in
one Of which he killed his antagonist.
When Missouri was admitted to the I'm
ion, in 1891, he was one of her first SEN
ators. having been elected by the Legis-
lAture. which met in 1890. previous to
the admission. For six successive times
he Was elected 70 the same post. retiring
finally from it in 1851. He supported
the administration Of President jackson
and Van Buren, with great energy espe>
eially sustaining Jackson in his war upon
tho United States Bank. and afterwards
indicating him by obtaining the passage
Of tho resolution expunging the resolu.
posits.
AS the apostle Of hard money cur
rency. Mr.. Benton became an idol of q
large portion Of the most radical of the
Democratic party. During all that Pc
Rod of thirty years. Mr.. Benton was one
Of the most conspicuous orators in the
numerous exciting scenes that success
siVely arose.
After leaving the Senate Mr.. Benton
Returned to St. Louis, and in 1852, he
was nominated for seat in the national
House Of Representatives. and was elect-
ed. but when he ran again for Congress,
in 1854. he was defeated.
In 1866, he ran for Governor, in oppo-
sition to the regular democratic candi
date. a third candidate (American) being
In the field. The consequences was. that
he was defeated, aud Mr.. Polk. the reg
ular democratic candidate was elected.
After 1856. Col. Benton devoted him.
self 70 the "Thirty Years Vlew"-a mar
Eative Of the political events that occurred
during his senatorial career. Since that
was finished, he has been engaged on ar
abridgment Of the debates in Congress
which occupied him to the the last. Ar
incurable disease (cancer of the bowels }
had for some time preyed upon him.
Col. Benton was married. subsequent
~ to his irst election as Senator. to Eliz'
sbeth. daughter of Col. James Mcdowell
OF Rockbridge county. Va. His surviv.
ing children are four daughters-Mrs
William Cary Jones, Mrs. John G. Ere
mont, (now ON her way to California.
Mrs. Sarah Benton Jacobs, and Madame
Susan Benton Beileau, now at Calcutta
wife Of the French Consul. Genral. Mrs
Benton died in 1854. Col. Benton was
devoted husband and father. and since
his wife's decease has avoided all gaiety
and public amusements. His politica
life is part of nations history. He was
= laborious, jealous and able member o.
the Senate, and skilful. impressive and
digni6ed orator. There are few public
men living who enjoyed to a greater de-
gree than he did the confidence and re-
spect OF all parties.
The following is the letter Of the de
ceased written to Gen. Houston and Hon
Geo. w. Jones. and which was read in
the House of Representatives on Friday
C STREET. WASHINGTON. Aprl 8. 1858
To you, as old Tennessee friends,