New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-25

BASnwe1 Mr.. Cay, a'sr he hsd n'meu 80 80,
sdded-"E he pronounced the sentiment D.
him, Of rasipg the standard OF d'sunon an' u ie
~spce 10 the common Government,
"been, u he follows up that aee'arSao" " -.
"h. oil h. traitor, and hope will meet sne is'e Oh
"ausjtor" Great sppsuse N 'ne sA"e''' VII" Val
Scnltv suppressed by tie Char'l
I,sx.y though. Of gviog 81 account OF this inter-
A. ,hs p,ess. O,bes thought that such an In
..,os TIE utter forgetfuness Of himself Oh the part
~ Gel, Benton in lis dying CONDITION. of the tot, eur
.<pdsy Of kis tho ,ghts 10 work which he WISHED TO
she Useful bic country, of The srdor with whsh be
entered twhle the hand Of death was On HIM into
serficts for the pablo welfare, requiring all the vgor
Of he hfe, deserved cOmmeDorahon. Neson, who
WIS Sheert6 as bis life ebbed away at every successive
ar Of flag being struck to HIN by the enc
my d: TIsfA|gsr; Wolfe who died happy In the arms
Of victory on the shs Of Abraham did not die more
e1argly than Benton when Convinced thai the pots
M hopes Of the nnli6ers were confoupded.
i am sensible that after man is dead every state
mel: in regard to his political opinions male by any
hdlydual engaged in the public controversy should
be scupsiously sfed and receive ABSOLUTE credsnce
unless ccrroborated by proof incapable Of perverson
Now, although Dy Statement: OF Col. Bentons re-
marks was made four days before his death and was
Iubhsted in The TRIBUNE before the event. j VIII
bring this test 10 settle the controversy rto which
am drsgged by those who would serve the Adninls.ra
toD, and vbo therefore have attempted contradiction
Of the hostility TO t. which the conversation with Col.
Benton ! have recOuhted woul1 evidence was felt by
him. Mr.. Jones and Mr.. III AL mite in the effort to
make the impression that he friend Of the Presi-
dent the latter decarir that he expressed himself
"p unuis:ahsale term. Of friendship toward the
President commencing his honesty aud uprghtoess
" Of purpose" TIE former speaks of al further ex-
ample OF vbicA shown in the satisfaction which
"he expressed at interviews subsequent to this time
my visit with the President and Secretary Of Safe,
ard both these tesfers agree in the sereotyped phra
seolegy used in mendipg the executive messure
"thst with respect to the particular question tine Le
compton fraud then vexiDg Congress and the coun-
"try his own desire that il should be speedily set
"tltd in way to promote what with him was the
dominant ides-peace and union among the States"
Everybody knows Sat the only way Their or now Jeff
open by the President through which the vexog ques
ton could be speedily set.led," and is tae edop
ton Of the Lecompton Constitution.
will now proceed TO show, from recorded evidence
m Col. Bentons handwriting, that he opposed
10 Mr.. Buchanan aud his administration, that he
opposed 10 tbe speedy settlement OF the Territorial
question in relation to Slavery in the mode proposed
by Mr.. Buchanan, but, on the contrary he was re-
solved on the agitation Of the subject until the opinion
the introduction of slaves was rendered abortive by
the action Of Congress in the maintenance Of the po
zeal rights of the people. Thst he opposed TO Mr.
Buchanan not merely on the score of his pending
measures but because he has recently given in his ad
hescn to principles adverse to Gen. JacksOns cardinal
doctrine in reference to the independence Of the leg
stive and executive departments of political decisions
of the Supreme Court. and because be believed him
anti Democratic at heart.
In proof Of the first position ! give the following
extract Of biographical notice of him prepared by
intimate personal friend which subjected TO Col.
Bepton's revision bears the mark Of it from HE
per- and which, in giving the private motives and rea-
sons of HE conduct which could only be derived from
himself may be considered an autobiography. Now,
here he declares;
"In the Presidential election Of November, 1856, |
Col Benton supported Mr. Buchanan in position to
his own hin Jaw Col Fremont The reason assigned
by him was a confidence that Mr.. Buchanan, if |
elected would restore the principles OF the jackson
Of Col Fremont would epgender sectional parties fnal
10 the permaaeHce OF the Union. lie soon after san Oc'
easioH to change both opinions, and although az retire
aat he .G?ay .g0'ed the Aas ms q t 1a
presented Itself IA the Republican party.
Here it appears that he abandoned Buchanan and
because he had his opinion both as to
him and Col. Fremont in regard to their influence
touching both general principles aud sectional parties
The reasons which operated his mind favOrsby TO
Col. Fremont are manifested in a paper IL his own
handwriting which he gave to Col. Fremont a. their
ssst meeting and will do him honor should he ever
think ft to make il public. The grounds upon which
be had received to base his opposition to the policy OF
the Administration will be found in the following pa
per- which be sent to my to submit to the Repub-
Eesn party in Congress, after consulting the friends
named in the note with which introduced il:
Note addressed to +. p. Blair, jr.
"MEssRs.: think the time has come ~ get ready
10 act on the subject mentioned to you and send
dIaf Of seven resolutions the last taken from Jack
cons Bank veto message in 1872; also preamble and
previso would wish you to consult immediately
with friends, especially Hamlin and King, Of tt,
Senate. Yours, B..
Resolutioas Preamble aud PyorisO referred 10 and IN
closed az the ADORE
al. ResoIred, That the judicial power Of the United
States does not extend to Political questions, aud that
all pretended decisions Of such questions by the Fed
ersl judiciary are illegal and void.
". Rcsoised, That the late decision Of the Supreme
Court in the case Of bred Scott against Sanford so far
called the Missouri Compromise act is the decision OF
q political question not within the jurisdiction OF the
Court and 10 illegal and void.
"3 Received That there was nothing 10 the case be-
fore the Cou to authorize to take cognizance OF the
validity OF the Missouri Compromise act aud the cog
AizAnce 20 taken Of that act was eAraJudicia anu
gratuitous.
T. ResoIred, That the assumption Of the Court TO
make the said decision, when the case on the
record out OF which grew dismissed for want OF
yusdicten wac clear and manifest proceeding with
cat any Judicial authority, and illegal and void.
.. Resoiced, That tie decision Of the me Court
In the same case. declaring the self extension Of the
Constitution 10 Territories carrying African Slavery