American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-05-27
Col. -Denton,s Last waitings,

lfl tS A. J DILDINE,
Auditor Fairfield County.
-r.- Col. ,BentOn,s Last waitings. =
Much has be- q said Of Col Benton 8
last writings. and the notes that he wrote
and directed. for his Abridgment Of Cons
gressiouaI Debates. when on his death bed.
His son in law has been moved by errors
10 circulation CONCERNING these matters.
to publishing card in the Washington
Union. Mr.. w. O. Jones, dates his card
at &c. street." May l7th. 1853 He says:
The last lines intended for publication 10
his "Abridgmeutof the Debates Of Con-
gress" that Col. Benton wrote with his
own hand were to accompany where they
will be inserted) debate In tie Senate Of
17lh June, 1887. and q short, energetic
speech BY Mr.. Webster. This note Of Col.
Benton was: .T.5a~.stn
"It is impossible to read the speeches Of
ibis session. aud hear as it were the last
words Of the last great men Of that won
Jerful time. without having the feelings
profoundly moved oy the deep danger to the
Union which stood before them. aud the
patriotic attempts they made to avert that
danger. This brieflspesch made by Mr..
Webster is noble illusion of the feelings
OF the patriotic sages o. that porIentous
day. They lahored to save their country,
and believed THAT they had done it. I" NJ.
Col, Benton at the time { April 81 that
he wrote this note was very feeble-iu
bed--and suffering acute pain. The pa
per that he wrote on being filed. he de
sired me in copying to add the concluding
words. His strsugth failed him to ado
more at the moment, and he continued hil
work ofahridgment. f3s.I y
On the 9Th Of April, he dictated to me
and I wrote te to be appended to I
debate in the Senate Of July 9s. 1850. il
which the concluding speech was made b.
Mr.. Clay. The note as written was in thes
words: ,,t.i. ...t r..,s ~
"This reference to the truth OF histor,
in relation to the Missouri Compromis
comes here with fullnsss an d peculiarly
which are, not seen elsewhere, and unde
circumstances TO claim for. it the most ab
soIute verify. The person who speaks il
Mr.. Clay the great champion OF the meas
ure. and he speeks under circumstances L
take on himself the full responsibility O
what he says. Il was thirty years afte
the event, and after il had given peace AM
quietito distracted country. Now h
saw the country going into the same dis
traction: disuniou threatened. and seem
ing hrsakng up OF the government in th
death Of great men. One who had bee
Vice President Of the United States ha
Just died. and died at his post. Thos
who were still acting their parts were vel
ging to the termination Of their public an
natursl lives. Everything combined
give solemnity and the. seal OF truth to a
they said In these awful and impressiv
circumstances CLAY renews his testimon
to the Missouri Compromise as Souther
/ measure, OF thirty years. duration. and i
adhers 10 IL as the crowning principle
the measures OF 1850. b.-
It was manifest to me that It was Oo
Benton's intention to have extended th
! note, and especially TO remark on the pai
sage in Mr., Clay's speech so characteristic
Of the large heart and exp 'nsive vision {
the great commoner. as Mr.. Clay in a
lusion to William Pitt. used to ba called
in which he declares his ''paramont allege
10 Tie Dkols Uaion;" and also TO make fur
ther mention than is made Of the CHI
characters that had figured in the sam
epoch. Whilst Col Benton was still dict
ting. however. and hi .miad fred with h
theme, sui with the throngiug memoir,
OF his old compatriots, and thS throngiu
: anticipatiOns OF the Com ming World
which he was already face to face. visi
!, or came--a gentleman whose presenC
was calculated to stir still deeper the foul
tains Of memory. and was gladly welcome
by Col. Benton, and conversed with e
some time. and wi b much animation
The effort was to much for the exhaust'
, frame and exhausted voice. and nome
1 or two after the visitor had retired. the
Dor was obliged to be dssisted from, al
: the note was concluded as above.
4 Mr. w. G. Jones also appends a fe
h paragraphs contradicting the statement tn
|. Col. Benton bitterly denounced the l
! ! compton business almost with his dyil
d breath. Mr.. Jones remarks:
y The impression which received frc
s nearly constant intercourse with Col, Be
}, y ton during the last ten days that he liv
: (ttat is from the time reached Washio
o ton from abroad). was that he kept hi
d self entirely informed of the course
a public affairs. he was to much absorbed
" his actual Iabors aud with g. aver affairs
Is be excited on temporary questions, and
% much inclined to good will :, say anythi
or that could wound or iritate; aud with
|. spect to the particular subject that v
. then vexing Congress aud the country
Is only desire was that it should be speed
le settled ia way to promote what With Il
y y was dominant idsa--peaee and Uni
y, ,e among the States. 4|
y y MARYLAND AMERICANS. Good
!. Maryland the standard bearer Of the Uu
ir 1 a atill VnovinU in tha 0anea Tha 81