Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-04-16

instead of the candidate of their own party.
Mr. Trusten Polk (national dcmocrat,)
was thereby elected by trfing plurali
ty. The result of Colonel Bcnton's can
vass. however, was to restore, in great
measure, the conservative feeling of
the state, and prepare the way for Il
more liberal policy u Don all domestic sub
iccts. His friends up to the hour of election
were sanguinc of his success. He himself
was never so, but felt himself fully repaid for
for all his toll by the impress he had made
| upon public opinions, and the reaction he
! had effected against disunion politics.
"ln the presidential election of November,
! 1856, Colonel Benton supported Mr.. Buchan
an in opposition to his own son-in-aw, Col
oncl Fremont. The reason assigned by him
was a confidence that Mr.. Buchanan Il cleo
ted, would restore the principles of the Jack
son administration. and the apprehension
that the success of Colonel Fremont would
cngcndcr sectional parties fatal to the per
mancncc of the Union. lie soon after saw
occasion to change both opinions. and al
though in retirement he zcalously opposed
the administration of Buchanan, and inclined
to unite with the opposition that presented
IN the republican party.
" After his defeat in 1856, Colonel Benton
|
! Even before that time he had begun his
Thirty Years View of the working of the
government. This was contemplated and
published in New York in 1851 1t is Il re
Prospect Of the period during whicl, he held
a seat in the Senate of the United States.
and presents connected narrative ofthc times
from Adams to Pierce, developing much OF
the secret history Of the men and politics of
that epoch. No sooner was that off his hands
than he engaged in the still more lahoriou>
task of condcnsing, revising and ahridging
the debates of Congress from the foundation Of
the government to the present time. In this
work, although at the advanced age of 20,
his daily laburs were almost incredible. and
such as few men in the prime of manly life
| could support, This was accomplished in
great part by means of Il robust constitution,
temperate habits, regular exercise. and daily
resort to a cold bath His health was still as
perfect, his mind as unmpaircd, and hi- inter
est in passing events as absorhingas ever. lie
also wrote in an interval Of leisure a review of
the dccisionof the supreme court in the bred
Scott case, which has attracted great atten-
ton. With a strong, industrious intellect,
dominating character. and a quick APP
probation of men, Col Benton has exercised
prominent influence upon national affairs
In Missouri his power was at one time
boundless, and throughout the West he
moulded public opinion to his will for many
years. While adhering to strict party lines
he was able to effect almost everything he at
tempted, and often standing forth alone he
drew his party with him against the policy
of presidents and cabinets In his last at
tempts however. he failed. and was forced to
relinquish office as consequence but this
browning struggle was testimony to his in
/ IpnppIYppn md Of Inf ha
tribute no less to his name with postcrity
than the honors he received through party
all egiance
"Col. Benton was married, after becoming
senator. to Elizabeth, daughter Of Col James
Mcdowell, Of Rockhridge county, Va. His
surviving children are four daughtcrs-Nrs
William Cary Jones, Mrs. Anna Benton
Fremont, Mrs. Sarah Benton Jacob, and
Madame Susan Benton Buileau. now at Cal
cutta. wife of the French consul-gcneral. -
Mrs. Benton died in 1854. having been
struck with paralysis in lsi4, and from the
time Of that calamity her husband was never
known to 60 to any place of festivity or
| amusement
Mr.. Bcnton's private life was without re
proach. Temperance, daily exercise, and the
pure enjoyment Of his own iresidc, kept both
mind and body in working order, and en-
ahled him to accomplish in his lifetime the
labors of many men. lie was &c year. and
- days old when he died
The Washington correspondent Of the
y. Y. Tribune, gives the following larticu-
lars Of his death
His last connected words were this (Satur-
d"y) morning, when Jacob, his -uu-iu-law,
asked how he felt, TO which he family wills
pered, " Comfortable and content"
Ills children and family We're at the bed
side till the final summons \ few minutes
before his death the nurse applied lee to his
lips. which We're consciously moved for the
acceptable refrcshment.
The funeral service will he performed ON
Monday, probably, when the body will be
conveyed to st. Louis for intcrmcnt, with his
mother, wife and kindred
His suStcnancc for three weeks past was
hardly sufficient for an infant, and it may he
that his life was prolonged by the will only
Ills constitution was sound in every respect .
and the disease which precipitatcd his death
was strictly local, being cancer of the rcctun