Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-15
A OF COL. BENToN.

The Hon. Thomas Fl. Benton died at Wash
ington early on Saturday morning. The
evening previous to his death he was visited
by the President, with whom he freely con-
versed. The funeral services will take place
this morning, and his remain be afterward
conveyed to St. Louis for interment. A
puplic meeting was held at noon on Saturday
at st. Louis for the purpose ofmaking arrange
ments to do honor to his memory. Eulogies
were pronounced, resolutions were adopted,
and a committee appointed to take such ac-
ton as might be deemed necessary for a pub
lie demonstration of respect on the arrival of
bis remains in that city.
Col. Benton was born in North Carolina in
1888, was educated at Chapel Hill College,
but left that institution without receiving a
degree, and forthwith commenced the study of
law in William and Mary College, Virginia,
under Mr.. st. George Tucker.
In 1910, Col. Benton entered the United
States Army, but did not long continue his
connection. The next year he commenced
the practice of Law at Nashville, Tenn, where
he began his political life by taking a prom
inent part in the struggles Of the time. Soon
after he Femoved to st. Louis Missouri, where
he connected himself with the press, welding
a formidable pen. His prominence and abili-
ty was so generally conceded that in 1920
he was elected Senator from the new State
As Missouri was not admitted into the Union
till August 10, 1921, more than a year Of Mr..
Benton's first term of service expired before
he took his seat. No sooner had he appeared
in the Senate than he took a leading part in
the debates, bringing to every question that
interchangeable industry and stern determine
ton which has characterized him to the close
of his life.
Mr.. Benton was throughout Gen. Jackson's
and Marion Van Buren's Administrations the
main reliance of the Democratic party, and
might fairly be entitled the Ajax of their hosts.
The last few years of his life he devoted to
works upon which his future reputation will
mainly rest. His thirty years in the Sen
ate, and his Abridgement of the debates in
Congress-" are valuable additions to the hia-
torical wealth of the nation. The latter EN-.
ployed his attention up to within a few DAYS,
and the vast labor which he performed fol
the past year may have aggravated his disease
of late years Col. Benton may almost be sale
to have withdrawn himself from the Demo
cratic party, although he nominally surpottee
Mr.. buchanan for President. He was strong
ly opposed to the repeal of the Missouri com
promise, and recently has expressed himself ii
the strongest terms against the Lecsmptol
swindle. But Mr.. Benton did not belong to thu
present era and was not prepaid to take par
in the living issues of the time. He lived ii
the past, and fought the ideal schemes of Mr.
Calhoun, while the practical measures of hi
followers escaped his attention.
Col. Benton approached his end with cour
age, and he requested Congress to make n,
public manifestation at his funeral. He hat
been conscious for weeks of the crisis of hi
case, but the encroaches OF his incurable dis
ease did not once conquer his indomitable en-
ergy and will. Propped up in his bed, he con
tinued to prepare with hia own hands tn
closing pages of his %favorite work, tn,
~Abrldgemetft of the Congressional Debates.
Colonel Benton leaves three daughters, ant
AMONG them Mrs. Eremont, now on her wa,
with Col Fremont, to California, and Mrs
Jones, wife of Mr.. Carey Jones. His wifi
died several years since in Washington. g.
Ef a. &EA2 MEH nML --