The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-28
The Blair LIBELs ON COZ BENTON
TO THE PEOPLE or MISSOURI.
wAsuIsoros, July &c. 1853

and the scnaous abuse by the two OF privilege which
they ought 10 have held sacred and which any with
spark OF sensbhiiy in his breast would have counted
A solemn era of his life compel again TO public
communication with reference 10 the latter days OF your
deceased ustrous ex-senator and Representative. And
us the recent publication Of Mr. Blair senior New York.
Tribune Esd inst has been evidently delayed and is
published With especial eye to the election just
impending in Missouri 1t is proper that should address
this first notice of the candalous piece to the people
whom the hoary deasner intended, for selfish family in
terest first OF all to affect Moreover, though the fame
Of Col Benton belongs to the countynay, to cviliza
tion to mankindit must always have peculiar interest
and even sanctity in the State which long him
its confidence and which he 30 long served and to his
last moment held in such affection.
But whether directly to you citizens of Missouri, in
whatever way how painful is to be Obliged to make
these communications at all only be known to the
writerof them. The pain and reluctance in which they
produced could only be endured in of absolute
necessity and duty and only be measured by the
deep adherence and detetaon which, could all the facts
be publicly known and appreciated would haunt the two
vile men who have forced them me. And will state
hefe citizens of Missouri my matured reflection and
vction, that, in all that have OF life in all that
have heard read o. wickedness has been brought
to my notice unmitigated and black take il for all in
all in all Its bearings and relations the crime which the
two f. r. Dlars have attempted against the dying bed
and .osthumous name OF your ustrous dead. The
breast which the warmed viper pierced with his
fngs at least hoog breast The picture which MIR
Blair, sr draws Of himself " stopping oue he says
the dying bed does not therefore, bring to mind any
thing innocent that reptile that destroyed its
benetacto but rather that foul monster that spreads its ill
omened wings aud casts its pestlenta breath only
the helpless the inert and at last pursnes its prey
into the grave.
Blair senior awaited himself of his age his intimacy
in the house. his long association terms OF apparent
friendship with Col. Benton for an interview with the
dying patriot and remained long enough to waste many
respiration of that eeting breath, and nearly to
haust the little articulation that left and, going
away instead Of locking in his breast, sacred thing
the solemn that he had been permitted to witness
and taking to his heart the impressive and touching les
it might have carried to the most obuse of motas
he into the street with loose tongue to retail and
perver it, Yes; within ten minutes OF the time that his
back turned that death chamber his garTuty and
invention at work at what he had and heard
and on the same day through ''his son Fl r. Blair,
juniorhad the scene depicted with eircunstantality
and detail, to give it more appearance of TRUTH to an
anonymous leterwriter and then shifting the burden
to old and intimate friend from Missouri very
natural and happily conceived substitution since the
whole thing intended specially for Missouri consump
ton for 'my son. and his Missouri canvass went to
supply the thoughts of his inamed and vndictive
passions for the words of patriotism and peace which lie
had really heard. Not content with that, no cited
members of Col Benton family for witnesses to his ials
icaon OF Col. Bentons words not alone but
who had been with the dying through all his illness
aud for month alternating between the death
bed of father and the death bed of son,
accustomed to catch the slightest whisper or
call Of each not only me- but ANOTHER, and beloved
only daughter is beloved by father, and that father
Benton, the Blas cite for witness regarding neither
age, sex, condition. occasion; too
solemn for them to disregard confidence too sacred
for them to violate sentiments Of propriety deli
cacy decency restraining them where selfish aim is
gained In thus citing for witnesses these members
OF Col Benons family the Bairs evidently counted
the probability that the piece might attention
altogether that the grief and anguish that would ali
sorb minds in the double bereavement VIC were sui
fcrng and the preparations for the funerals aud the
journey immediately to follow to St. Louis that would
occupy my time, would drive the matter from
brance; or, finally that reluctance to enter into
painful controversy, especially the original piece
anonymous, would restrain me, and the wicked
thing to be passed till such time it might be need
ed and rumphanty brought forward undoubtedly true
since Mr. and Mrs Jones both mentioned as being
present the OCCASION and Ivy their silence had given
assent and countenance
The bellers and death bed deinmcrs counted without
their host. The piece to my attention Sunday
the day after Col Bentons detase and canvassed
by Mr. Jacob another ilaw Of the deceased who in
the meantime with his family had arrived from Kentucky
greatly to relief and consolation, and by myself
and agreed that must necessarily and leaving out
Of view feelings OF Tcpugnance to the task, he
auhoiitatvely contradicted otherwise it would go
into Col Bentons history with apparently the highest
sanction Mr. Jacob believed that the denuncations inn
puted In the piece to Col Benons lips not true,
from the general and temper of the deceased
vcsatons with him and in his presence, and from some
particular circumstances that he and his family
cognzant OF than knec they not true, because
been uttered and also that in the terms OF the piece itself
I could prove its fasty That, however, not pos
sible nor proper time for the contradiction and
dertook make it after my return from ST. Louis and
In such time and manner on reflection should think
most becoming. did what undertook, and did it
with deiberaon and consideraeness without mention
ing any name, nculpang any person, or making it
necessary for any to reply leaving the reader to sup
pose fact that the imputed conversation misap
prehension mistake of the reporter only corrected
by las the fact because my name was vouched in
il for its truth But the Bais not satisfied to have
their purposes baked of general appropriation Of Col
Benton for their pebald politics. and its special
use to bpy his Missouri canpa even in that mod
crate form of my correction to their falsehoods and
hence came from behind their ddled mask acknowledged
themselves to be the delinquens whom had not named
nor pointed to- and attempted to justify their crime and
drive me from the field by three column letter ITO the
public in which the younger modestly introduces
his dffident and unaccustomed sire-not used,
Of age,
To speak in public on tho stage
"a the real culprt and bear thenceforh the brunt
replied to that three column piece In brief note on
the spot Happening to be in New York when it APP
pcared showing that both father and convicted
of fsehood by their own evidence in the outstart AT
ter returned to Washington made more elaborate
reply. which has been published in Missouri In this
letter had occasion to refer to an earlier
appearance of Blair senior in the character OF
and mischief maker, and the man whose maievoent
disposition had produced that estrangement of which
Col Benton spoke in his addresses ia st. Louis in 1856,
MS existing between him and the statesman whom he was
then supporting for the presidency knew the fact from
the lips of Col Benton himself not told to me once or
! twice only, hut many times.
From the time first heard IT, ] hal dislike Of Mr.
I .I<.-I.. AZ, ~