Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-13
~, ri, conceptions Ia person. The project, how
~ Wv ~ ..r ..n,nr,nrn tad Tia bill Grazing

ayer was never conSurnmateu luo o'.,' .,1o
.hs rsnk Of Lieutenant General, passed the House:
nr, ,ras defeated 10 the Senate. The acquisition Oh
Wsr;cen territory brought on disputes IN congress
the question OF slavery, which after threat
ling the peace of the country were oy tne
Cnn,nromise acts of 1850 Col Benton oPpoee;u mo
Sp,r,n;s. offered by Mr.. Clay, 10 being vicious
sys,.m of legislation fraudulent 10 rrearu :? ';e
lnuntop and as defective and illJuhgea I'D We
-. in rsgsrd TO the Fugitive Slave Law. ihe
so,s however, though defeated rs whoie' pasSe'''
paratrly. .:Lh.d,ot,sn nlace between
,d in'" TscEson and Mr. Calhoun. and which maae
;ts mark mon parties rs well as persohs' oo' 49,
had warmly espouied the side OF Tue a. i,;
outset Shortly prevousto thst' tne Nary in
Gcs,ion had FIRST been preached at dinner parry "a
osahrson If tbs birth day of Mr.. Jefferson receiving
an sndorsemept from Mr.. Calhoun, ana meeting VIII
strong rabuke from Gen. Jackson Alter the
political AMI sgonism heightened the anilGsy . ",
parties and nufcstion assumed thre"leuns 81 ,ho
tions in the acrimonious disputes cose sfaton
tariff regulations Col. Benton in his CLOSE ai
with the Administration, became the Leading Denio,
cratic opponent of Mr.. Calhoun upon this quesuou ~
the Senate and the dverg ence which theh ihaues.eu
itself grew and widened as years progressed nnu
the fruitful cause of life long hostility and opposou
between them. The adjustment, however was III.
complete and the comp promise of 1888 proved to De
only ul in the storm The same yisws III regard ~
State rights appeared in the field OF politics In coz
necon with the far more complicated question OF 40
mast;c Slavery This was manifested fret IN the con
ct in the House of Representatives in 1885 upon the
discussion of abolition petitions. but the action OF
that body suppressed the cause OF strife, and It
WA mt until 1867 that the same policy was re
nswed. The principles sought to be enforced were ad
mted 10 be identical with those OF the hrst nuihca'
tion movement the assigned aud the machine
nv for enforcement were different Although repre-
septug Slave State. Col Benton did not on account
of The subject matter involved deViate from INC posi-
fiona he had maintained on former occasions.
Atths earliest announcement of the new programme
in the Senate of the United States he stood form 10
the attack. II was the beginning OF warfare lha'
WAS eventually to PROSTATE himself at nome; anu utve
him from the seat he had so long filled IN the SENATE.
| On February 49, lSi7 Mr.. Calhoun introduced Set
of resolutions in the Senate, declaring the doctrines
he wished to insist upon in regard 10 inc TERRITORIAL
powers of Congress- the admission oil Siates, ana Inc
Use of common property, all bsaring directly upon
Ihs slavery question and the exciting issues that had
| besn evoked by the proposed restriction known rs
the "Wilmot Proviso" which required the exclusion
of slavery from all new territory 10 De acquired ny
the United States. They were Immediately aen9unc'
| I'd by COL Benton az " fre-brand resolutions. hir.
| Calhoun expressed his surprise. stating ne hnd e1.
p.ced the support Of Col Benton, IS No was iroIi d
slave State Colonel Benton retorted mat ne nan no
right tn expect such thing. Then saio MI. 20,
houn % shall know where to find the gentleman;
TO which Col. Benton responded, al shall Dc i9und
in the right place-on the side OF my country ahd me
Union" The resolutions never came to vete, put
they cent to the Legislature OF every eiave STATE
were adopted by of them and became the Dasls
of after conflict and party organization. II was d.
t-rmiued by their author to make them the grounds
of instructions 10 Senators in Congress- ana Tor 'hs
purpose they wer. sent to Missouri, and conhded
| to the hands of Democrats in the Legislature I'M
friendly 10 Col. I}enton's 70 election. Without tx
| citing inquiry, aud under the sanction of Leading
members of the party whose fesy was not then cue.
pecied, they were passed in both branches ana sent
To Washington Col. Benton no sooner received the
instructions than he denounced them as not oeing
~. t.la y
dsunon doctrines, and as designed TO produce an
| eventual separation OF the States. lie announced
that he would appeal from The Legislature TO the PEG
pie. and Immediately after the adjournment ot Con
yress returned to Missouri for that purpose lie
began the Of the State and prorecu "a III
every section in series of speeches, which tor Dir
terness Of denunciation, strength of exposition aha
caustc wit, have scarcely their equal in the English
language. The Wing Party of the State at FIRST sus
tanned his position but finding prospect OF reaRng
a triumph of their own from the divisions OF tos De
mocrscy they changed front, and affiliated win the
/ Antics" the Democratic oppnnena OF Coi Dell
| ton were called. The result in lsi9-oo was the 70
turn OF q Legislature largely Democratic OUT com
posed of opposite wings, the Benton men being 10
the plurality Many bsotings 70. Senator we're had
without compromise; but bargain was 81 ieng,h
struck between Wings and Antics, and sixteen Oh
those chosen by the people as Democrats, out un
friendly to Col. Benton. voted for henry o. 1eyer
who was elected. Mr.. Gsyer was Wing, but mao
committed himself to the anti Benton party IN let
ter prior to his election. Many of his party following
his lead they soon coslesced with the opposition
Democrats, and in after compslgns' by adrolt man
agemeDt. they gained control al ths sta'a tfoVe'n
mert This was chiefly effected through tie lnstru
mentality Of Mr.. Sterling Price who, although elect
ed Governor az a supporter Of the views Of Col Den
ton. yet, after a pretended compromise OF the TWO
/ Democratic wings, was no sooner sworn lnto oni'e
than he chengod to the opposition carrying eev
ers Of the other State on,cers along with him. Io
yindcate his position and to break up the asctnden
cy which the called notification party was thHs &C.
curing, Col. Benton, in 1852 made more direct ap
peal 10 The people in the Congressional District IN
which no .acGet announced himself candidate LOT
Congress, and was eeoted oyer all oppciIfion.
In the session that followed he at drstgavs warm
support to the Administration Of President Pierce
but that falling under the control OF tha adhs.
rents of Mr.. Calhoun Col. Benton withdrew his sup
port, ana the Administration in turn making war
upon him, displaced from ot!ce ell his friends
throughout Missouri. Soon the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromises WAS Inooied, and became party
measure in the shape of the Kansas. Nebraska-tl.-
Against this Uo benton eIerted himself W ih oil his
strength, delivering memorable speech in the
House, thGt did much to excite the country against
the act, but failed to defeat its passage The next
election coming on in 1854 Col. Benton wac defeated
in a district by combination ct his old oppo.
nens with The new American party that had just eri
san, and MIR. kennett was returned in hls stend Ne
firing from active politics. he then determined to de-
vote his leisure to writings and study more coDgenia
to his age; but prevailed upon by his friends 10
suffer bic ZANE TO be used candidate for Govern
or of Missouri IN tns sesiion of 1850. Once more
laying aside the pen, 6d starring forth 10 Canvass
tho State, he was received everywhere with enthus
astic applause Immense masses Of people gathered
10 hear him, his old political friends rallied TO his
standard, AID his conrse becaina triumphant pro
cession. But third ist candidates VIVA in the
field representing the American party, alEough mos
Of its members sympathi.ed with Col. Benton, and
those who did not voted for bis adversary instead OF
the canddats Ct their own party. Mr.. Trusleu Polk
National Democrsi thereby elected By rIt.iDg
plurality. The result Of Sol. bent0ns canvsee, how
ever to restore, in great MEASURE the conaerva
tive feeling Of the Ste's and 70 prepare the why tor
more liberal policy upon all 6onesstlc subjects Hls
friends up to the hour or election vera sanguIne oil
his success. He himself WAS never 30, but felt him
self fully repaid for sill hs toll by the impress he had
made upon public opinion, and The re acllon he had
effected again-t disuIion potes
| In the Presidential election Of November, 1856
Colonel Benton supported Mr.. Buchanan in opposition
to hs oyn sOn in law, Colonel Fremont. The reason
assigned by him a Gon:denre that Mr.. Buchanan,
elected, would restore the principles M the jackson
Administration end the appTehous on that the eucceas
Of Colonel Fremont would engfnder SECTIONAL parties
fatal 10 the perDsnence af the Union He soon after
saw occasion 10 change both opinpns sEd, although
in tirement. h. Ssaousy opposed The Administration
of Buchanan, and inclined to unite with the opposition
that presented itself in the Republican party.
After his defeat in 1856, Col. Benton devoted his
| time again 70 literary pursuits. Even before that
time he had begun hIS Thirty Years View" OF the
| working Of the Government. This 9as completed
and published 10 New York in 1854. 1t is retro.
speot Of the period during which he held seat in tho
Senate Of the United States and presents aconneoed
narrative Of the times from Adams to Fierce, devel
opng much of tne secret is,oT7 o: the ren and pol
tic. OF that epoch no sooner wac that Of his hands
than he engaged in the etil more aborious tas6 of
condensing, revising, and abrideng the debates of
Congress from the foundation Of the Government to
the present time In thls work, although al the ad.
vsnced age Of ", his daij3 lsbor9 we're almost in
credible and such na few men in the prime OF manly
life could support. This was accomplished in great
part by meane Of robust constitution, temperate
habita regular exercise, and daily resort to the cold
bath. His health was si ~ psrrecf. hia mind 90 un
impaired and his interest in passing events as sb.
sorbing ever. He also yrots In AL interval Of
| .lia,rn Of ha d.c:1;nn nf tha Snr