St. Mary's beacon., 1858-04-22

by the adoption Of the compromise acts o.
1850, which we're passed separately, ihOugl
defeated rs whole. They were opposed by
Colonel Benton as fraudulent in regard e
Texas. ard defective in regard to the fugitive
IN 1S47. Mr. Calhoun, to whose doctrines
Colonel Benton had long been opposed, intro
diced in the Senate series Of resolutions de-
clayat09y Of bis views IN regard to the tcrrifO-
rial powers OF Congress, the adlnisio OF States.
ard other questions bearing upon the slavery
isSsfa. These Coluncl Bentan slsnuannetl as
"fre-bFaNd resoinsiel.s lis resile3 cg elsix
sEEEl,ser arr sIiSE LII slfpug izTEy Ia
the Missouri Legislature, who, BY coInbina-
ton with the Wings finally succeeded, 1849-
30, in clecting Mr.. Geyer his successor in the
Senate. In 1852. in order to vindicate his
position, he offered himself in his congression-
al district as a candidate for the House of Rep
resentativcs, and was elected. During his term
iii the House he made an elaborate speech
against the Kansas Nebraska bill. In 1854.
l:r was defeated in his district bv a coalition of
his odd opponents and the American party In
1896, he Canvasscd Missouri a. candidate for
Governor, but was defeated by TrllSton Polk. i.
LOW q member of the United State Senate. III
the presidential campaign of 1856. he sup
ported Mir Buchanan, III opposition to his sou
in-law. Colonel Fremont
In May. 1856, Colonel Benton completed
and published his Thirty Years View. con-
tanning a retrospective view of the workings of
the G.,vernmcnt during his senatorial career.
After his defeat in lS56. be resumed his literi-
ry lAh"rS. and began his great work of abridg-
img, condensiug. and revising the debates Of
Congress from the foundation of the Govern
=. tt,n
upon which he aborcl with extraordinary
cmcr@r and industry. i.c is understood 10 have
hr1a3ht down Ia tie close of the compromise
session of 1850. having applied to it the cner-
gi;-S nf his great mind until within few hours
before his death. He also wrote. in an inter
val e! leisure, a review Of tn" decision
Of the Supreme Court in the bred Scott
ease.
Colonel Benton was married on the 2Ist of
March, 1921, shortly after being elected to the
Senate. to Elizabeth, daughter Of Colonel
James Mcdowell, Of Rockhr;!gc county. Vir-
sinia. His only son accompanied Colonel Ere
mont on his second expedition. but was to re-
llnqui>h i, and soon after died. His sur
rivinE children are four daughters Mrs.
William Carey Jones Mrs Jessie Benton Ere
mont Mrs. Sarah Benton Jacob and Ma
dame SuZan Benton Boileau. now at Calcutta
wife OF the French consul-gcncrai. Mrs.
Benton died in 1854, having been struck with
paralysis in 1874.
BY the death Of Colonel Eonton. America
has been deprived of a warm patriot, pro-
found scholar, and great statesman. Too
i"ii'i ot the right to pursue tie cxpedicnt," he
never swcrved from the Path Of duty, even
when consistency WAS sure To result in person.
al sacrifice. Gifted by nature with great.
original mind. lie stored it with vast learning
iy iHdcfati%ab!e industry and then poured
forth the natural and ace Guircd treasures of his
intellect for the good of lis country and tbs
wurld.
"His fair renown shall never fade away,
Nor shall the mention of his name decay.
Though to the dust his mortal part we give,
His fame in triumph 'er the grave shall live. -