Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-04-17
Death of Thomas H. Benton.

Our dispatches rave hnnOunceu ue "e".'
of this eminent statesman, at his residence IN
Washington. last Saturday morning. His dis
ease was cancer in the bowels, and though borne
with heroic patience and fortitude, fatal ter
mination was looked forward to both by the SUI.
ferer and by the sympothizng public. The sad
event has taken place, and we can only give
parting glance at the life now closed. Thomas |
Hart Benton was born in Orange County, North |
Carolina, March H. 1882, of parents who held
an honorable position during the revolutionary
period He was educated at Chapel Hill Col |
icge, leaving however, before receiving his de-
gree, and entering Immediately upon the study
of the law at William and Mary College, Vir-
ginia. The troubled state of our relations with
Great Britain induced him to enter the army in
1910; hut in the year following we find him at
Nashville Tennessee, commencing the practice
of the law. He soon after joined the westward
tide of emigratan, and established himself in
Missouri Territory, where he became the editor
of newspaper, and subsequently resumed his
professional pursuits. Five years residence had
SO favorably commended him to his fellow citi-
zens that in 1920 on the formation OF State
constitution, he was chosen one of the new mem
bers of the United States Senate. 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.
But, with his characteristic industry, the inter-
val was not msspent, but was devoted TO the
acquisition of the Spanish language and litera-
ture He at once took prominent rank in the
Senate, at a time when it comprised the choicest
talent of the country, and his service proved so
acceptable to his constituents that nc was con
tinued in his seat thirty years-making the long
est Senatorial career granted to any statesman
of this country. Its ability was only less re-
markabe than its length. After his retirement
from the Senate in 1851; he was more or less
connected with the partisan movements of the
day. and represented st. Louis in the House of
Representatives for one term; but his public
| life was substantially over. In his Thirty
Years View" however, and his "Abridgment Of
the Debates of Congress" his public usefulness
was not only continued but enhanced. They
will ever remain monuments OF their authors
powers at a time of life when the most of even
intellectual men are incapable of connected ex-
ertion, and will ever serve as the manuals OF
those who would understand the political his
tory of this Republic
Such is the briefest outline Of Mr.. Benton's
career. To fill it up adequately would be near
" tantamount to writing the history OF the
country's legislation from 1921 to 1851. His
voice was heard on every question OF magnitude
and but few measures were left unnfuenced by
his advocacy or opposition. His industry was
unbounded. He examined everything for him
self, retained every fact which crossed the field
of his attention, and delivered his mind with the
most unrestrained freedom. Some ofhis speech
es remain decided curiosites, when the topics
that prompted them have gone into oblivion.
They are rhetorical conglomerates drawing ar
guments from every science and illustrations
from every thing. He pours out fiery stream
of pure logic, excoriating bits of personal sar-
casm, homely anecdotes, illusions to ancient
mythology, pertinent facts of history, comicali-
ties of the West, and whatever else occurs to a
grotesque imagination, all with an oyerpower-
ing carnestness which Yields them into efiicien-
a CIV for his purpose. His mental framework was
so sturdy and his will so energetic that he ca
SLY carried burden Of facts that would have
broken down an ordinary debater. 1t is hui
I Just to say, however, that his taste improved
g with advancing years, while his intellect showed
II no abatement of frutfulncss or force. Among
z the questions with which Mr.. Benton's memor
a able efforts will long be associated was the grea
sectional contest of 1880, in which Webster ant
: Hayne were the principal figures, the L. S. Banl
i controversy. the Expunging Resolution, thu
: Hard Money discussions. Notification, the Wa
: with Mexico. the Annexation of Texas. the Com
;. promise of 1850 and the Pacific Railroad.
TT .-,ns" t;nnns.-- sumcient nonor 70 Mr
:, Benton to say that he stood within the from
rank OF contcmporaneous statesmen. Without
. the analytic skill and intense intellectually O
Mr.. Calhoun, or the magnetic eloquence of Mr.
. Clay. or the mental grasp and simplicity of Mr.
webster, he had fund of information scarcel,
! equaled by any. an adhesiveness of purpose thai
. made him quite as valuable to good cause, ant
u. certain bluff, genial nature which kent him il
communion with the popular instinct. and con
sequently identified him with a greater number
. OF successful measures than fell TO the lot of eli
ther OF his distinguished compcers. His phys
cal constitution comported with his mental rem
dering him of proud men and of peculiar and
impressive manners. This sef-assertion. com
= bned with species of Johnsonan wit, otter
e resulted IN humorous remarks, of which ever,
e newspaper reader remembers specimens. Fur.
+ ther than this, he was no egotist His strong
n nature would reveal itself, and, conscious o.
n none but the purest of motives. and engaged
: heart and hand in the pursuit of noble objects
t he let his nature have full play. This freedom
: was one of his finest characteristics. tenabled
\ nm to rise above the prejudices of party and
4 section. Democrat, he boldly resisted Dem.
e ocratic administrations and measures, whenever
: his own Judgment did not allow him to conform
r Shareholder, he wished for no extension ofthe
: system, and fought its propagandists as the en-
enies OF his country. A Southern man, his
: sympathles and labors embraced nothing short
I. OF the whole Union, while those who were plot
;, ting for secession were, in his view, the men of
S ted. Such statesman, whatever his political
: views, had warm friends in every town and ham,
let in the land. And the generous greeting
which welcomed MIR. Benton throughout New
\ England, few years ago. must have been more
, grateful to him than any dispensation of Office
( or power.
, In one important respect Mr.. Benton never
had superior among the great men of this
country, and it is a trait which will ever make
, his example of peculiar value to young men,
We refer to that well ordered life, which was
, the result of temperance and the pure and
heaithful indulgence of the homebred affections.
t No vice threw its shadow upon his powers. and
the bitterness of the world could not cling to a
nature kept sweet by the daily delights Of the
{ fireside; His morning exercise and the instruc-
/ ton OF his children were never intermitted by
; the gravest cares. Thus he was always in work.
| ing trim; and thus we have beheld the marvel
ola fast sinking invalid, years beyond the Psalm
lists limit of life, conscious that but a very few
earthly hours remained to him, vet working up.
on the annals of his country with all the thor
oughness and zeal of vigorous manhood. 1t was