New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-25
TO THE PUBLIC.

fishes what Il Calls "Au Interesting card relating 70
1.-THE opinions Of the lae Mr.. Benton, bringing irto
question a statement derived from me. TITS csti
refers to a conversation between Col Benton and ny
self a Few days before bis death, Of which spokeo
several members Of Congress, and was mentionsd by
ore Of them to correspondent Of THr TRDrSr, whs
reported lis Substance to tina, press. The Coouers
s.rcrgsst aud NEST characteristic expressions were.
however, not given in that rport-the pHpor only,
will out the vgor Of the lar gusge, being retained saA
Iresret that caprot now recall what he uttered wa
the vvidntss could have given il to the reporter had
corve,sed With him persoraly 81 the ,ime he pre-
psred bis letter for the press.
Mr.. Jones begins bis explicit contradiction tht
lie may not "sllow q falsity to 60 with apparent
Z" authority TITO history, by Saying:
First on the occasion described in the beginning
paragraph CT the piece, there was not any old aud 10
innate fl. nd from Missouri participation in TIE cos
yeisation. Mr.. Jones, as is evident from lis card.
was aware that the Interview described vas with mo,
and that the mistake Of THE TRDr Ms correspondent
was mere inference, frop my relations with Col Bsn-
ton Il at was an old and intimate Missouri friead.
be berg stranger to both Of u.s. and yet this is the
only point on which Mr.. Buchanans press can hang ts
positive charge Of malice and mepdacity" which It
in sidously aims to bring homo 10 me, for Mr.. Joness
only Other attempt at contradiction amounts merely "
Negative that LIE was pivy TO the remarks attributed
to Col. Benton. lie Gays, tecond: mo such remarks
"ss those set out in the last Nagspb, nor those In the
"previous one, which imply invidioss sectional dis
"tinction were eer ade by Col Benton 10 my pres
"erce" and to confederate these important contradc-
tons MIR. Jones calls Mr.. Jacob Hall witness. as
the only person to whom as he believed the descrp
ton can apply of old and intimate friend from Mic
soui who had conversation with Col. Benton DUNG
the last week Of his life. Although he thus formally
adduces Mr. Hall to testify that he had no such con-
yersaton with him, he well knew from the minute CO.
scription Of the by the correspondent OF THE
TRIpuSr that was the "old and intimate friend" 10
when allusion was made; and in fact in describing
himself be slludes to me expressly when be says "A
Visitor came IA gentleman whose presence wa
Calculated to stir still deeper the fountains Of memory.
and was gladly welcomed by Col. Benton and COO
"yerted with for some time and with such auimatios.
The effect was too much for the exhausted frame and
exhausted voice, ard moment two after the Wei
"tor retsed, the labor obliged 10 be deested
"from."
Mr. Jones, who was at work some distance from
tie bed over which leaned to catch the whispers u
Col Benton's Exhausted voice" in my car, can, ~
fafely as Mr. Hail. who was not in the house. decsr,
that the remarks made to me were not made in hia
preserce.
Mr. Jones believes that after he reached Washing.
ton, ten days before bis DEATH he (Cea. b. WAS so
much inclined to goodwill to say anything that could
"wourd or irrtate;" and Mr.. Halls coroboratng tes-
GHony may be true that no such sentiments a. those
attributed to Col Benton by the whter Of that ai-
Gle the article in The TRIBUNE denied by Jooes)
"were expressed by him during any Of those interest
n;r0 Mr. la heh wi
Benton UNDERWOOD too well what belonged 10 pro-
piiety Ito wound or irritsts" the feelings Of Mr..
Jones or Mr.. Hall by denourcing 40 Administration
TO persons who were Its benefcares. Mr.. Jones was
just returned from foreign employment; he had his
accounts TO settle in the Department, he wa grateful
for the patronage he had received and might receive
more MIR. Hall is a large mail contractor, and has
great expectations from Administration which grants
fayors to none but its devotees. II would lave been
uppardosable then in Col Benton TO make either Of
these gentlemen listeners 10 denuncisons OF % Ad-
nibistration which they would be Obliged 10 receive In
silence while wounded their feelings and might pos
sby affect their interest But TO me and to many OF
his freIds Congress he under no such restraint,
and TO them ard the public generally he gave vent 10
the strongest emotions Of his patriotic heart and pow
erfal intellect. His mastery philippe against the
whole policy of the Administration built upon thu
bred Scot decsion-his exposure Of the whole band
Of co.sprssors against the Union desnatsd under tina
name of Nullers to whom he asoribes all the troubles
Of the country fer years. and whom he charges, Ia
his examination of that decision the packing Of the
Supreme Court to assst them In the destruction Of the
principles OF the Constitution and overthrow OF the
Government, proves that even after be vM struck
down with disease he was cot 90 tanned a. 10 DO
incapable of making what Mr.. Jones Gals "ths IN.
vdious sectional distinction" Of declaring his respect
for the great service Mr. Clay had rendered 10 the
Republic at that time 1850 by bathing and putting
down the traitorous Secessionists u the South
That this feeling, manifest throughout the volume
published after he struck down, and which he de-
clsred his last will and testament, was the ruling
psseion ia death, was most kipgy sbown In the con-
versaion had with him on the occasion referred 70
by Mr. Jones, the last 6ut One before his death. II
was my habit to cheer him always with happy views
of the success of our cause, and the defeat OF the
Vaccinations against the Union. At this Interview,
hsnt over him and told him Of the good effect Mr..
Crt,epden's measure would have; that, coming from
him and being perfectly fair il made Il impossible that
The sotatory CT the South could excite feeling there
70 nromote their designs. This animated him. and his
mind REQUIRED with fervor to the content Mr. Clay bad
with the nullifers 1880. which he had then under
il c,osirg bis work and bis life and although
be could not speak above hs breath, he gave 10 his
uterar ee the emphasis which distinguished his in.
pss stoned conversation. He eXtoled Mr.. Cay, and
d. TOUT csd his sdversares as The TRIBrsL, article
fta..s. His bosom and eyes seemed 10 dlate with
the expression he laboreo to give to bis sense Of what
be cslled the noble pa;iotism and glorious eoquence
CT BIZ. CSy ia his struggle agsns. the eTemes CT ire
linen Tie SPOT On his face produced By the burning