Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-28
The late Col. Benton.


which terminated that eminent statesmsn's
life, as we'll as some impressive incidents OF
bis last hours, will possess deep interest not
alone for the wide circle of his Immediate
friends, but for the public at large. We ieel
obliged to Mr.. Jones for enabling US to lay
the letter before our readers Nat. Int.
WASHINGTON, April Is, lS5S.-MY DEAR
SIR: You were present at my morning visit
to Col. Benton, On the day preceding his
death, when he handed me an extract from
newspaper nurportirg 70 give an account
| of his disease, aud as you are aware, he then
earnestly requested me to draw up "a state
ment Of his case for the satisfaction OF his
friends 10 Missouri" | promised him faith
fully to do so, and in compliance with that
pledge now send you the following brief
statement of his last illness
The disease of which Col. Benton died was
Cancer Of the Rectum In the affection itself
there was nothing peculiar, as 1t is com
plant not uuco1o mon to an advanced period
of life. But the extraordinary lortitude with
which he met and contended TO the last with
this formidable malady; the wonderful men
| tai yig0r which he retained whilst 1t was prey
| ing VI on his vi,als the ind1mtabIc energy
| OF character be displayed, and the unceas-
ing labor which he daily underwent, almost
| to the last moment OF his existence, when
| considered in conuexion with the position be
has long held to his CDuntry, have rendered
his cas one of deep interest.
Although had occasionally visited Col.
Benton for more than three years prior to his
| decease, it was not until the month OF Sep
TENDER, 1857, that my attention was especi,
| ally called the disease Of which be died.
10 the month of February, 1856, per,
formed on him on operation Tor liydrocele,
! "a common complaint and one relieved by n
very simple operatiOn,) and 10 which the allu'
ded " hen you were standing by MS bedside,
| the day before his death, when he remarked
/ that he had been also treated by me for a
disease similar 10 that which had afflicted
the historian G,bbon, and which he rcques
ted me to note in my report OF his case
FROM this time until the summer of 1857
he was frequently absent from Washington
delivering bis lectures in different cities.
In the Intervals of his return, he occasion
ally consulted me in regard to simply an IT.
regular condition of his bowels; but be com
| planned so little, and his geGerai health
seemed so undis,urbed, that it was impossi
! bic to have SUSPECTED even the incipient stage
of the incurahle malady which was to de-
stroy him. 1t wae not until the month OF
September, 1857, that my attention was es'
pecialy called to his case. He then sent tor
me to zee him for what be supposed was a
severe attack Of collie. His bowels were OIL
stinatey constipated, and all medicine failed
to remove the obstruction. On examining
the intestine, | discovered it to be closed by
q hard tumur about three to four Inches
above its termination. The abdominal dis
tension was at this time very great, and hl:
suffering must have been extreme, but bis
nature, was so uncOmplainng, In fact there
was SO much of the Roman in his mould
that he gave but little evidence of the pahs.
be endured
My friend, DR. Hall, saw him in consulta
ton with me a, that time, ard after repeated
and tedious efforts we faalIy succeeded Ia
passing u slender tube through the obstruc'
ton, and thus gave exit u the enormous ac'
cumulation OF gas and other matter within
the abdomen. \ more careful examination,
made very soon after this, confirmed me 10
the view we then took of bis case, and Of It's
hopeless nature, and | communicated that
OPTION to himself and to his friends. lie
received it with perfect calmness aud resIg,
nation, expressing only the wish that be
| might be allow ed to live long enough to flush
| his work.
B-.ore ne was relieved in the attack lu5I
! spoken of, ne had given up all hpre OF lie
| He told me be was satisfied the hruT OF his
! dissolution was near at hand, that 1t %as ini-
] l.. tor, ~, nd
/ REGRETS at parting with the world were ''In
separating from his children, and IN Leaving
! his great work undone; that death had no ter
rors for him, for he had thought on that sub
ject too long to feel any" Ii may net be map
propriate for me here to state that although
be never expressed TO me any views upon the
! subject Of religion, he did 80 freely alter this
to the Rev. DR.. Sunderland, his pastor and
| friend. AZ the following statement OF DR.. SUD
! d,rand will show. lie say: "Durlng the
last week of Col Benton's life | had several
interviews with him 1T his own request. Oar
! conversation WAS mainly on the subject Of
religion, and i'll regard to his oen views aud
| exercises 10 the speedy prospect OF death
! In these cOnversutiuns be most emphatcaIiy
| and distinctly rcnpunced all selt.rellance,
and cast himself entirely on the mediation
of the Lord Jesus Christ a. the ground OF
| his acceptance with God. His own words
we're, Gods mercy 10 Jesus Christ is my sole
| reliance"
sscertained that in the intervals of my
visits to him at this time, he repeatedly went
to his work aud corrected the prOOi--bee,s,
which he was in the habit OF receiving ar
short periods from his Publisher, Mr. Apple.
ton. aud recolect on one occasion when /
did not suppose he could stand, be sud- My
arose from hi bed, AID, III face If all remun-
strence, walked to his table III some distance
of, and corrected and finished the conclusion
of another work on Which he was engaged,
and Of which be had shortly before received
the proofs from New York His unconqueE-
able will enabled him to do it, but when done
he was so exhausted had to take the pen
from his hand and give it the direction.
A soon as he recovered from the mmedi
ate danger of this attack, he iabored a he had
done for years before constantly at his task.
Rising by daylight. and writing necessarily
with the exception Of an hour he usually de7o-
ted to his afternoon ride on bis. horse, the eI-
feet Of which though feared, \rom the posi-
ton Of his disease, he yet seemed to thInk
vas of benefit u huI.
And at this labor he continued from day
to day until within about week before his
death, when no longer able to arise from
weakness, he wrote in his bed, aud when 40
longer able to do that dictated bis views 10