The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-04-21
&C.,. -,'s- :. .
Tron the 1rff4lo Connsroig'.



bis earthly career Deat'i bas closed the
record of one of the great men Of the
past. Whatever may have been his er-
rors of judgement or passion, they aro now
cancelled, and we may really lament the
loss of SO distinguished patriot. In
work entitled "Mcn of the Time" we find
the following brief biography of him:
He was born in North Carolina in the
year 1888. and educated ut Chapel Hill
College, He left that institution without
receiving degree, and forthwith com
menced the study of the law in William
and Mary College, Virginia, under W.
St. George Tucker. In 1910 he entered
the United States army, and in 1911 was
at Nashville, Tennessee, were he COM
menced the practice of law. He soon af-
tcrward cmigrated to Missouri, where he
connected himself with the press as the
editor of newspaper. In $50 he was
elected u member Of the Unitcl States
Senate. and remained in that body till the
the session of 81, a. which time he
failed of reelection. As Missouri was
not admitted to the Union till August 10,
1921, more than year Of Mr.. B1nton's
first term of service expired before he
took his seat. He occupied himself du-
ring this interval before taking his seat in
Congress in acquiring knowledge of the
language and literature of Spain. Imme-
diately after he appeared in the Senate, he
took prominent part in the deliberations
Of that body, aud rapidly rose to eminence
and distiction. Few public measures
were discussed between the years 1921
and 1851 that he did not participate in
LARGELY. and the influence he welded was
ALWAYS felt and confessed By the country.
He was one of the chief props and sup
porters of the administrations of General
jackson and Martin Van Buren,, and, as
such, met the common fate Of every prom
inen, leader, in partisan anathema and de-
nunciatiou. The people of Missouri long
cluup to him as their apostle and leader;
and It required an herculean effort to de-
feat him. But he had served them during
the entire period of thirty years, without
interruption, and others, who aspired to
honors he enjoyed, became inpatient for
an opportunity to supplant him. His de-
feat was the consequence. Col. Benton is
distinguished for his learning, iron WILL
practical mind and strong memory. His
speeches, when written, are firmly fixed in
his mind, so that he may repeat them nc.
curately in public without the manuscript,
which may be at the time in the hands Of
the printer. AS public speaker he is
not interesting or calculated to produce an
effect on the passions of an audience. His
parliamentary efforts are intended for the
closet rather than the forum, and when
Published are read with avidity, always
producing decided influence"
Mr.. Benton was elected from the St.
Louis District to the thirty.third Con:
sress, and was subsequently a candidate
for Governor of Missouri.-He supported
Buchanan in preference to Fremont in
spite of family ties, and was an able ally
to the President. Defeated at all points
Mr.. Benton became the historian Of the
Senate, AMI his Thirty Years." the re-
suit of his personal recollections and ex-
psrience, are an enduring monument to his
Rme. The Annals Of Congress the " A.
bridgment Of the Dsbat.s" occupied his
attention and the closing chapters were
finished with his life. The atlas and
argus thus presents brief commentary
upon the character Of Mr.. Benton which
Is disp,ssionate and discriminating:
Through all his life student, Colonel
Benton exhibited some of the faults Of
what are called self.made men," He
loved to parade his knowledge, and some.
times proposed 10 instruct the world in
what most men II eady knew. His ego.
tism was, however, simple and ingenious,
and such as we believe very often charac-
tsrise the men who have pursued liter
cry or public career, though perhaps Of.
tsner seen in this class upon the European
Continent, than under the cold and con-
ventional system Of Anglo Saxon civili-
cation on either Q de Of the ooein'
"Mingling with the traits of chidlike
simplicity, were an original strength and
massiveness of character such as are the
type of the chiefs of great primitive
race. He might perhaps more easily,
have risen above the position which he
held as Senator from his native State,
than to have retained it after thirty years
possession. Yet the latter was the nobler
: ambition. He preferred the title of Pater
Senatus to the rank Of President; and if
he could have perpetuated it, through his
life. would have vindicated his preference
in the examination Of the wise. As it
was. the aspiring men of his State who
would have gladly pushed him forward,at
last pressed him aside But his career
was longer than that Of most Of the states.
men of our own land and of Europe. and
not less influential for good, or less prom
ising of enduring fame. The noblest and
not least deserved tribute which history
will award him, will be that he was
patriot-a man whose heart was imbued
with the spirit ofn ,tionality and whose so il
and mind were devoted to his country"
A Fatal HoAx-D Death from Fright.
A-0uite Recently n suroeon of North mn.