Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-04-17
sketch OF Col. Renton .

| SAOsSsA - WI ADcASOMs
Thomas Hart Benton was born near Hills
borough, Orange county, N.sC., March IA,
1882. His father died when he was eight
years old; his early education was imper-
feet; he was for some time at grammar
school, and afterward at Chapel Hill, the
University Of North Carolina, but finished
no course Of study there, as his mother re-
moved to Tennessee to settle on tract of
land belonging to his fathers estate. Thomas
studied law. and soon rose to eminence in
that profession. He was now elected to the
Legislature, serving only a single term, dur
ing which he procured the passage of law
reforming the judicial system, and Of anoth-
err giving to slaves the benefit Of a jury trial,
the same as white men. One Of his earliest
friends and patrons was Andrew jackson, at
that time Judge of the Supreme Court, and
subsequently Major General of the State Mi
! litia. Benton became his aide de- camp, and
| during the war also raised regiment of vol
unteers. 1t was from that service he derived
the title of Colonel, which chung to him
through life. Notwithstanding the close in
timacy between Jackson and himself, which
was one of the most cordial and unreserved
character, rude and sudden rupture took
place in which severe pistol and dagger
wounds were given, and produced rencon
tire that estranged them for many years.
Col. Benton removed to Missouri, and
took up his abode in the city St. Louis in
1915 There he devoted himself anew to
his profession. Soon, however, engaging in
politics of the day, he was led to the estab-
lshment of newspaper entitled the Ms
souri Argus. In this position he was III
volved in many disputes and contentious
Duels were usua! at that time, and he had
his share of them, with their unhappy con-
sequence In one Of them, which was fore
ed upon, he killed his opponent, Mr.. Lucas
an event he deeply regretted, and all the
private papers relating to which he has de-
stroyed. On the admission of Missouri int
the Union, he was chosen one of the first
Senators from the new State.
! 1t is from this period, 1920, that his polit-
ical history and the great influence he has
lexerted upon public affairs may be said to
date. As representative of the West with
the manifold interest.o frontier population
intrusted to his care, Colonel Benton forth
with devoted himself to securing reform
in the land system of the General Govern
ment. He became, almost at the outset of
his career, the exponent # western interests,
and though largely participating in all the
q great measures and political struggles that
separated parties, he never neglected what
was due to bis own immediate constituency.
The success which has already attended land
reform, the establishment Of -emption,
the graduation of price, tue donation to
works of public Improvement, all trace their
origin to his continuous labors.
Upon the wider theatre of national politics
The career of Col. Benton was equally re-
: markable. In the currency disputes which
attended the expiration of the charter of the
Bank of the United States, the re-charter
afi erward, and the final veto message OF
Juckson, Col. Benton addressed himself to a
consideration OF the whole question of
france, circulating medium and exchange,
and brought forward his propositions for a
gold and silver currency as the true remedy
for existing enbarrassmepts, and the only
rghtful medium for Government dsburse-
ments and receipts. Upon this subject he
made many of the most elaborate speeches Of
his life. The elaboration which he gave to
these views paved the way for subsequent
legislation lpon the national france, and did
much to consolidate the sentiment Of the
Democratic party in favor of the Sub-Treas
ury system which was eventually adopted.
1t was from the financial policy which he
} thus enunciated that he derived the SO; riquet
as 'sOid Bulon," which has never forsaken
him, AMI which also he never fors ook. r
Throughout the hong and critical struggle
between the Administration of jackson and
the advocates of the re-charter of the Ma
tionai Bank. he was the main stay and sup
; port of the President in the Senate, and act
ing IN strictest unity with his party, held
| high place in their affection and confidence.
ln-the violent rupture which had taken
place between Gen. Jackson and Mr.. CAL
houn, and which made its mark upon parties
as well as persons, Col. Benton had warmly
espoused the side Of the former at the very
: outset. The divergence which then mani
tested itself grew and widened as years pro-
! crossed, and was the fruitful cause of life
t long hostility and opposition between Ben
|, y
4 warfare that was eventually to PROSTATE
the former a: home, and drive him from the
} seat he had so long filed in the Senate
When Calhoun introduced his Qualification"
resolutions Benton denounced them al, ssfire-
brand resolutions" They never came to a
vote, but were sent to the Legislature of every
slave State, were adopted by some of them,
and became the basis of after conflict and
no u nrrro,, Th0 Inui SI,t, r.
{, souri, having atl.'nted them, Col Benton de-
cared they were not expressive OF the sense
OF his cons tituents, ana appealed to the peo-
pie. After the adjournment OF Congress, he
began the canvass of the State, and prose-
cured it in every section by series of
speeches. The Wing party of the State at
first, sustained his position, but finding a
prospect of reaping triumph of their own
\ from the divisions of the Democracy, they
changed front, and affiliated with the can
ties" as the Democratic opponents of Col
/ Benton were called. The result in 1S49-'50
was the return Of Legislature largely DEM
ocratic, but composed of opposite wings, the
Benton men being in the plurality. Many
ballottings for Senator were had without
compromise; but bargain was at length
struck between tile Wings and Antics, and
i 10 OF tnOSe CHOSEN Oy the people US DeiHo>
Gratis, but unfriendly to Col. Benton, voted
for Henry S. Gever, who was elected. To
vindieate his position, and to break up the
/ ascendency which the so-called notification
was thus acquiring, Col Benton, in 1852,
made more direct appeal to the people in
the Congressional District in which he resi-
ded, announced himself as candidate for
Congress, and was elected over all oppose
ton. rs =
In the session that followed he at first gave
warm support to the Administration of
President Pierce, but that soon falling under
the control of Mr.. Calhoun, Col. Benton
| withdrew his support, and the Administra-
ton in turn making war upon him, displaced
from office all his friends throughout Mis-
souri,. soon the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise was mooted, and became party
neasureiH the shape of the Kansas Nebraska