The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-22

was born near Ilillsboroggh, Orange county,
N. g., March Ia, 1852. His father died
when he was eight years old; his early edu-
cation was imperfect; he was for some time
4 at q grammar school, and aftcrward at
Chapel Hill, the University Of North Caro-
| lima, but finished no c0urs, Of study there, a.
bis mother removed to Tennessee TO settle on
d tract Of land belonging 10 bis fathers ~
tate. Thomas studied law, aud soon ross To
emincnce in that profession. lie was now
elected TO the Legislature, serving only
single term, during which he procured the
passage Of "a law reforming the judicial sys-
TEN, and VI another giving 10 slaves the ben
eft Of a jury trial, the same AZ white men.---
One Of his earliest friends and patrons. was
Andrew jackson. at that time Judge Of
the Supreme Court, and subsequently Ma
ior.Gcncral Of the State militia. Benton
became bis aidc-de-camp, and during the
war also raiy 4 u regiment Of volunteers. II
was IRON that service he derived the title Of
Colonel, which has olung to him through
life. Notwithstanding the close intimacy
between jackson and himself which was one
of the most cordial and unrcscryed character,
rude and sudden rupture took place In
which sevcal pistol aud dagger wounds were
given, aud produced rcnc0nnter that o.
tranged them for many years. After the
volunteers were disbanded Mr.. Madison ap-
pointed Col Benton, in 1913, Lieutenant
Colonel IN Tie Army, but ON his way 10 serve
in Cana,la, in 1914, he heard the news Of the
peace, and resigned ITO now removed To
Missouri, and took up his above in the city
Of st. Louis in 1915. There he devoted him
&lf anew to his profession Soon, however,
engaging in the politics Of the day be was
led ~ the establishment OF q newspaper en-.
titled The Missouri argus. In this position
he was involved in many disputes and con
tentOns. Duels wer3 usual ut that time
and he had his Share Of them with their un
happy consequences. IN one of them. which
was forced upon him. he killed his opponont,
Mr.. Lucas--an event ho deeply regretted,
and all the private papers relating 10 which
no has destroyed.
His journal took strong and vigorous
stand in favor OF the admission OF Missouri
notwithstanding her slavery constitution.
aud when the angry controversy was termi
mated he was rewarded for his lab0rs by be.
ing cho@n 0ue OF the first Senators from the
now State. 1t Is from this period 1920,
that his political history and the great inHu.
cncc ho has exortcd upon public affairs may
be said 10 date. A man Ia the early prime
Of life. possessed OF u commanding intellect.
oi large and liberal culture, an nssiduous
student. Industrious temperate, resolute,
ind endowed with memory whose tenacity
wins marvellous, he soon placed himself IN
the front rank Of those who shaped the
councils Of the nation. Asa representative
Of the West with the manifold interests Of
frontier population intrusted TO his care,
Col Benton forthwith devoted himself TO 10
curing reform IN the land system of the
General Government. A pioneer himself in
early life he sympathisod with the demands
Of that class. and his familiarity with the
administration Of government taught him
how iallacious and suicidal was the policy Of
attempting to derive revenue from such a
source. The general distress which prevail
cd throughout the country in 1870. aud
which bore with especial hardship upon the
land purchasers Of the West. attracted at
ten,ion to this subject, aud afforded cause
for the initiative which WAS taken by Con.
gr,sa in lbcrallllng the system. A measure
Of rolicf devised 10y Mr., Crawford, Socrcta.
ry OF the Treasury, changing all future sales
to the cash basis reducing the price TO
~ - per acre aud allowing u dscoun,
equal Ia The difference to former purchasers.
afforded material relief But this was not
all that was needed. First, prremptiye
right to all actual settlers; secondly, a pc
ripdic reduction according To the time sec
tiunS had been IN market. 40 ns 10 make the
prices correspond with the quality. and
thirdly. the donation uf honlrstoa,k 90 i'm.
puyerlshed bat industrious persons who
would cultivate the sou ior given period Of
years, and thereby developed the resources
of the country--thcsc were all points essen
tial 10 the needed reform.
Col Benton apprcheuded the full scope
OF thoe changes, aud determined 10 persist
IN urging them until they should bc accom-
plishcd The years 1924. 1876, 1928, ac.
cordDgly found han doing battle Tor such
ameliOratiOn of the cOtirv system 4 bill
embracing these features WAS moved by him
and renewed annually until IL at las, took
hold npon the public mind At first his
speeches attracted more attention through.
OF, the country than IN Congr,s, for there
his clolts were couutcractod by schemes tor
dividing the public lands or the proc sc,i. Of
their sales among the States. His 'lrrnncSs
and position in the Senate ~ "A supporter
OF the Administration OF Jackson gave him
great weight with that party, and he was
thus enabled sn TAT 10 impress his views upon
the President tha, they wtr embodied in
in one OF his messages and from that date
the ultimate triumph OF land reform became
Gully question Of time. lr his own State
OF Missouri, there were large quantities OF
saline and mineral land, which II hal been
the object OF the General Government To
withdraw from sale anl farm out. Thu, in.
furious monopoly was also aimed a, IN his
measures, and he succo,icd in e,icting
change which threw all open To occupacy.--
Intimately blended with the same subject.
and moved by the same CONSIDERATIONS, were
the oilorts which he bCgan during the first
t.r.. 90 g. = II