Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-04-14
COL. THOMAS H. BENToN.
BY &. L. cRANMER.


Carolina. On the mothers side he is descended
from the family of the Harris, who were among
the first to plan the early settlement Of Ken
lucky, under the name of the Pennsylvania
Company.
AT an early age he removed to the State of
Tennessee, where he rapidly rose in distinction
at the bar In the year 1915, he removed to
the State of Missouri, and FIVE years after this
period he was elected by the Legislature of Mis-
souri, as one of the Senators from that State in
the Congress of the United States, before the
formal admission of that State into the Union
by Congress. 1t was not until nearly e year
afterwards that the Representatives of that
State were admitted to their seats. This inter
val was employed by Col. Benton in study and
meditation preparatory to his entering upon the
scenes of his duty and in preparation for that
career of usefulness and ambition which he had
marked out for himself doubtless in the future.
From sketch of this distinguished man, as
presented in the pages of the democratic Re-
view, in the year 1889, We make some brief
extracts:
"On the 18th Jan. 1887, at the close of the
long debate which had taken place in the Senate
of the United States on the famous Expunging
resolution, shortly before the vote was to be
taken, of which the issue had not been left
doubtful by the previous imperative decision of
public opinion, Col Benton, Of Missouri, rose
in his place and addressing himself to the Vice
President in the chair, in the course of brief
but emphatic speech, referring back TO the
scene which had been enacted on the same spot
three eventful years before, on the adoption of
Mr.. Clay's memorable resolution of condemna-
tion of the late President for the removal of the
deposites and TO his own prophecy, there fear
lessly hazarded, that that resolution should be
cxpunged by the people of the United States
from the journal of the Senate, uttered the fol-
lowing well known language which has become
imperishably associated with his name:
GsoIitarv and alone set this ball in rnotIonn
He early rose to prominent position in the
body Of which he was member. He sat on
the same committee with Gen. jackson, ofwhch
they were both very valuable and industrious
members-the Committee of Military Affairs, of
which Gen. jackson was Chairman.
Col. Benton was member of the opposition
during the Administration of Mr.. Adams, and
was one of the main pillars of support to the
Democratic Administration which succeeded it,
Whilst in the Senate, an actor among men
who have left behind them the impress of a
name and fame upon the annals of their coun-
try's greatness and glory, which is imperishabIc,
he sustained we'll his position, and succeeded in
attaining to a rank which was hardly second to
any.
For thirty years a member of the United
States Senate, he was well versed in all the po
litical wants aud necessities of the country, and
understood thoroughly the bearing OF all her
interests.
He was man who did not wait until public
opinion had formed itself, and then follow with
the air ola sycophant its leadings, but he placed
himself far in advance, gave utterance to his
sentiments, wavered not in their advocacy, nor
hesitated i'll their support at all proper times,
| and looked to the future for justification of
himself and his opinions. Tho consequence
was that many of his friends regarded him at
| times as u thcoTiSt, and visionary, but were
eventually led to acknowledge their mistake by
the realization of those views which at one time
they regarded as
"Phantoms which led only ) bewilder
And dazzvd TO blinds
! He dared to do that which he deemed right,
regardless of popular favor or condemnation;
and in this respect, he was an exception to the
race Businessmen in these modern times. But
he not only dared TO do right, but he pursued
the right with underwriting principle and per-
severing spirit, which hesitatcd before no diff
cultieS whatever
The dsconnection of the Government from
the banking intercst-the restrictive influence
which would be eXertcd, by combining the fiscal
action Of the Government to the currency con-
| templated by the Constitution, to moderatessthe
constant tendency of paper money to excess and
abuse, and the reform of the amt-Republican
monopoly feature of the system, as it at one time
existed, comprise the substance of the views
which have often been denounced as ultra aud
imprncticabie, as entertained by him, and which
earned for him the sobriquet of cold Bullion. "
| These views he supported ably and eloquently
in speech made by him in the Senate, on the
Esd December 1928, on the subject of the Pub
lie Debt, from which make the following
brief extract:
81 am for the abolition, because the annual
division of ten millions of dollars would fill this
Union with discord and violence. The division
of money and property is the fruitful source of
disscnsion all over the world, and throughout
all ranks and classes of people. tits the bane of
partnerships, the rock on which the peace of fam
lilies is split, and the signal for strife and conten-
ton amongst confederates and corquercrs. So
sung the poet of Nature
"Friends fast swooa,
Whose double iOSOms seem but one heart to bear,
Who Irvine rs twere IN love inseperable
Break out to bitterest eLmity."
Hewas firmly opposed to the renewal of the
charter of the United States Bank, and on the
End February, 1881, made one ofthe most cele-
brated speeches against the renewal, that was
made on the subject.
BUTT is not our purpose to enter into details,
and give a sketch Of the life OF this man, but
only to recall, now that he has derarted, some
of his most Distinguishing traits and character
istics.
As student, he was painfully laborious, tenn
perute and moderate in his habits, never touch