The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-10
THE DsATHBeD OF THOMAS H BENTON.
Brief Sketch Of his Life and PO-
litical Career,
&C., &C. &c.

We yesterday received by telegraph the intelligence
from Washington tina. the Hon. Thomas Hart Benton, in
the 7c year Of hs age had died in that city yesterday
noop an event OF which, al any moment the publ, has
been adnonshed for several lays later despatcn In
the evening informed still survived but
scarcely possible that he "sun nves we are con-
strained TO aay the anxiety OF tae public mind in re-
gard to the character OF this extraordinary aud ths
| great events Of his pubic career His disease,
| an internal cancer, has admitted OF no remedy,
and but little allsviaaon. Yet IT appears that with
| mos. heroc forti.ude he has borne his extrome
sunerings 70 the last and that with his mud clear,
calm and self possessed, and with that ndomtaoe cner
peculiar to himself, he has continued to work upon his
Aordgement OF the Debates OF Congress to the latest
available whsper-ons of his daughters acting his TO-
tsrprete. and son in law his amanuenss His ruling
passion against the Southern ultra school of democratic
politicians nulors and dsunionists has been strong
death and from tho intensity Of his hostility OF quarter
| Of century TO Mr.. Calhoun and his followers, he
may be excused in believing upon his death bed that the
def at o. the Iecompton constitution Congress the
| salvation Of the Union.
Col. Benton was born 1lIsborough, Orange
ty North Carolina March H. 1882 His father died when
he was eight years old; his early education mper
feet he for time at gram school, and after
wards a. Cnaps Hill, the university Of North Carolina
but nnIshed course OF study there, his mohor
10 bis sshers estate Thomas lied law and
to eminence profession. He WIS elected to
the Legislature, serving only single tsn during which
he procured the passage Of Law resung tho Judicial
system aud OF aooher giving to slaves Vie benefit OF
jury trial. the white One of his earliest
friends and patrons Andrew Jackson AT that time
Judge of the Supreme Court, and subsequently Major
Genera! OF the State militia Benton became hs de
camp, and during tho also rased arsg of voluu
10 c-a, Nntoa Ar
| colonel, which has cluug 10 him through life Not
whstandng the close intimacy between Jackson aud him
self, which Of the most cordial and unreserved cha
racer, rude and sudden renconre took place, n Mash
vie between Jackson and posse Of his friends the
SIDE and Benton and his brother the other ia
| which severe pistol and dagger wounds gven AMI
produced rupture that estrspgsd them for many years
After the volunteers were disbandod Mr.. Madison sp
pointed Col Benton in 1913, lieutenant colonel in the
army but on his way to serve in Canada in 1914, he
| heard the news Of the psa,e aud resigned He
moved to Missouri and up his abode in the city of
s. Louis In 1915. There he devoted himself 10 his
profession. soon however, engaging in the politics Of the
day he was led IN the es'sbIshueut of newspaper
titled the Missouri Argls In this position he involved
in many disputes and coa!en:ions. Ddels usual at
that tme and he had his share OF them with their
happy consequences In Of them, which forced
upon him. he kIei his opponent, Mr. Lucas, event he
1 w
| which he has destroyed.
For the precise authentic facts and dates o. the
above paragraph indebted proof slips
"NeE American Cyclopedia, In the press OF the Ap
pletons Tie remainder or sketch prefer make
up way, fro personal knowledge Of the de
ceased possessed by the writer. extending through pe
rod Of fifteen years. and from the wrtngs speeches. and
public arts Of Bsnton which most prominently strike the
memory the deponent illustrative OF the peculiar
| divdualty Of the
In $50, with the organization of the Missouri State
| government, Mr.. Benton elected a member OF the
Uncd staes senate, and remained In that body active
ana conspicuous member TIL the session OF 1851, (hrty
years In the Senste) when he failed Of a election As
Missouri, however, not admitted into the Uaion til
August 10, 1871 than year OF Mr.. B,atons first
| term or service had expired before he took his
scat This interval he occupied in acquiring a
kno~ledge OF the language and literature of Spain;
| and thenceforwsrd for many years, his industry q
student during his hours seized from ths early
morning ard appropriated from the night, form q most
Interesting feature OF the economy aad regularity Of his
personal habits Tue results, too, OF the greatest
advantage him senator for having acquainted him
self intimately with the POLITICAL social and religious sys
toms and with the languages, laws and toraaro OF tho
governing nat OF ancient and modern times his know
ledge OF every great subject involved In Senatorial do
bate covered the most minute experience teachings
the pairarcbal institutions OF the Hebrews TO the compro
| hcnsrvc civilization o. day
His memory rc.cntiye 10 q most remarkable de
gree, and thus with readiness which often surprs
ing he could quote from Romsn law n Greek phoso
pher, from vrgl's "Gcorgis ''rhe Arabian Nights"
"Herodo,us" "Sancho Panz," from the sacred pro
phcts, the German reformers Adam smith; from 10
melon Hadloras from ths financial reports Of
the dorgs Of the Council OF Trent from tho de,ses
Il ti,o tha
| trigucs OF a kitchen cabinet, from for
/ gotten speech Of a deceased member OF Congress.
No member Of either house Of Congress- perhaps since
The formation OF has acquired laborei
ndusously 10 acquire, the fund Of available practical
learning and information in Of law literature re-
hgon, society party politics. &C. possessed by Col Ben
ton. John Qaincy Adams scarcely be admitted
exception, for though he known a "wiking
library, library not made up Of that practi al
assortment OF books facts and deductions which formed
| the walking library Of Benton.
From Col Bcntons continual study o. tho more useful
languages ancient aud modern he became somewhat pre-
else and pcdantic in bus OF words For instance
| Of his speeches in the Senate, be remsrked:-"M the
time when these took pscs-miud you, reporters
took placedont say transpred, or shall certainly
prc." en another OCCASION having said that I've were
bsmboozei with ths. amendment" doubt cxprcsed
as to the legitimacy Of the word hsnbooze But having
called half dictionaries his support the ques
ton scted BY the admission that al was aware sir,
the honorsbe had studied the meaning the
word for night so, but for my information dc
sired 10 have authorities" But 10 return 70 the regular
i thread Of our narrative
when Colonel Benton entered tho Senate Mr.. Monros
Pres lent Governor rompkns Vice President John
Quincy Aisms Secretary Of state william H. Crawford,
secretary Of The Treasury John Calhoun Secretary OF
War Smith Thompson, OF New York, Secretary OF the
Navy JON Mclean, Postmsster General, AMI william
Writ, AtsShey General; OF whom all have disappeared
from The stage OF action except Mr. Mclean. And here
that vouminous and interesting hstorco political Of
Mr.. Benton-o of his "Tbirty Years in the sensscn,er
poses rich and copous details OF the lending public
characters, measures, events and issues which agtaed