The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-04-21
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Death of Colonel Benton,

Death Of Colonel Benton.
1t is with great sorrow and regret that
we chronicle the death of Colonel THOMAS
H. BENTON He was one of the last sur
vivors of that generation of statesmen,
who, born before the Constitution of the
United States was adopted, was personally
conversant with the memorable scenes and
incidents of our early history and its most
distinguished characters, and whose name
at once serves to revive the most glorious
"reminiscences. The year 1882, which
witnessed the conclusion of the Revolu-
tionary War, was indeed fruitful in the
production of men of great intellect and
power, who afterward attained the highest
honors Of the Republic, then about COM
mencing existence. 1t saw MARTIN VAN
BUREN, THOMAS II. BENTON, JOHN C.
CALHOUN, LEWIS CAss and DANIEL WEB
sTER horn into this living and breathing
world. Of this constellation of talent
and genius three have now descended into
the shade of the dark valley Of death.
The venerable Ex-President VAN BUREN,
and the no less distinguished Secretary of
State, LEWIS CAss, both at the great age
of seventy-six, yet survive, in the full pos
session-like their late compeer, Mr..
BENToN-of their vigorous intellect, and
with their mental faculties unimpaired.
THOMAS Fl. BENTON was Indeed a most
remarkable and extraordinary man, and
possessed peculiar elements of greatness.
We hardly know of any parsonage in
whom the type of individuality was more
strongly marked than in him. His char
acter bore the impress of great originality,
and on that account will stand out in
broad relief upon the historical canvas
One of his most prominent traits was the
strength of his will, with its indomitable
resolution and fixed tenacity of purpose
1t was this that gave him such immense
power and made him such a formidable
antagonist in the political arena. Moth
ing could overcome him, and danger and
difficulty made only the more conspicuous
his daring courage, and brought into full
exercise his strong and vigorous intellect.
He had some of the highest qualities of a
great military leader, and we doubt not
that had he been appointed, as President
Polk desired, Lieutenant General of the
American armies in the Mexican War, he
would have won a bright chaplet of mar.
tial glory In the United States Senate
he stood up the equal of the greatest men
who were ever in that body. His speeches
upon great national questions were not as
subtle and metaphysical as Mr.. Calhoun's;
nor SO eloquent and ornate in their die
tion, or SO learned in their exposition OF
constitutional law as Mr.. Websters; nor
did they glow with the fire and brillancy
of Henry Cfay's; nor perhaps were they
so entirely and calmly logical as those oil
Silas Wright; but they were distinguished
by an emphatic energy of expression, a
strength and solidity of argument, pro.
fundi,y of historical illustration and scholar
like research, that renders them scarcely
inferior to the best productions of his able
compeers; and from them could be taken
many extracts worthy of being preserved
as fine specimenso of manly and Senatorial
eloquence. He always discussed ques-
tons elaborately aud fully, after a thor
ough examination of authorities, and
when he had finished, but little more could
be said by anybody upon that side of the
subject which be chose to advocate. His
industry was distinguishing trait of his
character. Through life he was a close
student; and, before his death, hephad &C.
| lcumulates create: store-house of learn.
I ing and facts than any statesman we re.
member of, with. perhaps, the exception Of
John Quincy Adams.
Colonel BENTON was born, as we have
before said, in 1882, in the State Of North
/ Carolina. He emigrated early to the
State of Tennessee, and by his vote, in
1912, was General JACKSON elected q
Major General of the Tennessee militia
and placed in that position which enabled
him subsequently to render such brilliant
services to his country. Soon after the
war he went to Missouri, and, in 1920, be
was elected one of the first Senators from
the new State. He continued in the Sen.
ate until 1850, a period of thirty years
being longer term than any other man
ever served in that body. In 1852 be
was elected to the House of Representa-.
tives, and served one term Since that