New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-04-10

y
bstss Of Congress. As The mover o. t1e eIp1ngits
revolutions" Col Beaton made himself espe Ha,y
obnoxious % his political opponents, bu' may
achieved success, and gained grea: per-onai ul
umpb. The motion vas to strike non ne ,ou'h'is u
the Senate resolution OF censGre upon Gen. ia kSl
AID the passion psrtis sns tas contest VII ~
importance a. the u he !sr greater taAn VIII a'1ln ~
i in the future; but exhibition OF many 'IaS
Of Col Benton's character, presidency keen saga
cious Insight. stubborn deyoion 10 the ZANE :,
bis party chief, unqusiliDg courage, and conhdel'7
success in the face Of sn adverse msorlty' %
his life was more striking. daring the snrcseiipE
Administration OF NJ. Van B1reD, Euc1 o. Col' be-
ton time was devoted 20 the defense OF the heF
financial policy, then being inaugurated. upon me
questions re sDg TO the Oregon boundary, the annex
alton Of Texas snd various other important; matters
growing out of Foreign relations between rae iles
ldebtia terms Of Tyler and Taylor, Col Ben:on to2k
leading erdiI fuehtisl part On ne me- Of 'uose 70
differed from the Democratic Administration OF Mf.
Polk which had declared for the line OF o. iO, bu'
tire powerful effort Of Col. Benton, IN which he re-
viewed the whole controversy ana e!ucioa'ea the
claims of the United States wt1 mlcn iorce, was
no. 70 be witbstood, and the Administration and
party were content to acquesce IN his views, and Sc
cep' the line OF 49, the northern boundary. Ddrng
the Mexican war, aso, his services, am intimate g.;
ouaipta1ce with the Spanish provinces Of the South,
70 whose history he had devoted much attention,
proved most useful to the Government IL was upon
his suggestion that the policy Of mastery nac,lN'
ity at first determined upoa By the PRESIDENT VS.
finally abandoned, and vigorous prosecutor OF tEe
war urged in its stead. His counses were mach
sought also in regard 10 maturing plan OF cam
pa,gn ard conquest for compelling pes AL Az
at one time il was proposed ny fresidenI rom
TO col fer upon him Gle title Of lieu,enant.general
with full command OF the war, IN order tni
be might carry out bis conceptions III person
TIE project, however, wac never chsumha
ted The bill creating the rank OF eutenan,
general passed the House, but was defeated IN
the Senate. The acquisition Of Mexican territory
brought OF spu.es il Congress touching the question
OF Slavery which, aer threatening the peace OF me
county, were adjusted by the C1npron9e as 10 .,
1850. Col. Benton opposed this Gomprom,s7, offered
BY Mr. Clay as being vicious system OF legislation,
as fraudulent in regard to the Texas Donation, and as
defective and Il, judged in its clause in regsrd 70 the
Fugitive Slave law. The acts, however, though de-
featcd az a whole passed separately. In the violent
rupture which had taken place between Gen. Jackson
and Mr.. Calhoun and which made It's marx uponparles
as well as persons, Col Benton had warmly esPoused
the side Of the former at the very outset Shortly
previous t. that, the doctrine OF nuilihcalon had
inst been preached at dioner party IN celebration ct
the birthday of Mr. Jeferson, re oeivnS al endorse
melt from Mr.. Calhoun, and meeting with strong
rebuke from Gen. Jackson. After the rupture pollt.
zeal antagonism heightened the anioosty OF the par
ties, and qualification assumed threatening proper ions
in the acrimonious disputes growing out OF me ta!in
regulations Col. Benton in bis close sth iton WIN
the Adu inistration, became the leading Democralc
opponent of Mr. Calhoun upon this question IN the
SUnate, and the divergence which then manlieated
itself grew and widened az years pr1gressea' anu
was the fruitful cause of fe-iong hostility and opp
sition between them. The adjustment, however, wss
incomplete, ard the compromise OF 1888 proved 10 De
only ull in the storm. The same views IN regard ~
State Rights reappeared in the field OF politics IN con
necon with the far more complicated question OF do
mestic Slavery. This was manifested hrs IN t1e con-
ict in the House Of Representatives in 1872 upon the
discussion Of Abolition petitions, but the action oi that
body suppressed the of strife and Il WAS not I'M
til 1867, that the same policy was renewed Inc
prncipesssought to be enforced were admitted TO be
identical with those of the first nullilcaton move
ment; the causes assigned and the machinery tor en-
Haran rpDIp-HlfflD
Slave State Col Benton did not on account o. the suo
jec-matter involved deviate from the positions he had
maDt aimed on former occasions At the earliest
announcement of the new programme In the
Senate of the United States he stood forth to the at
tack II was the beginning OF q warfare that was
eventually to PROSTATE himself at home and drive
him rom the seat he had go long filled IN the senate.
On February 10, 1917, Mr.. Calhoun introduced set
of resou ms in the Senate declaring the doctrines he
wished TO insist upon in regard to the Territorial pow
ers Of Congress, the admission OF States, and the use
of common property, ell bearing directly upon the
Slavery question and the exciting issues tina. had been
evoked by the proposed restriction known "a the
"Wiuot PIoviso," which required the exclusion OF
Slavery from all territory to be acquired by the
by Colorei Benton as fire brand resolutions" Mr..
Calhoun expressed his surprise, stating he had ex-
pected the support of Colonel Benton. as he was
from Slave State Col. Benton retolted that he had
no rgit TO e1yect such a thing. Then" said Mr..
Calhoun, Z" shall know where to find the gentle
man" to which COL Benton responded, - shall De
fodnd in the right place-on the SIDE OF my country
and the Union. The resolutions never came TO
vote but they were to the Legislature OF every
Slave State were adopted by some OF them, aud be-
came the basis Of after-conhic and party orgsniLs
ton. Ii was determined by their author to make
them the grounds of instructions TO Senators IN Con-
gress and for this purpose they were sent TO Mis-
souri, and copided to the hands OF Democrats IN
the Legislature unfiiendly TO Col. Bentons re-
election. Without exciting inquiry ana under tne
sanction of leading members of the party
whose fealty was not then suspected, they
were passed in both branches and sent to
Washington. Col. Benton no sooner received
the instructions than he denounced them As not
being EXPIRE ssve OF the sense OF the people, rs con-
tanning dsunon doctrines and des gned to produce
an eventual separation OF the States. lie announced
that he would appeal from the Legislature TO the PEG
ple and immediately after the Adjournment oil Con
rres5 returned to Missouri for that purpose. lie
5eoap the canvass of the state, and prosecuted
il in every section in series OF speeches, which,
for bitterness Of deDuDcatlon Strength OF expo
sitop, and caustic wit, have scarcely tneir cquH
IN the English language. The Wing party OF the
State at first sustained his position bu. finding a
prospect Of reaping triumph of their own from
the divisions Of the Democracy, they changed
froit, and affiliated with toe Antics, a. the
Democratic opponents OF toL Benton were called
The re.ut in 1919 80 Was the return Of Legislature
largely Democratic, but composed OF opposite wings,
the Benton men being in the plurality Many ballot
incs Tor Senator were lad without compromise; Dut
bargain was at length struck between wings ana
Antics and sixteen OF those chosen by the people rs
Democrats. bu. unfriendy to Col. Benton, voted Tor
Henry s. Geyer, who was elected. MI Geyer was q
Wing, hut had committed himself 20 Inc Ah''
Benton party in letter PRIOR 10 MS eiectioh'
Mary Of his party following his lead, they soon CO.
ae.ced with the opposition Democrats, ard III after
campaigns by adroit management, they obtained con-
t.ol OF the 5 ate Government. Inns was chieuy
effected through the instrumeItaNty oil hr oter4ihS
Price VITO although elected Governor As supporter
Of tie views OF Col Benton, yet, after pretended COM
nrom.e If the two Democratic wings, was no sooner