The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-08-26

W.. HAonCN' AM AhE LATE COL. BENTON
We notice very interesting letter from CoJ
Francis W. rckens, our present ,n;n;s,ar -
ST. Petersburg. 1t IS dated April 10Th. 1870
and criticises very severely, some stotsmou,,'
i'll Col. Bentons "I'hirly Years IN the Scno,s "
and den les the ir correctness The statements
nsPn,em CHIEFLY relate to Gen. jackson and
MIR. Calhoun. the acquisition of Texas and ',- ~
trgmcs imputed by ca. Benton to diircron,
Puolic men, to whom, when in life he wos Iii
tcrly opposed. We have read Col. Piclcna,
,etter carefully and are inclined to think tbot
ne ms fuily established the fact that Col, Ben:
ION, Ion pr"Jnh'ecs often misled him. We have
nad pointed out to us several other errors in
Coi. Bcn,ons book. We have heard the Hon.
IL: q. walker mention many instances in
"n'cn incorrect statements are made with ref
erchce 10 himself and we know that i'm his
enumeration OF the members of the members,
OF congress who signed the celebrated South
erh "hurcss or manifesto on the subject of
slnvcry-Pr"p"Scd by Mr.. Calhoun in '1sIo
one name IS gwen, when in fact the r rentlc,,,n
stated TO have signed it, SO far from Joiuv So
distinctly refused, and i'll speech delivered in
congress III fchrnary, 1919, justified himself
NJ ~; ~ "","e, eh'e'y Oh the ground that tho
Missouri Compromise act was not cnumcroinj
| IN IN II Us on the a"grrssiuns upon the South -.
we remember this, because the fact wns cop
| h"n'rd upon nt the time in the newsn,nrrs.
and 1t was argued for the omission stated that
''e south "r'lhicaced i'll the Missouri Compro-
| IN
/ nni since nullifci by the Kansas and Ne
nraNka act "i 1854, proposed bv Senator Dour-
! las nlder Gen. Pcrccs Administration
AZ great as Col. Benton was, he was often nm
charitable and nnrelenting, ard blinded by his
n"S'''',''S' Aud yet his reconciliation will.
"tn. ''ri, '"cNSoh IN 1872. after the fierce feud
winch had existed for many Years b.twcon
''''n' and his support Of Mr.. Buchanan in 1856.
! against his S"n-in law, Col Fremont. are stri
! KING instances that he was, at times most
| rragnani,nous
Notwithstanding the errors thus noted Ben.
Ion h'r'E Years in the Senate" like his
| Arrangements of the Debates of Compress ("
| will hc received by rostrri,v us ouon,, tho
S'an"ard works OF The age AMI generation in
""'eh u" $" ""nSl'i"u"usv figured.
All Instance Of Colonel Ben,on's pccnlaritv.
as Wen us "i his manner of dealing with news.
p"PefS' may 'e mentioned in this connection.
| 2"h'c Years ago when we had charge of onotb
er press III tins city, Il series Of mr., iclcs an
P'"re" uti'!rr our editorial head defending the
course OF the then President and Secretary of
| quite on The Oregon Question and in v,ndicn-
Wv" VI 'h' Administration from the charge
u'" IL hnu p"sriJ surrendered the rights Of the
country between TO- and SIC and 40 to G. Grcot
britain, or had lost it by hunulinr diuIo,nocv.
T"'ne things in articles imrin"ci in no small
n'@r.c upon the course Of Col. Benton in the
"t""''' as having constrained the Administra-
t'"h TO adopt tn: course it did. He chose TO
'''e' ~ ,cicS were written by GER
tam distinguished gentleman. lie accordingly
addressed Very rcrcmptory letter to us de-
nilndlng the author of the article for the DUR
pose "i nrragnins him before the United
H,"'rs senate for representation! We re-.
r'''n I" The C"l"nrIs angry note of course ns.
su''''S III" authorship, AMI III forming him that
we would Immediately proceed TO Washington
10 meet any action he might be disposed to in
stnute We took the train for Washington the
Sa'"e night, having stated in our letter where
we mi2ht be found in that city. We remained
"' Washington few days, but neither SAW
nor heard from the Senator, until one evening
at hn cntert tanmcnt given at the British Min.
st'r $. to which We liarpenc'l to Le invited, We
"eeilen'"i'y met him. After greeting us pleas
! amy "n1 while holding IN his hand n goblet
OF h"''an punch, he said: Il got YOUR letter.
s'r-y""r letter, sir; but WINS looking for an.
other man. slr-nn"lher man. sir" Weuvui.l.
ch a reply. "n'i the subject dropped. to our in
h"ite sa'isinct; on.- I'hila,iII,hia Press