The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-10-08
a Leaf from Recent History.

From the Philadelphia North American Gazette.
The late Senator Clayton was peculiarly saga
cious and far-sighted in matters for which no
opportunity of public appreciation occurred DUR
ing his life time, and particularly in regard to
the long nursed schemes and purposes of the
Calhoun dsunionists.
friend has placed in our hands letter
addressed to Mr.. Clayton by Mr.. Benton, writ
ten in 1855, ia answer to more elaborate
one by Mr.. Clayton, apparently written to illus-
trate and support some part of the thirty years.
history then in progress, This latter letter is
lost, probably being destroyed at the fire 10 Mr.:
Benton's house in Washington in 1856, but it
undoubtedly gave new facts in support of the
position taken by Mr.. Benton toward the Cal
houu disunionists, and it would be extremely
valuable now, for the light it would throw on
the origin of the rebellion. The letter of Mr..
Renton is as follows:
DEAR SIR: - Many thanks for your letter Just
received. You say nothing about its use, but
upon the strength of it can state what relates
to the index, making no reference to the source
OF information. II would be good il the whole
letter could bS published. Il is entirely coinci-
dent with what my history is disclosing.
hope you saw the chapter on Mr.. Calhoun's
admission of support of the Missouri COmpro-
mise. 1t is heavy blow upon his followers,
who are not political party, but a sect follow
ing their prophet and propagating his doctrines,
and to whom proof of failibility is a stumbling
block.
Believe me, the feeling for dsunion is be-
coming current in the slave States, and almost
unanimous in some of them and letter like
yours would do good in staying it. The slav-
cry question is 9 cover fer the real motiYes
which are, with politicians, ambition; with the
masses belief that the Union works to the dis
advantage OF the South and that they will do
better separated. IL is upon this feeling tina,
the nulliters work. and mask their designs witt
the dangers OF slavery, aud are making great
progress. Yours, truly,
! TnoMAs H. BENTON.
This hurried note opens to US whole scene
OF joint effort by these two statesmen to expose
and defeat the reasonable purposes of the CAL
houn school The friend who furnishes this let
ter, and who is the custodian OF Mr.. Calhoun's
papers, Informs US that Mr.. Clayton and Mr..
Benton had several interviews in the latter part
OF their liVes. and good deal of correspondence,
in regard W the event whcn they both seemed
greatly to fear would soon come to pass. As
early as the spring of 1865 they suspected the
existence of a secret order in the South, and
correspondent in regard to it. Mr.. Clayton also
predicted, in 1886, that one of the candidates
for the Presidential chair then announced would
ultimately reach that long desired position, and
would rnin the country when he got there, by
want of frmness and principle on this question
Of disunion. The calamity came as he predic-
| ted.
This giant growth of Southern treason, from
the germ originating with Calhoun, is the won
der Of the age. Statesmen Of the time of Clay
ton and Benton saw and fought IL TO an extent
which few of Us had previously known or be-
lieved, and which is only now disclosed as the
nations tragedy reaches its climax. They
feared the succession of men of in6rm purpose
and little principle TO the Presidency, and they
bad reason for such fear. When they eoun-
seled together in 1855 as TO the best means of
\ meeting and defeating the nsidious growth Of
the nulliders' ambition and OF the delusions Of
their followers, they we're entitled TO degree
of honor We then little appreciated. Whether
it was in their power or ours TO avert the pres
ent calamities We cannot say, but It certainly
was not with the Presidency in the hands which
held IL from 1856 to 1860, and with a cabinet
controlled BY Floyd, Cobb, and Thompson.