The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-19
NEW SERIES.-NO. $50

coI Oeiiing some one near by at the time
10 Drlng MN the map of the Uuited States.
.Slr, st. Louis is to be the largest CITY in.
the world" and, then taking the man
with that fulness of KNOWLEDGE for wb;ab
he was unsurpassed, not even nv John .
Quincy Adams, he went into disouisition
to prove it.
The accuracy Of Col. Bentons informa,
ton was surprising. He never said, az
think it occurred at such time" Know
ing the fact accurately, be would say it
occurred at such time. he was great
admirer of Napoleon. He said the ar
engagements which Napoleon made for the
battle OF Austerlitz would have proved
him to be the greatest general of the
world, if he had lost the battle.
The sketches of men in Dol. Bentons
great work, John Randolph, Gen. jack
son, &c, are drawn with a perception of
character, and a strength and beauty Of
language which are not surpassed by any
writer of the age. Macauley does not
convey to the reader more distinct pic
ture of the heroes Of his history than does
Col. Benton of the heroes of his and
most readers would feel that the Ameri-
cans pictures are the most lifa-like.
was at the wedding of Miss Taylor, q
relative of Colonel Benton's, who married
the Hon. Mr.. Weller, then Of Ohio, but
since of California. That Gf my memory
is correct) was the only time 1 had the
qualification of being in company with the
Pathfinder Colonel Fremont. He
was very quiet and reserved. he seemed
to look over the crowd, and be amused for
q moment, and, then, he looked as if his
imagination was leading him through the
unbroken wilderness, and he was path
finding for the future highways and by
ways of commerce and civilization, His
frame was then as delicate as the ssLittle
Corporal's," in his early manhood; but
there was impressed upon his front the
look of courage and genius.
Miss Eliza Benton, now Mrs. Jones, Ike
her sister, Mrs. Fremont, has great colo
quail genius, while the knowledge of the
world which long residence in Washing
ton has given them, with the opportunities
of their high social position-having seen
so much and heard so much-made their
conversation exceedingly attractive. Then
they were fearless in the expression of
their opinions, and they said what they
thought
Sitting in the from room once. conyers-
ing with one of the ladies, the folding
doors being open between the front and
back rooms, in the last of which Colonel
Benton. with his invalid wife and youngest
daughter were sitting, I heard her ask
him if he first met her mother in the sum-
mer time.
"No, my dear" said he, in reply, "I
first met your mother in the winter" Gle
mentioned the month, but I forget.)
"Ours was no summer love, or it could
not have stood 80 many winters!"
In many respects Colonel Benton re-
sembled General Jackson, and very much
so in his love and fidelity to his wife. She
had been paralysed, I think, and was very
feeble. That stalwart man, before whom
men shrank, and who stepped with. a
lordly air of conscious power. would
adapt his gait to the tottering stem
OF his wife with caution and careful
ness which never for q moment a;,ated
their watchfulness.
In my humble way, as General Harr;-
son had said, that if he was elected be
"would prescribe prescription, T" I andeay-
ored to help some of my Democratic
friends, who were in office when. / went
to Washington on the election Of General
Harrison to the Presidency. I had been
jackson man, or rather boy, myself, and
went OFT with hosts of others, to the sup
port Of the old chief of the Bend.
When Mr.. Polk came into power, and
nad some chance of being left out in the
cold, Colonel Benton came one day into
the department and sent for me to come
to the chief clerks room. While going
there, l was wondering Why he had not
come to my room. Whsn | entered his
presence, l found some ten or fifteen
officials there, with whom he had been
conversing.
"Sir," said he to me, when / entered,
81 have sent for you to say, before wit
nesses, that, as yoa sought to save the
Democrats when your friends were in
power, l think it is their duty to retain
you in your place, if you wish to remain.
One good turn, gentlemen, deserves
another ..
All my recollections of Colonel Benton
and his family are linked with bright sad
happy memories.
Emerson Etheridge, of Tennessee. who
started with Mr.. LincOln's administration "a
border State man. and was elected Clerk of the