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

ton telling some one near by at the time.
70 Drlng hlm the map of the Uuited States! O
''f5lr, st. Louis is to be the largest city In,
the world" and, then taking the man. 2;
with that fulness of: knowledge for vb;cbe
he was unsurpassed, not even hv John /,
Quincy Adams, he went into diso1isition
to prove it, b.g..ss r.,
The accuracy Of Col. Bentons informa,-
ton was surprising. He never said, "I
think it occurred at such time" Know
ing the fact accurately, be would say it
occurred at such q time. he was great
admirer of Napoleon. He said the ar
rangements 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 III Col. Bentons
great work, John Randolph, Gen. jack
son, &C., are drawn with, a perception Of
character, and strength and beauty Of
language which are net surpassed BY any.
writer of the age. Nacauley does not
convey to the reader more distinct pic-s
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. sl 1as.
Twas at the wedding of Miss Taylor, q
relative of Colonel Bentons, who married
the Hon. Mr.. Weller, then Of Ohio, but
since of California. That Gf my memory
is correcD was the only time 1 had the
qualification Of being ia company with the
Pathfinder "-Colonal Fremont. He
was very quiet and reserved. He seemed
to look over the crowd, and be amused for
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 "Little
Corporals," 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
quial 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
20 much and heard so much-made their
conversation exceedingly attractive. Then
they were fearless in the expression of
their opinions, and they said shat they
thought. ~'
Sitting in the from room once, oonvers-
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, l heard her ask
him it be first met her mother in the sum.
mer time. '
mo, my DEAR" said he, in reply, ssI
first met your mother in the winter. y (He
mentioned the month, but I forget.)
"Ours was no summer love, or it could
not have stood 80 many winters!" 80
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, think, and was very
feeble. That stalwart man, before whoa
men shrank, and who stepped with. a
lordly air of conscious power. would
adapt his gait to the tottering stem
OF his wife with a caution and carefui-
ness which never for moment ai,ated
their watchfulness. e...,
.
In my humble way, as General Harr;-
son had said, that if he was elecsed ha
"would prescribe prescription, " I endeav-
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. had been
a jackson man, or rather boy, myself and
went OF with hosts of others, to the SUD
port OF the old chief of the Bend. 80
When Mr.. Polk came into power, and
had 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, | was wondering why he had not
come to my room. When I entered his
presence, l found some ten or fifteen
officials, there, with whom he had been
cOnversing. ''iS1osa
a" Sir" said he to me, when I entered,
ST have sent for you to say, before wit 1
nesses, that, as YOU sought to save the
Democrats when your friends were IN
power, think ii is their duty to retsin
you in your place, if you wish to remain.
One good turn, gentlemen, deserves
another" .HA,5i q .S.xa. ,soa IA
All my recollections of Colonel Benton
and his family are linked with bright and
happy memories. i2"4 ASS
Emerson Etheridge, of Tennessee. who
started with Mr.. Lincoln's administration A. a
border State man, and was elected Clerk of tha
House .of Representatives in December 1881
IS making speeches in Illinois for the DEMO-
raey. He has had enough Of aLincosn;s
: Unionism, and knows now what It means.
!, Alexander M Palmer, one Of the New
ork republican State Committea, accused Of |
supplying the rebels with goods, armS &C.. |
through the New York Custom, Horse. OF |
ua wnlcn as vas a9 omcev, was released on Sat- !
bonds In the sum of 10000. The probsbiiitS1
y shae ms profit ON rebel trade wili cover te1
elsAes tha amount. u sb.1 . -,, 4 1'''1''-s =