Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-07
Tom Bsnton-rhs Grand conosit Of old
Bullion. ..II

Tom Bsnton-rhs Grand concsit Of Old
Bullion. HII
"swede, !" the Washington correspond
ent Of the Cincinnati Commercial, says
in his last letter:
The other day published somewhere,
perhaps Ia the Commercial, some novel
anecdotes Of Tom Benton, the principal
protector Of the Pacific railway, whose
statue stands in ST. Louis to-day, looking
westward along the line, aquilne and
grim AS in life, with his cloak folded
around him. From the same source /
have obtained other personal reminis-
cences, one OF two Of which send you
as pertinent to the theme Of this letter.
Shilliugton is an Irish bookseller here,
and Of credit and renown. Benton was
q neighbor and friend Of his, and made
Shillington cut out Of books and news
papers every conceivable article upon
the Pacific railway and bring It 10 him.
He also employed Shillingtou TO select
from the Congressional Globes, which
were brought 10 his house on G street by
the cart load, the matter that he wished
in publishing bis Arrangement of the
Debates Of Congress-"
at was q strange and remarkable
study" said Shillington, to see that old
man lying there fiat on bis back, unable
to rise, his spectacles poised on the tip
Of his nose, looking through the long de
bates, whose huge folios be held on his
breast He knew that he had but week
or two to live, and he was running race
with death to get the book finished; for
be believed it was the vital thing to keep
the cou ntry together. He used to send
me word four or five times day TO come
up there, and people said that l was his
slave. If | did not come promptly on
time, the old gentleman seemed TO feel
that I was in some way derelict in my
duty to the country. One day when the
shop was full of people, word came down,
Mr.. Benton wants you to come at two
o'clock to help him on an important
matter As soon as | could leave,
went around to his dwelling and found
him asleep breathing very hard, with a
large volume of the Globe on his breast.
/ lifted the book of and set it on table |
q little out of his reach. Then seeing |
that be did not yet awaken, / FASTENED
back to my work. 10 about two hours |
/ returned, and the old man looked very |
severely at me.
80 sent for you sir, two hours ago. |
have but q month at most to live, sir;
and it is important for the country that
this book shall be finished before i die |
You did not come, sir.
ayes Mr.. Benton, ! did. And
found you asleep.
al have not slept for fifty hours, sir
1t was impossible that ! could sleep, sir,
with so much on my mindr
Benton never trusted man that told /
him lie, so / found it necessary to clear
myself.
az Mr.. Benton, said /, 'you were
asleep, with volume Of the Globe on
your breast when l entered the room, and
found you breathing hard, so l put the
book on the table yonder
"Tha old mans eyes lighted up.
80 Well now, sir, he said, Il knew
,ad that book on my breast, or on the
Jed somewhere, and / wondered how it
rot off there so far. Perhaps / did doze
! little unconsciously. But come, sir, we
must get to work. / have but q little
ime to do great deal of work in.'
"Dr. Hall and his colleague, to pro-
oug the life of Benton, opened the old
mans abdomen and taking cut bis bow
lie, while be was still conscious, pro-
,eeded to cleanse them. AT one place
hey found some grapeskins and bits of
wood, which be used to chew abstractly
While writing or reading.
"'Look on, gentlemen, said the old
nan feebly, / dare say you will find
Globes next
When Benton was about to die, so
,itsl did he think bis advice to the coun-
ry, be sent for Buchanan, had the door
losed, and solsmnly devoted his last
lours to iupressing upon the President
lis opinion of the mode in which the
country should be administered. IF
yer there was man" concluded Shil-
ingten, who thought that in bis mind
nd reason lay the true destiny of the
Jniop, it was Tom Benton. His family,
is fame, bis future, we're all subordinate
0 the love of country.