The Lincoln County herald., 1868-12-03
Thomas II. Bcnton-nis Last Days
-. on His Ceeat Weyk, F,.,

TnOUaS H. Bcnl0n-nlS Last Days
on His Geeat WsTk. -Ff.
The Washiugton correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Commercial tells this story Of
Thomas II. Benton: ,,il.. .t =, i
Shillington 10 an Irish bookseller here,
Of credit and rsnown. Benton vas q
neighbor aud friend Of his, and made Shi
lington OUT out Of books and newspapers
every conceivable article on the Pacific
railway and bring it to him. He also
employed Shilliogton to select from the
Congressional Globe, which were brought
to bis house in q street by the cart load,
the matter that he wished in publishing
bis "Abridgment Of the Debates Of Con.
gress." .
ut was q strange and remarkable
study" said Shillington, Ito see that old
man lying there fat on his back, unable
TO rise, hls speotacles poised on the tip Of
his nose, looking through the long debates,
whose huge folios he held on his breast.
He know that he had but week OF two
to live, and be was runniog q race with
death to get the book finished; for he be-.
lieved that II was the vital thing to keep
the country together. He used to send me
word four or Eve times day to come up
there, and the people said was his slave.
If did not come promptly on time, the
old gentleman seemed to feel that I was
in some way derelect in my duty to the
country,Q Ono day, when the shop was
fulfsf people; word came down: "Nlr
Benton wants you tteeme st two O'Clock
to kelp him 90 AN imps psstlet tmattef." As
sosplAs I could posSoJ lRve I vent
fpuhd TO kis dwelling 3nH fousd Him
sSEeD, breathing, ,tery hard. with = 3nsge
7otsme Of. ths 0ig6e on Ills Isaast.' I
liltsd tho beck OF, and setit on . table o
littltolS ofresch, Thea, SEEING .tlisa he
I'D not YET awIk<n, hastsned back 10 my
work. Il about two hours I resurncd,
and tho old man looked very severely at
me. -
II sent for you, sir, TITO hours dgo. I
have but month at most to live, sir and
it is important for tho country that this
book should be finished before die. You
did not come SIR"
"Yes, Mr.. Benton, I did. And I found
you asleep" .s.
II have not slept for fly hours, sir
1t was impossible that I could sleep, sir,
with SO much on my mind"
Benton never trusted man that told
q lie, 90 I iouad Il nocossary to clear my.
self. -.-s..- ........
"Mr. Benton" said I, "you were asleep
with volume Of the Globe q your breast
when l entered the room, and I found
you breathing hard, SO I put the book on
the .tablo yonder." i. .,
The old mans eyes lighted up.
"Weli, now sir" he said, II know I
had that book on my. breast or on the
bed somewhere, andI wondered how it
got of tbere 80 far. Perhaps l did doze
q little unconsciously. But, come sir,
we must 60 to work. I have but little
time to do great deal Of work in."
rr. Hall and his colleague, to prolong
the life Of Benton, opcned the old mans
abdo-aen, and taking out his bowels while
hc was still conscious, proceeded to cleanse
them. AT one place they found some
grape skins; then they found bits Of
wood, which he used to chew abstractodly
while reading or writing.
"Lpok on, gentlemen" said tho old
man feebly, ~ dare say you will dud Con.
gretsional Globes next." '.'te.s a..
"Whea Benton was about to die, so
vital did he think his advice was 10 the
country, he sent for Buchanan, had the
door closed, aud solemply devoted his
last hours to impressing upon the Presi.
dent his opinion of the mode in which tho
coantry should be administered" ,
IF ever there was man concluded
Shillington, "who thought that in his
mind and reason lay tho true destiny of
tho Union, ii was Tom. Benton. His
family; his fame, his future. we're all hub.
ordinute to'uhc love Of country" F'g
=. vi q.