Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-12-24
Thomas HI. Benton.

lie w oiiSSPOhNS''s VI NNS
Cincinnati Commercial tells this story of
Hon. Thomas II. Benton:
Shillington is an Irish bookseller here,
of credit and renOwn. Benton was a
neighbor and friend of his, and made
ShiIlington cut out of books and news
papers every conceivable article upon
the Pacific Railway, and bring it to
him. He also employed Shilllngton TO
select from tine Congressional Globe
which were brought to his house In Z
Street by the cartload--the matter that
he wished in publishing his Abridg-
ment of the Debates of Congress"
at was strange and remarkable
study" said Shillington, ito see that
old man lying there fiat on his back,
unable to rise. his spectacles poised on
the tip of his nose, looking through the
long debates whose huge folios he held
on his breast He knew that he had but
week or two to live, and he was run
ming race with Death to get the book
finished; for he believed that it was the
vital thing to keep the country together
He used to send me word four or f1ve
times day to come up there, and the
people said that | was his slave. If /
did not come promptly on time, the old
gentleman seemed to feel that / was in
some way derelict in my duty to my
country. -.fa
lone day, when the shop was full of
people, word came down, Mr.. Benton
wants you to come at o'clock, TO help
him on an important matter
"As soon as could possible 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 off and set it on table
little out of his reach. Then, seeing
that he did not yet awaken, | hastened
/ back to my work. In about two hours l
returned, and the old man looked severe
ly at me. rrafs ~.-.
| ~ sent for you, sir, two hours ago. 1
| have but month at most to live, sir;
/ and it is important for the country that
this book shall be finished before die.
You did not come, SIR @.
l'" Yes. Mr.. Benton, did; and found
you asleep 10 55e.. ...I4.. a
II have not slept for fifty hours, sir;
! it was impossible that could sleep with
so much on my mind III r-,
"Mr. Benton never trusted man that
told him lie; SO I found it necessary to
clear myself.
"'Mr. Benton said 1, you were
asleep with volume of the Globe on
your breast when entered the room ;
and found you breathing hard, so put
! the book on the table yonder.'
1.-The old mans eyes lightened up.
"'Well, now, sir, he said, L knew |
had that book on my breast, or the bed
somewhere; and wondered how it got
off there so far. Perhaps / did dose q
little unconsciously. But come, sir, we
must go to work. L have but little
time to do great deal of work in
arDr. Hall and his colleague, to pro-
long the life of Benton, opened the old
mans abdomen, and, taking out his
bowels, while he was still conscious,
proceeded to cleanse them. At one place
I they found grape-skins; then they found
] bits of wood, which he used to chew
4 abstractedly while writing or reading.
"a" Look, on, gentleman said the old
man, feebly; i dare say You will find
Congressional Globes next s-u
/. when Benton was about to die, SO
vital did he think his advice was to the
country, he sent for Buchanan, had the
/ door closed, and solemnly devoted his
last honrs to impressing upon the Presi-
dent his opinion of the mode in which
the country should be administered. II
4 ever there was man." concluded Shil.
lington, "who thought that in his mind
and reason lay the true destiny of the
Union, it was Tom. Benton. His family
his fame, his future were all subordinate
to his love of country" s.-