The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-08-04
IHO III. BENTON.
Personal "Reminiscences by % Friend

l~iarities, strength of character, and his
early struggles, he related numerous in
cidents of his personal courage, alluding
to his %rencontres with Foote and others.
When he was first nominated for the
senate, the opposition TO- him was very
bitter. The convention was held at the
old Missouri hotel, on Main street. In
one of the rooms a delegate lay dying,
and four stout negroes were placed n
at each corner of the bed and he was
carried to the convention, where he cast
his vote for Benton and died. When
Benton went to Washington Missouri
had not become a state, and it required
the compromise bill of Henry Clay to
gain it's admission. He was kept out of
his seat about twenty-five months, but
in all this time he kept busy and acquired
the Spanish language, having already
learned the French from his associations
with French families in St. Louis.
When the great treaty was made with
| Spain he was the only n in the United
States senate who could read the docu-
ment. He was always at work, and Mr..
Webster once paid him a neat compli-
ment, saying: "When the senator from
Missouri spoke on a subject he evinced
such sound and thorough research that
he was always edited to hear him."
Col. Benton never availed himself of
the summer holiday, but while others
were at watering places recuperating and
taking pleasure, he passed his time in
the congressional library at hard work
and study. His ability was so marked
that the sentence of DR.. johnson on
Goldsmith was recalled: "1here was
nothing in the world he touched that he
did not .adorn." His enemies admitted
his grand abilities, and Jim Green once
said, We can beat the old fellow, but
we cannot get any one to fill his place."
He had the power through ability of re-
tang position more than any other man
In the United States senate. He OPP
posed the railroad system for a long time
and made some very disparaging COM
parsons between Illinois and Missouri
on that score. One day, representing a
railroad committee, Mr.. Darby went to
Col. Benton to secure his aid in scheme
for the benefit of the city and state. He
spoke of Douglass having favored the
movement in another direction as being
conducive to his personal popularity in
his designs on the presidency. Benton
replied "Douglass can never be presi-
dent, his legs are too short, and his coat
tail hangs like a cows, too close to the
ground" Benton then did help them,
and the speaker stated that he had his
frank on a bill which he introduced in
the thirty-seventh congress, providing
for the location of a central highway to
extend from St. Louis to San Francisco.
His speeches read better than they
were delivered his eloqueHce and reason
ing were the most powerful which this
country has ever produced. He never
used the phrase "fellow. citizens in his
speeches, but plain "citizens." He
always spoke of himself in the third
person, in this wise: "Cicero was to
Catalina as Benton is to that nulliier,
Calhoun" In one of his campaigns up
the country, after a speech, Mr.. Darby
said to him, Colonel, | believe you dre
making an impression on these people"
He replied emphatically Always the
case sir always the case. The terms of
Thomas H. Benton and the people are
synonymous"
He once spoke at Boonville and then
at Fayette. At the latter place he said:
"I spoke at the town of Boonvile last
night. Before I came old Doc Loury
and Others of his class said I would not
be there; but when I arrived and COM
menced speaking they walked in quietly
and took seats, like a lot of disreputable
characters at a b~aptizing."
AT another time he was the guest of
James S. Rollins, who showed him great
attention. After a speech Col. Benton
had made, MI. Rollins got a morning
paper, and, finding its comments of a
nature unusually strong in praise, ran
up with it to Col. Benton, who was still
in bed. "Have you read it, sir? Does
it do justice to the subject" The reply
was that it did. II know all about it,
SIR replied Benton, with great dignity.
I w1ote it all myself, sir" !
The speaker alluded to the number o.
distinguished men who left North Caro-
lima to render public service to Other
states. Col. Benton was very proud o
of his origin and spoke with great pride
Of the fact that t~wenty-six months befor'
the declaration of independence Nortf
Carolina had thrown off the British yoke
and Col. Benton had said "There it i
that the spirit of opposition to tyrann.
originated
After his trouble with Chaales Lucas
challenge was sent him by another mem
Der of the family which received n
notice.