Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1882-04-10
Kansas City journal. March IA.

Ouo HuuuTCu years ago tOuay lnOms
as Hart Benton, who served Missouri
for the long period of thirty years in
the senate of the United States, was
born near HillsbOrough, N. G. His
father died when he was but eight
years of age, and his mother removed
to Tennessee. There young Benton
grew to manhoOd In the war OF 1912
he was aid-de-camp to Gen. Jackson.
His friendly relations with his old
commander were broken off, and they
were enemies for some years. Col.
Benton came to ST. Louis in 1916, and
at once became prominent in the then
territory When the state was admit
ted to the union, now sixty-two years
ago, he was chosen senator, and during
all his long career welded a power
that no MissOurian has ever since at
tained. He was broad minded, liber-
al statesman, and about the only one
of his time who fully realized what an
empire lay west Of the Mississippi.
Proud and naughty he was to his
peers, but he was ever a friend of the
people, and legislated always in the
interest of the masses. In 1924, 1926
and 1928 he advocated the granting of
pre-emptive rights to actual settlers, a
periodic reduction in the price of pub
lie land proportioned to the time it had
been in the market, and donation of
homesteads to certain persons. He
presented a bill embracing these feat.
ures, and renewed it every year, until
it took hold upon the public mind, and
was at length substantially embodied
in one of Gen. Jackson's messages
which secured its final adoption. He
also secured the passage of bill which
rendered the saline and mineral lands
of Missouri open for public occupancy.
At the session of 182S-30 he made
vigorous war on the salt tax, and sue
ceeded in abolishing it. He was the
pioneer advocate of the building of
the Pacific road, and earnestly favored
the opening up of trade into New
Mexico. Having become once more a
staunch friend of Gen. Jackson, during
the eight years which the latter filled
the presidential chair, he was the ablest
support of the administration in the
senate. He was the hardest of hard
money men, and vigorously aided Jack.
son in destroying the United States
bank.
Although leader of the Democratic
party Of his day, he was at heart a
thorough free sOiler, and was finally
ostracised by his party for his views
on the slavery question. An army of
pigmies succeeded in OverthrOwing the
old hero at the end of thirty years, but
he made gallant battle. When he
retired from the senate the people of
st. Louis were still loyal to him, and
sent him to the lower branch of con
gress, where he served two years.
His literary work consisted of his
"Thirty Years View" in two vol
umes, and his "Abridgement of the
Debates Of Congress from 1889 t(
1855" The student who would know
the political history of his country
will find it all embodied in thes,
works.
Col. Benton died in 1858, full o.
years and hOnors, and left name tha
has grown brighter and brighter will
the lapse of years. He was politica
giant, but the last of his race in Mis-
souri,. None have come after him il
the Democratic party.
1t was at one time proposed to max,
q general celebration of this centennia
throughout the state, but the idea was
finally abandoned, and the only demon
stration that will take place to-day il
honor of "Old Bullion" will be tha
under the auspices of the Historical
society at st. Louis.