Iron County register., 1882-03-23
Tom Benton.
Thomas Hart Benton was /

Thomas Hart Benton was born near
| HiliaoOro igh, Orange county, North Caro-
lina, Marc:, IA, 1882. His father dying when
| ne was but eight Years of age, his early edu-
cation was somewhat neglected, being mainly
obtained in an ordinary country school, from
| which he was transferred to the State Uni
versity at Chapel Hill, where he did not re-
main long enough to complete his studies.
Removing with his mother to Tennessee, he
adopted the profession of law, soon became
prominent, and was elected to the Legsla-
| ture. He attracted the attention and won the
/ friendship of Andrew Jackson, and was his
| aide de-cnInp in the militia service. These
pleasant elations were rbroken by violent
quarrel and street fight, and reconciliation
did not occur until many years later, when
Jackson was in the Presidential chair. In
1913, during the war with England, President
Madison appointed him Lieutenant Colonel,
but, peace being declared before he had an
opportunity to enter the field, he resigned his
commission and shortly afterward located
permanently in St. Louis. Here he practiced
law, mixed in politics, established the MIS-
s0uri Inquirer. Partyspirit ran high in those
days, and he became involved in difficulty
with Mr.. Charles Lucas, brother of the late
James II. Lucas, that ended in duel, the
fatal result of which he always deeply re-
GREETED. Taking an active part in the discus
siOns which preceded the admission of Mis-
souri, to the Union, he was, in 1920, chosen one
of our first Senators, and held that high office
for thirty consecutive years. Defeated in
1S49-50 by a coalition between the "anti-
Benton" Democrats and the Wings, he was
elected to the House in 1852, was defeated in
1854, and defeated as candidate for Governor
in 1856; after which he retired from politics
and devoted himself to historical writing. He
died in Washington, April 10, 1858.
Such is the briefcst possible summary of a
long, busy, and honorable life; life not
without its blemishes, but one which the
State and nation could not well have spared.
If Missouri did much for him he did more for
her. lie gave her in the day of her infancy
and youth character, position, and influence
in and out of Congress which she could not
otherwise have had. 1t is hardly too much to
say that the State was mainly known abroad
through him, and it is certainly not too much
to say that all the Senators we have had from
1850 to 1882 have not produced sum total of
services equal to his. We have not yet had
as large political figure as Benton, and the |
prospect for the future is not particularly |
encouraging; so it is tolerably safe to predict |
that when the political history of Missouri |
for the first three-qlIarters of a century is |
written he will be altogether the most con-
spicuous character in it. AS compared with |
the illuStrious triumvirate with whom he was
so long and intimately associated-Clay, Cal
houn, and Webster--he must be content with |
he second rank. But he was no unworthy |
rival of these great contemporaries; never
feared to meet them in parliamentary war;
fare, and the records demonstrate his capac-
ty to give and take the hardest blows. He
was something more than politician-he
was statesman of very decided ability, I'M
swerving devotion to principle, incorruptible
,and undoubted patriotism. Though
Southerner by birth, associations, and ideas,
MS affection for the Federal Union stood the
;everest tests, and he was almost the last of
hose public men who were able to sink Sec
ionalism i'm nationality. When his son-in-
aw, Fremont, was candidate for the Presi-
lencv on sectional issues he would not support
lin, but gave voice and vote to Buchanan.
n short, he belonged to that old political
chool which has passed away never to re-
urn, and which, with all its faults, has left
more to be initiated than avoided. AS aman
le was good hater and magnificent egotist.
lie fought his enemies to the last, asking for
and giving none. His indomitable
luck commanded the respect and admira-
ion Of his bitterest foes. = Walking one
ay along Main street, with head thrown back :
LoIo Of n fy l.
rchin, playing marbles on the pavement, I
Doked up, and, recognizing the familiar face /
nd form, cried out ''I!'' Benton stopped, | b
nd putting his hand on the boys head, said: ;
Yes, my son: and when you have lived as :.
,ng as have lived, and done what have $
one, you can say, II" He was not ashamed il