The Portland daily press., 1883-08-21
"reminiscences of Tom Benton


Col. Thomas q. Benton, with as many faults
Of character and as many good traits as
any man that ever held seat in that body.
He was bitter perhaps malignant is the bet
ter word) in his politics, and neither wished
nor cared to have friends who disagreed
with him in his political faith. By marriage
he was connected to Henry Clay, and was
the intimate friend of the great orator.
Facts growing out of the presidential con-
test of 1924, when, through tine vote and in
fiuence of Mr.. Clay, John Quincy Adams, a
minority candidate, was elected president of
the House of Representatives over Gen.
Jackson, who received the highest electoral
vote, the friendship between Benton and
Clay cooled, and the part Benton took in
the great canvass of 1928 against Adams and
Clay brought hatred between them never
healed. At one time Col. Benton, espous-
ing the quarrel between his brother, Jesse
Benton, and Gen. Jackson, they became bit
ter enemies, and had a street fight, and TO
the day of his death Jackson suffered from
ball in his arm from Benton's pistol.
They afterward became friends. Benton
was too much Of man not to espouse the
cause of his brother, and Jackson could not
in his heart blame him for so doing. Once
during hot debate, Mr. Clay alluded to this
quarrel, when Benton promptly replied
True, we quarreled and we fought like
men, and became friends without leaving
any adjourned question of veracity between
u.s." abiding to former dispute between
Adams and Clay, in which the latter made
statements regarding Mr.. Adams while one
of the commissioners TO settle the terms of
peace with England at Client, in which Mr.
Clay charged him with an attempt to barter
away the free navigation of the Mississippi
river, and which Mr.. Adams Indignantly de-
MED. Clay, in the controversy, professei
to be able to prove it by one of the commits
sioners not then in the country, and an
nounced his intention of doing so at some
future date. This was the last of it.
Between Webster and Benton, except ac-
rimonious debates in the Senate, there had
been no quarrel and no personal intercourse.
For years as members of the Senate, day
after day, they passed each other without
recognition. Benton, except to his intimate
friends, was unsocial. He would not speak
to dog if the animal belonged to man he
did not like.
4 At the time of the explosion of the then
largest cannon, called the "Peacemaker,"
ever cast in the United States, Benton was
on board the Princeton with party to wit
ness its being fired, on trip down the Po-
tomac. 1t was during the administration of
President Tyler The vessel was crowded
by the Presidential party, by members of the
Cabinet and of Congress, and by the leading
men and women of Washington. In giving
an account of the affair Col. Benton said he
was standing near the gun, in the best pos
sible position to see the effects of the shot.
Suddenly some one touched him on the
shoulder who wished to speak to him, and
he was elbowed out of his place and another
took it. The gun was fred and burst, deal
ing death and destruction all around. Ex-
Gov. Gilmer, then Secretary of the Navy,
who stood where Benton stood but a mo-
ment before, was instantly killed, as were
also Abel P. Upston, the Secretary of State,
Mr. Gardner, the father of the lady who was
afterwards Mrs. Tyler, and others of promi-
hence.
The scene had great effect on Senator
Benton, who by the conclusion was thrown
to the deck, but not materially injured. He
then realized that if the Almighty would
forgive us our trespasses, we must forgive
those who trespass against us, and he deter
mined to be reconciled to those he had been
at outs with, and Daniel Webster was among
the first to whom Benton rendered the olive
branch of peace. Mr.. Webster, in describ-
ing the scene, said Mr.. Benton told him that
it seemed as if. that touch on the shoulder, a
moment before the gun was fired, saved his
life, by drawing him away from that which
would have been instantaneous death, and
that fact had changed the whole course of
his thoughts in life. "He felt," he said,
"as if he were a different man, and he
wished, in the first place, to be at peace
with all those with whom he bad been at va
rance, and so, Mr. Webster, have come to
you. Let us bury the Ratchet" Of course
Mr.. Webster responded to the invitation.
The old political enemies shook hands, and
ever after their intercourse was cordial and
pleasant. And in relating this experience,
Mr.. Webster added that there was no man
in the United States Senate of whom he
could have asked reasonable or proper ia
vor with more assurance of obtaining it
than from Col. Thomas 81. Benton.
Among the men in Missouri that Benton
hated, and who hated Benton, was lawyer
by the name of John Wilson. They differed
in politics, and each personally hated the
other and never concealed the fact. When
Benton made stump speeches in Missouri
Wilson thorned Benton by being present, in
replying to the speech and personally attack
ing his opponent in a violent manner, and
frequently Benton would reply in the same
strain. For over quarter of a century this
bitter, malignant warfare existed. About
the time of the explosion of the cannon ON
board the Princeton, Wilson, having been
rich, from some unfortunate speculation
was financially ruined, with helpless fami-
lily on his hands. At that time California
was all the rage, and Wilson, by the aid Of
friends, although aged in years, and prema-
turely more so by his misfortune, determined
to seek home and again commence life in
that country. He called on Daniel Webster,
who was an old FREUD, to ask him for
letter of introduction to some one in Cali
fornia, that he could use to prove himself a
respectable man and worthy of confidence.
Mr.. Webster had not single acquaintance
in California to whom he could address a
letter that would do the bearer any good.
81 wish much,' he added, Ito do you SER
vice, and know of no better way than to
ask Col. Benton to give you letter. His
son-in-law, Col. Fremont, almost owns Cal
ifOrnia, and can do you more service than
any other man" Wilson looked astonished
''Do you not know that the relations between
Benton and myself are now, and for years
have been, of the most hostile character?"
Mr.. Webster told Wilson that he was we'll
aware of the fact, but added: "Benton is
now changed man; very great change
has come over him within short time.
His feelings and sentiments are softened.
We are all getting old. Our fiery blood is
getting cooled and changed" "Is thy
servant dog replied Wilson, that he
should do this thing of asking a favor of
Tom Benton? Not to save the lives of my
family would do it. No, sirl The very
thought makes me shudder. I feel indig-
nant at the mere mention of it, l take a
letter from Mr.. Benton! IL 'Stop, stop,''
said Mr.. Webster, ''that is the old man
speaking in you. That is not the spirit in
which you should answer" etc. And turn
ing to his desk he wrote note to Mr.. Ben
ton stating that "while he was we'll aware
of the disputes, personal and political, be-
tween Benton and Wilson, the latter is now
poor, and is going to California and needs a
letter of recommendation. No one could give
such letter that would do more good than
- e., AZ Pontnn whn knows every