Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-16
THOMAS n, BENTON
"reminiscences of the Great
Senator.
sol, Crcecy, of zhc Elizabeth City
Economist, ReIn,cs tho EpisOde of
liis Expul.ion From tho Phiinn>
thropir society at tho University.

1t is said that an old man is nothing
but bundle of "reminiscences. We
know not whether Il is intended as
compliment or 4 reproach. 1t is GER
sainly true that old men live much in
fhe past and that their retrospective
reflections form much of their happi-
ness. But it is not true that the past
- their sole source Of enjoyment and
it IS not true that they lose their in
Tcrcst in the stirring present But
Whether that or this be true, or whcth-
Ell 1t be true. as some OF our brethren
OF The press have said. that the Econo-
mist makes u specially of reminis-
Senses, we beg To be allowed to fur
.hsh few "reminiscences relating to a
native son of North Carolina, who
C!l'hpeu tn the highest round of ma
Siohal distinction in the days when
snere were giants" who strovc to beat
aim back at every round.
Ihomas Hart Benton was born in the
iaoWhclds of Orange county. His pri-
-hdlV education was obtained in Hills
po'o' Wnere he WAS probably stu
ueht OF the celebrated Bingham school
.Aen it was conduct ed by the first
N'iiiam bingham. in the closing years
OF the Eighteenth century. He went
90 the University of North Carolina,
soon after 1t was founded and was a
student there about 1876. 1t was of an
incident there while he was Il stu
CO
various statements have had currency,
mat we propose to state what we
Know ana have heard from authentic
sources OF information
iScnton left North Carolina under a
Nioud. but he never forgot his old moth
er state, ANA spoke OF her WIN tender
affection In the climax of his grand
career and it is for that pious virtue
thal we love ana honor his memory.
NHcn B"n,In entered the University
oil North Carolina he was i'm his early
teens probably not more than fifteen.
WIN limited means, in the spring time
oi lille, without an abiding sense of
personal responsibility. ana in an evil
hpur he fell before the tcmptcr and
appropriated money that was not his
own ana that dark cloud logged his
long and illustrious life through an
rVehtlul career of personal antago-
NisinS ana bitter rivalrcs.
In the early thrties there lived at
Chanel lf!l an old negro man. over so
years old. who had been servant of
the University from it's foundation
aad Was servant when MIR. Benton
was student. His name was Daniel
Bradly lie was disabled by age, but
SnhetincS ne would come 10 he scenes
OF nus old service and would call on
the students who Were kind to him
lie loved to talk of the old students
he had waited on who had become
prominent actors in the worlds drama.
1le often told us of the college life of
Alr. Benton. who WAS then in the opcn-
lnS OF grand career as Senator from
Missouri ANA was learning lessons in
sturdy craftsmanship al the feet of old
Nat. Macon the heroic Senator from
North Carolina. whose Roman virtue"
mad never WaVcred before the rrowns
oil power or the whispers OF ambition
several times he related To us in de-
Ia ,-i from net. 90
fall and disgrace.
lie said that Benton was suspected
OF taking money that did not belong to
MN. lie said that some of the stu
dents in order 10 confirm the SUSPICION
SET a trap for Benton. They marked
silver dollar placed it where Benton
would be tempted by it, and induced
him To play with them a game of
'piteh quoits.' \ silver dollar was
used rs quot ana Benton was in
duced 10 furnish the dollar to he used
MS q QUOT The dollar that he pro
duced was the identical dollar which
had been marked as "a bait" for BEN
Ton. Upon this evidence he was OK
PEELED from the Philanthropic Society.
of which he was n member.
IN order TO verify this statement or
liraulY we once searched the records
ol Inc society TO see if the records re-
ierFed to The circumstances. We found
'''N'il 'Nlb tiltN contained the same
{ facts related by old Brady. A little
! pen mark shows the odium in which
. BENTON was held by the Secretary.
When the record was first made he
was called Mr.. benton. but the pen
aiierWard passed through Mr." as an
! In the year 1890 we were in the town
OF Warrcnton, being privately prepared
for the university by Rev. Jos. II. Sam
GERS. rather OF the Secretary of State
Colonel w. l.. Saunders. deceased roc
tor OF the Episcopal Church in War
renton. our earliest and best friend on
OF our lineage. He was minister of n
itlsslCn church in Halifax. On one of
ms NlSitatonS to the Halifax church
he met with Ex-Governor John Rronch
VINO related to him some circumstance
connected with the above incident -,
Benton's life. which Mr. Saunders. who
was an accurate and truthful man ro.
Deated to US
Governor Branch told Mr.. Sounders
that he was q student at the univnrsit,,
with MIR. Benton, and that w. r. kim
Vice President OF the United StotcS
with President Pierce, was also nj tbe
university al the same time. ana ~
roommate OF Benton. King missed
money from his trunk, suspected Ben
ton and determined to watch him ana
defect him If possible. Benton set I'm
Working Mt his studies until late in tho
night Old Brady said that Mr.
Benton5 light was always last 20 be
put out at night, in one of the front
rooms OF the old South Building"
Nlnss habit was to retire early. He
purposeiy left his trunk unlocked. with
money in it and with bills having n
private mark. King lay awake, feign-
ing sleep Late i'll the night Benton
retired from his books. but before re-
tirlhg he looked in Kings bed and he