Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-10-13

HkIt0HAA1Nl dent of history. Web
MISUNDERSTANDING ster, Clay and Calhoun
ESN MI are familiar words
NYSW everywhere, yet Benton
w W. d served in the United
NNS8A States senate longer
kYS &&SFA than any of these, and
was responsible for
more sound legislation than all of
them together. His name was never
prominently connected with the presi-
dency, yet he accomplished more for
his country than have the majority of
the presidents.
This remarkable man came into the
world in 1882, six years after the sign
ing of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and departed in 1858, three years
before the Civil war. Thus his life Gov
cred the formative epoch of a govern
ment by the people in the making, and
ended Just before the outbreak that
shook the foundations of the republic
and bathed the nation in blood. For
many years he ignored the mutterings
in the political sky and preferred to
believe the talk of war between the
states over the question of slavery
mere idle chatter. When he realized
that the sentiment Of disunion was
real he took an uncompromising stand
in favor of the union and refused to
alter his position or trim his sails to
meet the breezes from Missouri that
were blowing the other way. Though
entering public life as an advocate OF
the admission of Missouri into the
union unrestricted as to slavery, he
left the public service in the evening
of life because he would not consent
to vote for the extension of slavery
into territory that had before beer
free. He was a firm believer IN the
doctrine of state rights, which was, as
he understood it, the right of the
states to govern themselves as to al
matters except those delegated to the
federal government. His theory Of the
republic was an "indissoluble union o.
self-governing states"-a federated re
pupblic.
His education, that is the schoo
part of it, was limited to the
grammar schools and a short time II
the University of North Carolina. Ii
a larger sense he continued his studies
until the day of his death, and wat
one of the best informed men of hi
time. While other statesmen were in
dulging in the designations common tt
that period among public men, he de
voted his spare moments to investiga
ton and study, and his knowledge o
the details of public matters was vast
Iy superior to that of any Of his com
peers.
Benton's high moral character was
blemished by his pugnaclous dispo
sition. In his early days he was In
volved In many affairs of honor al
duels were termed then. He had no
been in St. Louis long when the mos
unfortunate event in his career oC
Cured. In the trial of a law sui
some trivial dispute arose between
him and a young attorney nance
Charles Lucas, a highly esteemed ant
most estimable young man. Luca
won the case and Benton challenges
him. Lucas declined the challeng
at first, but Benton persisted ant
offered deliberate insults. Lucas the
accepted. They fought a first due
and no one being injured a secon'
meeting was insisted upon by bot
parties. In the second duel Luca
fell. MORALLY wounded. Before dyini
he took Benton's hand and forgav
him, but Benton never forgave him
self, and the shadow of this TRACED
went with him through the years t
his grave. The c%ode-duello was re
sorted to in those days often for II
significant things, and every publ
man of consequence had figured /
such an affair either as principal or sec
ond. This duel was fought the yea
after Benton arrived In st. Louis
Four a later the father Of tn
lamented victim Of the duelling cut
tom was one Of the unsuccessful cal
didates for senator against Benton.
His Flight With "OId Hickory"
Benton, like Andrew Jackson, we
of North Carolina birth, and, like Oh
Hickory, moved to Tennessee when
youth Just entering upon manhood
estate. He became Jackson's frien
while they both lived in Nashville an
co-operated with Jackson In ra1sir
the brigade of militia which BEGAN
the nucleus of the army that was
annihilate the British at New Orlear
and make January 5, 1916, a red-lettt
day in American annals. 1t was {
Benton's advice that the brigade WI
formed and offered to the governmel
by jackson, and for a time he was
,Jackson's staff. Their friendly 7
iations were, however, interrupts
by a d~isgraceful brawl. Jesse Be
ton, a brother Of Thomas Bento
had fought a duel and Jackson b;
seconded the antagonist. An ang
dispute arose, Benton %espousing b
brothers cause. Jackson struck Be
ton with a horsewhip, and In retu
was shot in the shoulder by Bento
Jackson carried Benton's bulletin b
shoulder until the close Of his pre-
DENTAL term, and the wound gave hi
some physical distress to the end
his days. The feeling betwe'
them ran high after this episod
not to subside until the hand Of ia