Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-10-14

MN tor from 1921 to 1851, Is
VIM 1 known only to the stu
NNlM dent of history. Web
UlNllyNa llIllIN ster. Clay and Calhoun
@ MIL are familiar words
@&F everywhere, yet Benton
w NJ a. served In the United
EE&S8I4 States senate longer
ES&8 than any of these, and
was responsible for
more sound legislation than all of
Mem together. His name was never
Sromipently connected with the presi-
iency. yet he accomplished more for
sis country than have the majority of
the presidents.
This remarkable man came into the
corld in 1882, six years after the sign
ing of the Declaration Of Independ-
.rce and departed in 1853, three years
,efore the Civil war. Thus his life COW
sred the formative epoch of govern
nept 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
we're 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
m vote fer the extension of slavery
into territory that had before been
free. He was a firm believer In the
doctrine of state rights. which was. as
he understood 1t, the right Of the
states TO govern themselves as to all
matters except those delegated to the
federal government. His theory OF the
republic was an "indissoluble un-on OF
self-governing states"-a federated re
pupbhc.
His education, that is the school
mart Of 4, was limited to the
grammar schools and a short time In
the University of North Carolina. In
a larger sense he continued his studies
until the day of his death, and was
one of the best Informed men OF his
time. While other statesmen were In
duiging 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
w superior to that Of any of his com
peers.
Bentou's high moral character was
bIemished by his pugnacious dispo
sitien. In his early days he was In
yolved in many affairs Of honor" a:
dueis we're termed then. He had no
been in st. Louis long when the mos
unfortunate event in his career oc
CURED. In the trial Of law sui
SEINE trivial dispute arose between
him and a young attorney nance
Charles Lucas, q highly esteemed ant
most estimable young man. Luca
won the case and Benton challenged
him. Lp.as declined the challeng
at first, but Benton persisted ant
offered deliberate insults. Lucas thel
accepted. They fought first due
and no ,i-:s being injured a secont
meeting was insisted upon by botl
parties. In the second duel Lucas
fell. MORALLY wounded. Before dyin'
hs 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 u
his grave. The code-duello was re
sorted to in those days often for In
significant things, and every publ
man of consequence had figured II
4 such an affair either as principal or sec
ond This duel was fought the yea
after Benton arrived in St Louis
Four years later the father of tn
l2mepted victim of the duelling Gus
tom was one of the unsuccessful can
didates for senator against Benton.
His Fight With "oId Hickory"
Benton, ike Andrew Jackson. wa
Of North Carolina birth, and. like Oh
Hickory. moved to Tennessee when
youth just entering upon MANHOOD
est to. He became Jackson's frien'
white they both lived in Nashville ant
cooperated with Jackson in raising
the brigade of militia which became
the nucleus of the army that was Il
annihilate the British at New Orlean
and make January 8, 1915, a redlette
da' in American annals. 1t was Oh
Benton's advice that the brigade wa
formed and offered to the government
BY Jackson, and for time he was oil
Jackson's staff. Their friendly re
htions were. however. interrupte'
BY a disgraceful brawl. Jesse Ben
ton, brother of Thomas Benton
had fought a duel and Jackson hat
seconded the antagonist. An angr,
dispute arose. Benton espOusing hi
mothers cause. Jackson struck Ben
TON with horsewhip, and in return
was shot in the shoulder by Benton
Jackson carried Bentons bullet In hi
shoulder until the close of his presi
Genital term. and the wound gave hin
some physical distress to the end O
MS days. The feeling between
tnem ran high after this episode
not to subside until the hand of fat