The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-10-15


|lIIiaRS9 ltIlILsl ster. Clay and Calhou
NM. M1L are familiar wore
kDK w everywhere, yet Bento
" MN served In the Unite
M~SSe1 States senate longe
KY S4SS3 than, any of these, an
was responsible fo
more sound legislation than all c
them together. His name was neve
prominently connected with the pres
dency, yet he accomplished more TO
his country than have the majority O
the presidents.
This remarkable man came into tn,
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 been
free. He was 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 union Of
governing states"-a federated re-
public.
His education. that is the school
part Of 1t, 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
dulging In the designations common to
that period among public men, he de-
voted hjc cporo poononfo IN invocti0o
ton and study, and his knowledge Of
the details of public matters was vast
ly superior to that of any of his COM
peers.
Benton's high moral character was
blemished by his pugnacious dispo-
sition. In his early days he was in
volved in many affairs of honor as
1uels were termed thens He had not
oeen in St. Louis long when the most |
Unfortunate event in his career &C.
Cured. In the trial of law suit |
some trivial dispute arose between |
lin and a young attorney named !
Charles Lucas, a highly esteemed and
most estimable young man. Lucas |
Won the case and Benton challenged |
him. Lucas declined the challenge |
It first, but Benton persisted and |
,ffered deliberate insults. Lucas then
They fought a first duel
md no one being injured a second
Meeting was insisted upon by both
'arties. In the second duel Lucas
ell, mortally wounded. Before dying
le took Benton's hand and forgave
i'm, but Benton never forgave him
elf, and the shadow Of this tragedy
vent with him through the years to
lis grave The code-duello was re-
orted to in those days often for in
ignificant things, and every public
nan of consequence had figured in
uch an affair either as principal or sec
nd. This duel was fought the year
fter Benton arrived in St. Louis
our years later the father of the
amented victim of the duelling Gus
ON was one Of the unsuccessful can
idates for senator against Benton.
His Fight With "OId Hickory"
Benton, like Andrew Jackson, was
( North Carolina birth, and. like Old
Hickory, moved to Tennessee when a
outh just entering upon manhoods
state. He became Jackson's friend
lille they both lived in Nashville and
with Jackson in raising
he brigade of militia which became
ne nucleus of the army that was to
nnihilate the British at New Orleans
nd make January 8, 1915, red-letter s
a. in American annals. 1t was on [
enton's advice that the brigade was
ormed and offered to the government t
y Jackson, and for time he was on ,
staff Their friendly re-
atoms were, however, interrupted
Y disgraceful brawl Jesse Pen- /
IN, brother of Thomas Benton, t
ad fought duel and Jackson had /
econded the antagonist. An angry I
lspute arose, Benton espousing his 5
rother's cause. Jackson struck Ben f
N with horsewhip, and in return c
as shot in the shoulder by Benton. t
ackson carried Benton's bullet in his
BOULDER until the close of his pTesi- n
entail term, and the wound gave him t
,me physical distress to the end of g
Is days. The feeling between il
EN- ran high after this episode, p
It to subside until the hand of fate p