The Nevada County picayune., 1910-10-18

8WSNN everywhere, yet Benton H WH r0 served fin the United E%1HI1 States senate longer 0XNSS0 than any of these. and
 was responsible for more sound legislation than all Of tAam together. Ills name was never txOmipently connected with the presi- &eGcy, yet he accomplished more for AlS country than have the majority of the presidents.
 This remarkable man came into the world in 17s2. six years after the sign tng of the Declaration of Independ- snce, and departed fin 1858. three years before the Civil war. Thus his life coy srod the formative epoch of govern u,ent by the people fin the making, and ended just before the outbreak that shook the foundations of the republic and bathed the nation in blood. For oaany years he ignored the mutterings tn the political sky and preferred to believe the talk of war between the NtAtes over the question of slavery mere idle chatter. When he realized that the sentiment of disunion was real he took an uncompromising stand tn favor of the union and refused to aIfer his position or trim his sails to meet the breezes from Missouri that were blowing tho 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 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 all matters except those delegated to the federal government. His theory Of the republic was an 'indissoluble union of aeIf governing states"-a federated re- pupblic.
 His education. that is the school part of 1t. was limited to the grammar schools and 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 dissipations common te that period among public men, he de voted his spare moments 10 investiga tion and study, and his knowledge oi the details of public matters was vast fy superior to that of any of his com peers.
 
 Benton's high moral character was hiemished by his pugnacious dispo sition. In his early days he was in volved In many affairs of honor" as siuels were termed then. He had not been In St. Louis long when the most unfortunate event in his career oc some trivial dispute arose between him and young attorney nance Eharles Lucas. a highly esteemed and most estimable young man. Lucas wvvs the case and Benton challenged him. Lucas declined the challenge ax first, but Benton persisted nt offered deliberate insults. Lucas ther accepted They fought first due and no one being injured seconf meeting was insisted upon by botf parties. Tn the second duel Lucas fell. mortally wounded Before dyine Ia took Benton's hand and forgayy him, but Benton never forgaye him eeif, and the shadow of this tragedy went with him through the years tc hfs grave. The code-duello was re sorted to in those days often for in significant things. and every public man of consequence had figured 1T ssxlch an affair either as principal or sec ond. This duel was fought the year after Benton arrived in St Louis -Four years later the father of the samented victim of the duelling GUS tom was one of the unsuccessful can xffdates for senator against Benton.
 Ills Fight With "old Hickory"
 Benton, like Andrew Jackson, was of North Carolina birth, and, like Old Hickory, moved to Tennessee when 6 youth Just entering upon manhood s estate. He became Jackson's friend while they both lived in Nashville and cooperated with Jackson in raising xhe brigade of militia which became she nucleus of the army that was to annihilate the British at New Orleans and make January 8, 1915, red-letter day in American annals. 1t was on Banton's advice that the brigade was formed and offered to the government by Jackson, and for time he was on Jackson's staff. Their friendly re- 1atIons were, however, interrupted by q diseraceful brawl. Jesse Ben ton, a brother of Thomas Benton had fought a dpel and Jackson had seconded the antagonist An angry dispute arose, Benton espousihg his brothers cause. Jackson struck Ben ton with a horN~whp, and in return was shot in thr shoulder by Benton Jackson carried Benton's bullet in his shoulder until the close of his presi
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