River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-10-13

klkHi444RIiIllHllA Ster, Clay and CalnouH
ksEYh wv 4 are familiar words
MI SSSH everywhere, yet Benton
W W. "a served in the United
NSS~I2S51 States senate longer
Eg&&9NES,E 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 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
self-governing states"-a federated re-
pupblic
His education that is the school
part Of it, 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
dulging in the designations common to
that period among public men, he de-
voted his spare moments to 1nvest1ga-
ton and study, and his knowledge OF
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 pugnacious dispo-
sition In his early days he was in
yolved in many affairs of honor" as
duels were termed then. He had not
been in St Louis long when the most
unfortunate event in his career oc-
Cured. In the trial of law suit
some trivial dispute arose between
him and a young attorney named
Charles Lucas, highly esteemed and
most estimable young man. Lucas
won the case and Benton challenged
him. Lucas declined the challenge
at first. but Benton persisted and
offered deliberate insults. Lucas then
accepted. They fought first duel
and no one being injured a second
meeting was insisted upon by both
parties. In the second duel Lucas
fell, mortally wounded. Before dying
he took Benton's hand and forgave
him, but Benton never forgave him.
self. and the shadow of this tragedy
went with him through the years to
his grave. The code-duello was re-
sorted to in those days often for in
TNIIhI n
man of consequence had figured in
such 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
lamented victim of the duelling Gus
tom was one of the unsuccessful can
didates for senator against Benton.
His Fight With "OId Hickory"
Benton like Andrew Jackson, was
of North Carolina birth, and, like Old
Hickory, moved to Tennessee when a
youth just entering upon manhood's
estate. He became Jacksons friend
while they both lived in Nashville and
lco-operated with Jackson in raising
the brigade of militia which became
the 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
Benton'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-
lations were, however, interrupted
by a disgraceful brawl. Jesse Ben
ton, a brother of Thomas Benton,
had fought a duel and Jackson had
seconded the antagonist, An angry
dispute arose, Benton espouslng ms
brothers cause. Jackson struck Ben.
ton with a horsewhip, and in return
was shot in the shoulder by Benton.
Jackson carried Benton's bullet in his
shoulder until the close of his presi-
dental term, and the wound gave him
some physical distress to the end of
his days. The feeling between
them ran high after this episode,
not to subside until the hand of fate