Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-04-14
Plkc Comfy History.

FROM speech by thamp ttafhs Fuo-
lished In the Congressional Record.
The first legislature Of the State tf
| Missouri did two remarkable things.
/ The first was 10 elect David Barton
| United States senator unanimously.
That performance has been repeated a
few times, notably in Michigan on
one occasion.s Then there was pro-
longed deadlock iorthe other senator
ship. Col. Thomas Hart Benton, one
of the greatest OF al, American states
men; Judge J. G. b. Lucas, whose son
Benton was killed in duel, an sever
al other distinguished men were COM
petiiors for that place. The light WAS
intensely bitter. At last the Legislature
did thing that has never been dupli-
Gated, and in all human probability
never Will be duplicated. They asked
David Barton, the senator-elect, 10
pick his senatorial mate. He chose
Col. Benton, but Il e tight was so bit
ter that even after Barton picked HIM
there was a prolonged struggle.
The legislature was holding its ses.
sions in the lower story OF the old st.
Louis Hotel, the upper stories being
used for hotel purposes. Hon. Daniel
Rails, one Of the representatives Of
Pike county, the county in which l
live, was sick unto death in one OF the
rooms upstairs. In the legislature
they lacked enc vote of having enough
to elect Benton on the last ballot they
took on Saturday. That night they
got French representative, by the
name Of Phillip Leduc, out and agon-
lied with him all night to induce him
to vote for Benton. He had sworn that
he would have his arm cut off at the
shoulder before he would do II. They
induced him to vote for Benton by
stating TO him that Benton represent
ed all the French land claimants out
there, and Leduc was one OF them.
About sunup on Sunday morning he
finally agreed to vote for Benton. They
would. elect Benton, provided Daniel
Rails lived until noon on Monday, and
the question uppermost in the public
mind of st. Louis that day was to in
quire after Daniel Rails health. He
lived until noon on Monday. Four
colored men carried him Down into the
legislative hail on a mattress. The last
act Of his life was to vote for Benton.
They carried him back upstairs, and
he was dead within an hour. That
legislature, out OF gratitude for his SER
vices. scut slice out of Pike county
nearest her heart and constituted II
into new county, named Rails coun-
ty, in honor of Daniel Rails
DAVID Barton and Col. Benton came
to Washington and drew straws for the
six-year and four-year tern S. Benton
drew the six-year straw, WAS reelected
four times, and was the first man who
everlserved 30 years in the Senate Of
the United states. Senator Barton
drew the four-year term, was re-elect-
ed for six years, qaarreled with Gen
Jackson, and that was the end Of him,
as II was OF NEST men who quarreled
with,Gen Jackson. Bentou had moth
ing to do with promising Leduc assist
ance about the French land grant
claims, knew nothing about 1t, and as
soon as ne was elected called his clients
together, retired from the cases, and
refused even to nominate an attorney
to succeed himself, on the ground that
he might have to vote in the Senate On
the subject; SO jealous was he Of his
honor and reputation