The Ottawa Free Trader

Col. Benton.—The Democratic Banner, printed at Bowling Green, and a paper opposed to Col. Benton, reports the following scene at a meeting in Ralls county:

As soon as he concluded his speech, Senator Priest rose, and calling him by name, said that he had a question to ask him—Col. Benton seemed not to hear him, when Senator Priest repeated a little louder, "Col. Benton, before you leave the stand I have a question to submit to you." Col. Benton turned with fire in his eye, and a scowl upon his brow, cried at the top of his voice, "Well sir, what is it?" Col. Priest then remarked that he might not understand him, and would like to know whether he was for or against the Wilmot Proviso. Col. Benton's fury rising still higher, he roared out in a sneering tone, "The Wilmot Proviso! Wilmot Proviso! dead and rotten, dead and rotten! you had as well bring the carcass of a dead dog from off the commons into this house! Have you heard the news? Have you heard from California? They are all for the Jefferson Proviso!"

But says Col. Priest, it matters not what the people of California are for: we want to know whether you are for the Wilmot Proviso.

Benton—“The Wilmot Proviso, again I tell you sir, it is the Jefferson Proviso, none but a nullifier would call it the Wilmot Proviso."

A voice from the crowd calls out, Wilmot Proviso.

Benton with a scowl upon his face, looks round the room and says "stand out here, sir, where we can all see you good."

The man deliberately steps out on to a bench, and repeats in a full voice, Wilmot Proviso.

Benton sneering and scoffing, repeats—brave fellow, you are a brave fellow!

Then turning to Col. Priest, he roared out, "I have been asked that question with a six barreled revolver pointed at me, when I did not answer it, and I shall not answer you sir."