Richmond Palladium

THE BEAR FIGHT IN MISSOURI.

The fight between Col. Benton and the Anti-Bentonians is still somewhat interesting to those fond of the "pugilistic art." The Democratic Banner furnishes the following sketch of a scene at a meeting at Bowling Green, a few days since:

At the conclusion of his speech, Mr. Robert Allison, a very respectable citizen of this county, and personal acquaintance of Colonel Benton, offered him a written question in the following words, to-wit:

SENATOR BENTON.—Owing to the difference of opinion among the citizens of this vicinity, with regard to your position on the question of the Wilmot Proviso, we respectfully submit for your consideration the following question, to which we hope you may be pleased to give us an explicit and direct answer, and that will settle the matter with us:

"Are you in favor of or opposed to the principles of the Wilmot Proviso, as applied to the territories of the United States?"

This question had been previously drawn up and signed by some of the oldest and most prominent citizens of the county; but instead of giving it a respectful consideration, he insultingly refused to receive it, and treated with scorn and contempt him who offered it.

At the meeting in Ralls county, the following scene took place.

As soon as he had 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 turning with fire in his eye, and a scowl upon his brow, screamed at the top of 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 in this house! It is the Jefferson Proviso, sir!! 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, that 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 all can 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 barrel revolver pointed at me, and did not answer it, nor shall I answer you, sir!"

Touching this same six barreled revolver, Dr. Lowry, of Fayette, in a publication under his own name, denies that he carried any such naughty weapon at the Benton meeting in Fayette. He had, it is true, a single barrel pistol, designed to be used against any person who might attack him, but the story of his having a six barreled shooter is condemned as a "lie."

What do that portion of the State Free Soil party, who "Dickered" themselves off to the Locofocoity, think of Col. Benton's support of the Wilmot Proviso. In none of his speeches or addresses which have been published, has he declared himself to be favorable to the Wilmot Proviso.