Richmond Enquirer

For the Enquirer.

A Glance at the U. S. Senate.

Mr. Benton and Mr. Clay.

We may talk of this great man and that great man—we may admire the fascinating eloquence of Clay, the profound logic of Webster, the brilliant imagination and metaphysical graces of Calhoun; and, if you please, the fiery invectives and violent denunciations of Leigh; but, in my view, for clear comprehension, efficient and triumphant reasoning, on the all-engrossing and deeply-exciting Bank question, we have only to turn our eyes to the luminous speeches of Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, to perceive that he stands unrivalled, and has gallantly borne away the palms of victory from the allied champions of the Opposition. Let invidious and grovelling minds covertly assail this distinguished Senator, if they will; their illiberal reflections pass by him unheeded as the idle winds. The poisoned shafts of malignant reproach that are now and then aimed at him by a few vindictive and assassin presses, are victoriously repelled by the impregnable shield which genius and patriotism have thrown around him.—

His dignity elevates him above the reach of inferior assailants, and the strength of his intellect enables him to grapple with and to vanquish the strongest of his adversaries." What, indeed, but the gallant and lofty daring of Benton, could have foiled and tamed the "Lion of the West," a year or two past, in his furious and impassioned raving for power? Like the roaring Moloch of the forest, he had long played the Tyrant in every Assembly of which he was a member, and entertained the belief, no doubt, that he could reign undisputed lord and master, even in the Senate of the United States. But, in the midst of his frantic career, he saw that it was indispensable to the successful accomplishment of his inglorious designs, to intimidate and stalk over Mr. Benton, and thus drive him forthwith from his distinguished post, as one of the most able and intrepid defenders of the Constitution, and especially as the decided advocate of the measures so steadily pursued by the Administration; and, more especially, as the uncompromising personal friend of our patriotic and venerable Chief Magistrate.—

Yes! the infuriated Orator, goaded on by the consuming fires of his unhallowed ambition, resolved to make a bold and reckless attack upon the President; and, for this purpose, singled out the Senator from Missouri, as the surest means of wounding his envied and renowned rival. As usual with conspicuous men of precocious and ephemeral fame, and of general declining prospects, he had but little to lose and all to achieve, and felt utterly regardless of consequences. The "Lion" roared, and pawed, and shook the dew-drops from his mane; but the undaunted object of his unslaked vengeance, stood erect before him; and, unawed by his thunders, hurled defiance back upon him with unmitigated scorn. It was the proud lot of Thomas H. Benton to expose the unmanly and unblushing attempt of the "pestilent" orator, and to hold him up to the gaze of the American People and the world, as his and the President's "false accuser." How that incident terminated—how the haughty Goliath recoiled from the artillery of his assaulted antagonist, and sunk down in his place, covered with a cloud of confusion, the Senate and a crowded gallery have not forgotten; and, I venture to say, never will.

He who had rode triumphantly on the whirlwind of every factious contest, and directed the storms of party warfare, was at last overthrown by a superior master-spirit of the day. On that memorable occasion, the war declaring, famine breeding hero was signally defeated, and the pride of an overbearing party humbled in the dust.

But, to my surprise, I have remarked for several months, that the great "Sea-Serpent" was only scotched, not killed; and, after lying in ambush for a season near the door of the white house, he is seen again crawling forth with venom on his tongue, and crossing the path of the President at every advancing stride of his distinguished Administration. But the "Old Roman" towers so high in his onward career, that his very heels are unexposed to the poisoned fangs of those reptile politicians that lurk in the green hedges with which Nature has embellished his wide and direct avenue to fame. Not entirely subdued, however, by a discomfiture which would have held in check the wily Talleyrand himself, the modern Catiline resolved, amidst the desolation of his prospects, to make another desperate sortie, in order to regain that eminent distinction which his splendid talents and fervid patriotism had deservedly secured him in earlier life. To accomplish this end, he cast his eyes over the chapter of chances, and at once concluded to throw himself into the ranks of the Bank legions. Having sworn allegiance to Old Nick, and put on the conspicuous gold-laced livery of his first Lord Lieutenant, he hopes, with the aid of groaning coffers, and by a system of bribery and bullying, to beard the People themselves, and finally seize the helm of State in defiance of the Constitution and the laws. Yes, gentlemen, as every other weapon has been successively wrested from his sacrilegious hands,—as every hobby he has mounted has been broken down in vain, now, with one soul absorbing object in view, the first and the last which he sighs to obtain, viz: to undermine the solid foundations of the President's overwhelming popularity, he has precipitated himself into the arms of the Bourbons, who are hourly "moving Heaven and Earth" to tear from the aged Patriot's brows those evergreen wreaths with which they are entwined.

Fellow-Citizens of the Ancient Dominion! If ever man pursued his fellow man with savage hate and diabolical vengeance, without the fear of God before his eyes, its parallel is found in the case of Henry Clay of Kentucky; who has exclusively devoted the last ten years of his life to a systematic flow of the most wanton and malignant defamation of Andrew Jackson: a name which will ever be held in profound respect by his enlightened and virtuous countrymen—a name, whose intrinsic merits the foul breath of detraction cannot depreciate, and whose brightness the glitter of polished gold shall not outshine. The howling and blood-thirsty wolf never pursued the wont fending lamb with more ferocious eagerness, than the "Lion of the West" has hunted down the illustrious veteran who lives now, and will live hereafter, in the grateful affections of a generous nation. Yet, bear in mind, I pray you, that this is the identical man—the same "unannealed and unanointed" aspirant who, in a fit of violent rage and desperation, ardently invoked "Nature's God" to visit the consecrated soil of our Fathers—our own earthly paradise—with the scourge of "War, Pestilence, and Famine." Do you exclaim, "What, in the name of Humanity and Heaven, could have driven the intoxicated Orator into such degrading excesses?—What earthly consideration could have seduced him to commit this "damning sin" against Freedom and his Country?" I answer at once, and without fear of honest contradiction: When he saw that all hope of realizing his golden dreams was extinguished—that the paramount claims of a renowned competitor laughed his own vaunted pretensions to scorn, a cloud of "black despair" suddenly overwhelmed his mind, and "madness ruled the hour." In his delirious rage, reason fled from her citadel, and he thus vehemently exclaimed: "I would rather see my country visited with "war, pestilence and famine," than subjected to military rule; which ejaculation, if reduced in plain English, would have been thus plainly and clearly expressed:

"Andrew Jackson is the most powerful and dangerous rival I have. He stands more in my way to the Presidency than any other individual. I dread him—I have cause to dread him. For years, I have been most jealous of his growing popularity, and have resorted to every means in my power to supplant him in the affections of the people. For these reasons, I know I have forfeited every claim to his favorable consideration, and must live—henceforward under the pressure of his indignant frowns I, then, he should succeed to the Presidency, I feel satisfied that my prospects will be blasted forever." Therefore, my kind friends and worthy fellow-citizens of Baltimore, if I fail in reaching the most exalted station of my country, I solemnly declare to you that I care not how soon that country, with all its happiness, all its wealth, all its powers, and all its glories, may be sunk in the unfathomable depths of the ocean."
—These were the orator's feelings and sentiments, and such is the faithful exposition of his frightful text. Fellow-citizens, I would not, dare not deceive you, if I could. "I tell you just what you yourselves do know." Frantic, despising man! As a friend, I would advise you to "hang up your fiddle," and retreat instanter to the gloomy shades of your own neglected Ashland. "For, I think if there is peace for you left in the world, your heart, as now humbled, might hope for it there.' It is high time to withdraw from the wearisome turmoils of your chequered political existence—time to pause from your unrelaxed and excessive labors, and take a tranquil retrospect, if you can, of the diversified scenes in which you have acted a prominent part. Look, look, I pray you, upon the glaring inconsistencies and jarring incidents that have marked your reckless course; and if no burning blush should stain your conscious cheeks, you may cease to wonder, at least, why you have been so often slighted and rebuked by your offended but forgiving countrymen. A maxim in Scripture runs thus: "Whom he loveth, he chasteneth;' and your disappointed fellow-citizens, earnestly desiring to follow the Divine example in your case, have seen long ago, with sorrow and mortification, that you are "beyond the reach of medicine."

Go, then, I advise you, to the solitary shades of Ashland, and there mourn over your blighted hopes and ruined fortunes.

"Aspiring to be Gods, if angels fell;
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel."

You have been weighed in the balance of Republican accuracy, as established by the great Apostle of human liberty, and you have been found sadly wanting. "Capable" you are, in the highest degree, of filling the loftiest and most dignified stations; but as far as the East is from the West, so far are you from being "faithful" to the Constitution. Whether or not you fulfill the third requirement of the rule, a sense of delicacy forbids the expression of my opinion. I hope, at least, that you do. But, my good sir, I beg you to pardon my presumption, when I tell you frankly, that, as President of the U. States, the honest and independent yeomanry cannot trust you. Should you ever reach that pinnacle of human elevation" before such an event could happen, the people must have masters to rule over them, and those haughty masters of the people must place you there—which catastrophe, may God in his mercy avert! Do you wish to know, honorable sir, who are those that may become the masters of the People; yea, the sovereign Lords of the land? I tell you without reserve or apology—the powerful Bank dynasty—the arrogant and purse-proud Bourbons among us. But they will explode. The efficient operation and pervading influence of the salutary principles of the Administration, will blow them to atoms. Succeed if you can, sir, you and your clamorous co-adjutors, in your spasmodick efforts to dupe the people—I mean the sturdy and unsophisticated yeomanry, (for this is the word for my purpose, as yet unprofaned) I say, succeed in your "plunging" efforts to dupe them into the belief, that you and John C. Calhoun are the true political Messiahs, and to bully them into quiet submission to your disorganizing and high-toned doctrines. I assure you, that we have long regarded you as false prophets, as well as "false accusers," and shall endeavor to keep you "at long-taw," in future.—

You are both disseminating doctrines more fatal in their consequences to the prosperity and union of the people than the desolating blasts of the Sirocco. And, besides, you are laboring both day and night, not only to foist yourselves into power, but to instil into the public mind your own illiberal feelings and rankling prejudices against the Chief Magistrate, and to rob him of the public confidence and esteem, to which he is so justly and so eminently entitled. But "armed so strong in honesty" and the justice of a glorious cause, "he can smile at the drawn dagger and defy its point." And while animated in the discharge of his high duties by the ennobling impulses of patriotism, he may proudly bid defiance to those affiliated assailants who are eternally baying at his heels, and may thus boldly exclaim—

"Come one, come all—this rock shall fly
From its firm base as soon as I."

Gentlemen, you may rest assured, that the liberal and enlightened citizens of Virginia will never abandon such a President, the commands of honorable Senators to the contrary notwithstanding. The people are more and more resolved to take matters and things into their own hands.

This you may understand.

York.

N. B. You may hear from me again before the dog star rages.

Certain Senators seem to be in dread of the dog-days.

June 3d, 1834.