MISSOURI
HISTORICAL REVIEW.
VOL 2 JANUARY, 1908. NO. 2
THE RETIREMENT OF THOMAS H. BENTON FROM THE
SENATE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE.
II.
As one might naturally infer from the passage of the Jackson Resolutions, the radical pro-slavery element in Missouri,
the Anti-Bentonites, had acquired sufficient strength and courage in 1849 to take the field openly against Benton and in support of the Resolutions. A majority of the newspapers appear
to have been Anti-Benton. (1) Men of great ability, in public
addresses and letters, denied the soundness of Benton's views,
denounced his course and justified their own, making much of
his refusal to obey the instructions of the Legislature. (2)
Among these public and outspoken critics of Benton, none
were more conspicuous than his colleague in the Senate, David
1. As early as the 1st of July, 1849, the following Democratic
newspapers, and perhaps others, were actively opposed to Benton:
The Metropolitan, at Jefferson City; The Platte Argus, at Platte City;
The Missouri Courier, The Southern Standard, The Fayette Democrat; The Howard County Banner; The Northeastern Reporter; The
Louisiana (Mo.) Banner, the Grand River Chronicle. The principal
papers supporting Benton were the St. Louis Union, and the Jefferson
City Enquirer. The Whig press was on the whole Anti-Benton. See the
Western Eagle, 6 July, 1849.
2. Both Benton and Judge Birch, (Anti), spoke at Liberty, 16
July, 1849.
