BENTON BENZIE 543 speeches on this topic that he obtained the so- briquet of " old Bullion." He was the mover of the famous "expunging resolutions," by which, after a great struggle, the minute of the vote censuring Gen. Jackson was expunged from the journals of the senate (1837). During Mr. Van Huron's administration Col. Benton defended the new financial policy then just in- troduced. From 1841 to 1852, under the ad- ministrations of Tyler x Polk, and Taylor, he participated in the discussions that arose in regard to the Oregon boundary, the annexa- tion of Texas, and other important subjects. The democratic administration of Mr. Polk was in favor of lat. 54 40' N. as the boundary of Oregon, but was opposed with so much force by Col. Benton, that Mr. Polk acquiesced in his views and accepted lat. 49 N. as the line. During the Mexican war the policy of a " mas- terly inactivity," at first determined upon by the president, was abandoned npon the recom- mendation of Col. Benton, and that of a vigor- ous prosecution of the war adopted in its stead. At one time it was proposed by Presi- dent Polk to confer upon him the title of lieu- tenant general with full command of the war, in order that he might carry out his concep- tions in person. Questions in regard to slavery were brought on by the acquisition of Mexican territory. These were adjusted by the com- promise acts of 1850, which were introduced by Mr. Clay. They were opposed by Col. Benton and defeated as a whole, but passed separately. In the controversy and quarrel between Gen. Jackson and Mr. Calhoun, Col. Benton had been upon Gen. Jackson's side. Mr. Calhoun having propounded the doctrine of nullification, Col. Benton became his most formidable democratic opponent in the senate. They became bitter enemies, and their hostility lasted as long as they lived. The Oalhoun doctrine was introduced into the discussion of the abolition petitions in the house of repre- sentatives in 1835. It was definitely presented in the session of 1846-'T. On Feb. 19, 1847, Mr. Calhonn, in answer to the " Wilmot Pro- viso," which excluded slavery from all territory subsequently to be acquired, introduced reso- lutions which embodied his doctrine as to state rights. Col. Benton denounced them as " fire- brand resolutions." They never came to a vote in congress, but were adopted by the legisla- tures of some of the slave states and made the basis of political action ; and the legislature of Missouri made them the basis of instructions to the senators of the state. When the instruc- tions were received by Col. Benton he de- nounced them as containing disunion doctrines and as not expressing the true sense of the peo- ple. Upon the adjournment of congress he im- mediately returned to Missouri and canvassed every section of the state in a series of speeches famous for their bitterness of denunciation, strength of exposition, and caustic wit. The legislature of 1849-'50 was largely democratic, but Col. Benton, as a candidate for senator, was 87 TOL. it. 35 defeated by a coalition between his democratic opponents (known as " anties ") and the whigs. At the close of his term he therefore re- tired from the senate, after six successive elec- tions and 30 years' continuous service, during all of which time he had been one of the most prominent and active members. In 1852 he was elected to the house of repre- sentatives, where he at first sustained the ad- ministration of President Pierce; but when the Calhoun party obtained the ascendancy he withdrew his support. He made a memorable speech in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska bill, but the bill was passed, and at the next election he lost his seat in congress. He then devoted two years to study and literary pur- suits, and in 1856 canvassed the state as a can- didate for governor. He was received with great popular enthusiasm, but a third ticket, nominated by the " Native Americans," drew off so many votes from him that Mr. Trusten Polk (national democrat) was elected by a small plurality. In the presidential election of the same year Col. Benton supported Mr. Bu- chanan in opposition to his own son-in-law, Col. Fremont. After Col. Benton's defeat he re- sumed his literary pursuits. The first volume of his " Thirty Years' View " of the working of our government had been published in 1854. The second and last appeared in 1856. He then undertook the task of condensing, revising, and abridging the debates of congress from the foundation of the government. Although at the advanced age of 76, he labored at this task daily. He lived long enough to bring the work down to the conclusion of the great com- promise debate of 1850, in which, with Clay, Calhoun, Webster, and Seward, he had himself borne a conspicuous part, the last pages being dictated in whispers after he had lost the power of speaking aloud. It was published under the title of " An Abridgment of the De- bates of Congress from 1789 to 1856 " (15 vols. SVQ., New York). BEVTZEL-STERNAU, Christian Ernst, count, a German author and statesman, born at Mentz, April 9, 1767, died in Switzerland, Aug. 13, 1850. He entered public life in 1791 as coun- cillor of the electorate of Mentz at Erfurt, and in 1812 was appointed minister of state and finance of the recently established grand duchy of Frankfort. When this was abolished in 1814 he retired to Switzerland, and resided there the rest of his life. He was an opponent of the privileges of the clergy and hereditary nobles, and became a Protestant in 1827. He wrote a great number of romances, some poetry, and a few plays, and was editor of the Jason from 1808 to 1811. The first of his romances which attracted attention was Das goldene Kalb (4 vols., Gotha, 1802-'4). Among the most noted of his other novels were Der steinerne Oast (4 vols., 1808) and Der alte Adam (4 vols., 1819- '20). His novels are satirical and humorous. l!l /ll . a N. W. county of Michigan, on Lake Michigan ; area, 440 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870,
