DIY History | Transcribe | Scholarship at Iowa | Previous Legislative Experience of United States Senators by Agnes Wallace Smith, 1912 | Previous Legislative Experience of United States Senators by Agnes Wallace Smith, 1912, Page 144

Transcribe
Translate

Previous Legislative Experience of United States Senators by Agnes Wallace Smith, 1912

Previous Legislative Experience of United States Senators by Agnes Wallace Smith, 1912, Page 144

142
As to the slave question, Mr. Benton's position was unique. He was a slave holder himself but opposed every measure for the extension of slavery yet he was elected repeated from a slave state. He opposed the Wilmot proviso, voted for the admission of California as a free state, objected to the extension of the Missouri compromise line and as a last act in senate refused to vote for the fugitive slave act of 1850.
Mr. Benton had been for many years the leader of the democratic party in Missouri. Owing to the agitation concerning slavery the party had divided into "pro slavery" and :unionists" The pro-slavery party had elected a majority to the state legislature, and a series of instructions was sent to the United States senators, demanding that slavery be permitted in all new states admitted into the Union.

Saving...

142 As to the slave question, Mr. Benton's position was unique. He was a slave holder himself but opposed every measure for the extension of slavery yet he was elected repeated from a slave state. He opposed the Wilmot proviso, voted for the admission of California as a free state, objected to the extension of the Missouri compromise line and as a last act in senate refused to vote for the fugitive slave act of 1850. Mr. Benton had been for many years the leader of the democratic party in Missouri. Owing to the agitation concerning slavery the party had divided into "pro slavery" and :unionists" The pro-slavery party had elected a majority to the state legislature, and a series of instructions was sent to the United States senators, demanding that slavery be permitted in all new states admitted into the Union.