Thomas Hart Benton's Eloquent Remarks to the Senate on the Expunging Resolution

Thomas Hart Benton, a prominent United States senator from Missouri, delivered a captivating speech to the Senate on January 12, 1837, regarding the proposed resolution to expunge the Senate's censure of President Andrew Jackson. Benton's speech was a passionate and articulate defense of Jackson's presidency and a forceful argument against the expunging of the censure.

Thomas Hart Benton's Remarks to the Senate on the Expunging Resolution

by Thomas Hart Benton

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	60 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	8 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Background

In 1834, the United States Senate passed a resolution censuring President Andrew Jackson for his actions related to the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson's supporters, including Benton, believed that the censure was politically motivated and unjust. They sought to have it expunged from the Senate's record.

Benton's Speech

Benton's speech began with a powerful opening statement: "We are approaching, Mr. President, the consummation of a great act of justice, the effacement of a great wrong." He argued that the censure of Jackson was a "blot upon the fair fame of our country" and that it should be removed.

Benton defended Jackson's presidency, describing him as a "man who has done more to enlarge the boundaries of freedom, and to raise up the character of his country, than any other man since Washington." He praised Jackson's military record, his handling of the Nullification Crisis, and his efforts to promote democracy and expand the nation westward.

Benton then turned to the issue of the censure itself. He argued that it was unconstitutional, as it had been passed without a quorum of the Senate present. He also accused the Whigs, who had initiated the censure, of being politically motivated.

Benton concluded his speech with an impassioned plea to the senators to vote in favor of expunging the censure. He declared: "Let us not be deterred by the frowns of power or the denunciations of faction. Let us rise above all considerations of party and of self, and perform the great act of justice which the country demands."

Aftermath

Benton's speech made a significant impact on the debate over the expunging resolution. Many senators, particularly those from the South and West, were persuaded by his arguments. On January 16, 1837, the Senate voted 24 to 19 to expunge the censure of President Jackson.

Legacy

Thomas Hart Benton's speech on the expunging resolution remains a powerful example of political rhetoric and historical analysis. His defense of Andrew Jackson's presidency and his arguments for expunging the censure have been cited by historians and political scientists for generations.

The speech is also a testament to Benton's own character and values. Benton was a strong believer in democracy and the rule of law. He was also a skilled orator and a passionate advocate for his constituents. His speech on the expunging resolution is a reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and defending the principles of democracy.

Thomas Hart Benton's speech on the expunging resolution was a pivotal moment in the history of the United States Senate. Benton's eloquent defense of Andrew Jackson's presidency and his arguments for expunging the censure were instrumental in securing the resolution's passage. The speech remains a testament to Benton's own character and values, as well as to the power of political rhetoric to shape history.

Thomas Hart Benton's Remarks to the Senate on the Expunging Resolution

by Thomas Hart Benton

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	60 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	8 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE