Benton, Thomas Hart:-- local character of his statesmanship, 13; birth, 23; boyhood and education, 24 _et seq._; religious training, 26; fights a duel, 27; affray with Jackson, 28; admitted to the bar, 29; in legislature of Tennessee, 29; on the Hartford Convention, 31; a slave-holder, 31; favors war of 1812, 32, in service, 32; befriends Jackson, 32; associations in Tennessee, 33 _et seq._; some traits of character, 34; settles in Missouri, 35; surroundings and influences there, 40; speech on treaty with Spain concerning Florida, 41; first position concerning slavery, 43; enters U. S. Senate, 44; honorable financial sacrifice, 45; position on the Oregon question, 50-53, 65, 263-270, 273-279, 281-289; bill to establish a trading road through Missouri, 53; on the removal of the Indians, 55; votes for Clay's protective tariff bill, 58; opposes internal improvements and Cumberland Road bill, 58; condemns election of John Q. Adams to Presidency, 60; supports Clay, then Jackson, 61; will not join outcry against Adams and Clay, 61; a leader of the opposition to Adams in the Senate, 63; represents ultra-Southern feeling concerning revolted Spanish colonies, 65; vote on the protective tariff of 1828, 66, 91, 102; efforts concerning disposal of public land, 68, 77, 149, 154, 217; hostility to the Northeastern States, 76; in the Webster-Hayne debate, 78; opposes Jackson's "spoils system," 79-85; leader of the Jacksonians in the Senate, 85, 86; shows that protective tariff has not helped the West, 91; urges repeal of the tax on salt, 92, 227; vigorously sustains Jackson in the nullification troubles, 100-105; sustains the Force bill, 105; opposes Clay's compromise measure, 107-109; remarks on his position at this period, 112; campaign against the Bank of the United States, 114, 130, 136, 143; speech on the currency, 122, 136-138, 253; conflict with Clay, 129; on the removal of the deposits, 131; opposes the resolution of censure against Jackson, 133; and pushes through his own expunging resolution, 134-136, 139-142; advocates establishment of mints at the South, 144; opposes distribution of surplus, 145, 149; wishes it used for fortifications, 146, 150-153; advocates insisting on our claims against France, 147; but opposes paying claims of American citizens, 148; opposes the so-called specie circulars, 154; views concerning Southern slavery politicians, 162; opposed to the Abolitionists, 165; criticises Calhoun, 167, 168; aids to defeat bill prohibiting circulation of abolition documents through U. S. mails, 169; carries bill extending boundaries of Missouri, 170; urges admission of Michigan, 171; carries through treaty with Cherokees, 171; defends governmental treatment of Indians, 172;