Litchfield enquirer., 1837-05-18

ton calculated rightly: he has sunk in self } esteem and in the respect of others ever since.
 He bullied him and blufFed him and his
 friends, and Rives IS already playing second
 fiddle to Benton. The latter is ashamed of nothing-he glories in his total want of prin- ciple and of shame. When Webster con- cluded, there was fora moment dead silence,
 which was soon, however, broken by the harsh
 tones of Benton, who rose and asked 1t the
 question was divisible. No, said the chair,
 if is one entire resolution. Yes, the whole
 or none had to be swallowed-the faithful } seemed to be feeling their gullets for the at tempt. The question was called for, and } taken by yeas and nays. The vote has been , published, and their names are doomed to } their fame and infamy. It was decided that
 the deed should be done. Whenl was ask
 ed. Now, now, said Benton. No time for relenting was to be given. Then or never.- named the l7th for the day of the date. No, no, was exclaimed, it is the l6th-" The 10th then," said he. he blank was filled, and the Secretary was sent for the journal. He was out but moment. He returned through the door in front of the Vice Presidents chair, bearing the book, the journal, in his | hand. It seemed to me to speak. person. 1 flied it as human victim. A truth was to be l plotted from it the deed was forbidden deed. Benton appeared the tiend god of the scene of sacrilege. He alone seemed erect, chuckling and triumphing over truth. The secretary of the Senate looked like an eXe- cutoner. He laid the book down upon the clerks table, he bore it open and pressed it down, as if the book was resisting his ruth less violence. Pressed open wide, he took the pen, dipped the accurSed instrument i'll gall of hell's blackness, and wrote across the words of Truth the words |" EXpunged, &c." Silence had reigned until at this moment he raised the ruler by which the black lines were to be drawn, silence then became in- sufferable-groans and misses came burning hot from the indignation of galleries, and Hobbies, and every place. Hearts swelling with unutterable agony spoke out in tones of human suffering which could no longer be endured. The fiend god sprang to his feet, and grated harshly in tones of thunder Ruffians! Ruffians !-Bank Ruttians !'- "clear the galleries !-Order! Order" were the sounds which reverberated through the hall" No, no, don't clear the galleries said Benton, " the innocent thus are punish ed-scize the Rutfians, seize the Bank Ruff fans and bring them to the bar"
 It was, sir, at this moment that l too was in danger of being seized; for it required all my self-possession to refrain from telling the infamous wretch that he was the vilest rutian in the nation. The sergeant at arms rushed to the gallery. The scene seemed to require avictim, citizen for victim, and there wasi one found. A genteel, well dressed, and MNl telligent looking gentleman, from the Snas of Ohio was seized and dragged before 5Iss Senate. Some question arose about esa{Sk rum, and he was taken from the bar tdA
 place behind the seats of Senators. The question about the quorum was settled-the VylRfIo fhn mt frdn cod f0 hn brought again to the bar; he was not asked if he was guilty of a contempt; no witness was examined as to his guilt or innocence; but Benton again arose, and, with all his in- fernal and malign etfrontery about him, commenced q homily about decency and good behavior-he said nothing about hon. esty and probity. He then imputed the act to the man, without proof or examination, im- puted the intention of guilt to him, fixed the punishment, to wit: Q most galling and of fensive lecture from his polluted and impious lips, inflicted the punishment without wait ing to know if single Senator agreed with him in opinion, and then moved for his igno. minious discharge, without giving him an opportunity of being heard in his defence.
 To his credit, the Senator (Mr. Morris) of Ohio vouched for the gentleman's respecta- bility, and claimed for him the right of being heard. This was denied him, unless he would purge himself on oath of contempt as to which there had not been offered little of evidence. The verdict and judgment of Benton alone were then carried into execu- tion-the citizen was discharged and when he asked himself, if he could not be allowed the humble privilege of being heard, the re- ply from the President pro tenn. (King of AL l abama) was, "Take him out of the House!" The words sounded to me like the words of atyrant respecting Roman citizen" Bind
 him, Lictors! !' Thus was a victim immola-
 ted to the work, an American citizen was
 seized and scourged by the scorpion tongue
 of Tom Benton, in public, for daring to ex- press hls indignation at a ruthless violation } ot the Constitution, committed in his pres
 ence, by slaves calling themselves Senators } and guardians of public liberty, to gratify the pleasure of a tyrant-no, am too fast
 it is not known and has never been inquired
 into to this day, whether the man was guilty
 even of that high crime in this free country. The body in whose presence he was, was not the State, it was miserable cabal of Ty- rants tools sitting upon no matter on which the Senate the United States could act. As soon as the excitement created by the arrest of Lloyd ceased, Benton inquired ifthe work
 was done-" it is done," replied the clerk He asked again, and the chair replied, it is done. "Very good, very good" said Benton, in impious imitation of the Deity himself.- He was the fiend-god of the work, and all obeyed him of his party The Senate ad- journed. Iwent to the clerks table and view ed the journal, mutilated as it was, as would have looked upon the dead body of fellow being murdered in my presence. Benton came up to see with his own eyes that the l Hn chn oh oc