Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-25
WATCHMAN & STATE JOURNAL,
SCENES.

SCENES.
The late Congress did not close without excl
ting, not 10 say disgraceful, scenes-and for once
the Senate had more than its usual share. In
deed, for whole day that body was the theatre
for extraordinary exhibitions, in which Mr. Ben
ton was the chief actor His bearing was so SUI
percious as to demand a cutting rebuke from
Mr.. Archer, which Benton happily bore without
passon-but not so with one who has heretofore
been one Of his warmest personal and political
friends. Mr.. Hannegan had made a motion rel
alive to a reporter Of the Senate for the next scs-
sion, and that motion Mr.. Benton denounced as
"infamous." Then came the scene.
Mr.. Hanneran said that up to that day he would
have been as willing to see MIR. Benton President
as any other man. and he then regretted to see
n bar placed between them as supporters Of the
same administration.
Mr.. Benton-It is line am willing should
be drawn.
Mr.. Hannegan-The word has been said,
Mr.. Benton-Well, sir, we draw the bar Our
political and official relations may continue, but
our personal associations never, sir, never.
MIR. Eannegan- One word. Was 1t ever known
that the Senator from Missouri cherished person
al kindness for any one where sollishness was
not at the bottom of it? A voice in the gale
Mr.. Benton -Gf a low tauntng tone).-lIa
ha ha!
Mr.. Sewer here inteposcd, and moved a recess
which was agreed to till six o'clock.
In the evening session this question came up
again. Mr.. Benton saying that Mr.. Sewer "was
in a condition to know what he was about" when
he moved the recess--an inuendo, perhaps. Mr.
flanagan IN the course of his remarks sald that
the Missouri Senator had not been in a condition
to understand what he was doing, and that he was
of opinion that General Jackson was right wher
he said.
Mr.. Benton-Thc charge made is, that the
Senator from Missouri has not been in conJ
ton all day to know what he is doing. Ergo
the Senator from Missouri has been drunk al
day-that's the inuendo, sir.
Mr. Archer--I call The Senator from Missouri
to order.
Mr. Hannegan desired word in his own de-
fence before he was to receive his penalty. lie
wanted the indictment; the specifications; the
malice prepensc Of which he was guilty The
Senator from Missouri says charge him with be
ing drunk all day. | made no such charge-nev
err, sir. | never saw the Senator drunk but once
in all my life Laughter by ally That was
the night after the expnnging resolution was pas
sed. Increased merrlment) This is unpeas
ant business, sir. | regret it. | have not sough
it. | never intended to insult the Senator.
would no moIe think Of degrading and insulting
him, than of insulting my mother: not because
/ would compare the Senator to a woman
(laughter)- to her who my first love- ant
the last to be forgotten. But have done all tina
| could in kindness do, and now give it up.
shall have nothing more to do with this business
The point of order against Mr.. flanagan be
nj off uorHS nss n
the breach of order, to wit" am OF the opin
ion that Jackson was right, when he said TIT
Senator from Missouri was"-
Mr.. Benton--Fill that up, sir.
Mr.. Hannegan-" Was very seriously injured
by the bursting of the big gun of the Princeton
which Knocked his brains out" (Uproar o
laughter)
The Chair was understood to say that such Ian
gudge was not in order.
In the House, too, there was "scene" MI
Ashmun of Mass. found occasion boldly to &C
cuse certain gentlemen who had been too plan
! or the sake of office, -whereupon e. j. Inger
oll marched across the floor, and in the fac
# the speaker menlcingy demanded whethe
! he meant him. MIR. Ashmun coolly smiled
the impotent rage of Ingersoll, and went on
saw that he did mean a certain gentleman troT
Pennsylvania, whose partlzan services the Pres
ident had paid by nomination which the ser
ate saw fit to reject. Ingersoll has not sine
been heard from.
Such were the tragedies: it has been left
Benton to do up the comic since the adjourn
n,ent, by parading the streets of Washington
cooked hat and with heroically bombastlc air
imperously demanding the President and h
cabinet to submit to his dictation. If the d.
scription is true, Benton is falrer candidate II
mad-house than for the halls of the Montez
mas