The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-08-30

THE BENTON AND BUTLER DFFICULTY.-Dr.
Wallis, the Washington correspondent Of the n.
Y. Herald, upon whose deposition Senators Benton
and Fuller were arrested, gives the subioned as a
statement of the facts in the case =
Subsequent to the scene in the Senate. late on
Saturday night last perhaps an hour after Mr.. Ben
ton had given to Mr.. Butler, alphabetically, the
8 lie in his throat" the latter called upon Mr. Man
gum, and drawing him into an adjoining room, eX-
pressed his wish that Mr. Mangum should become
his friend, according TO the acquisitions of the
thirty-nine articles. Mr.. Mangum land our lnlOr-
mant has been thoroughly advised of what Mr..
Mangum did In the premises, with the liberty OF
giving the facts to u.s. observing the WarlIke tenn
permanent into which Mr.. Butler had been excited
and fearful that if he declined to act as requested,
the difficulty might be assigned to some one who
would precipitate a hostile meeting, without first
exercising a iudiCiOus discretion to bring about
Justification and, believing, in tact, that cause OF
war did exist undertook, a first step to an adjust
ment consultation with Mr.. Butler upon the merits
of the case.
He stated 10 the Judge, that the lie was based
upon contingency, a qualification, which must lirs
bg admitted to exist; TO wit, that Col Benton had
been declared as acting dishonorably in the publ
cation of the Kearny resolutions. MIR. Mangum
further stated, that in accepting the place of the
friend of the offended party he must be left to his
own Judgment, and not tied down TO the rigid etl-
quette of the duelIO. To this Mr.. Butler assented.
In the course of the consultation, il appeared that
the contingency upon which the insult depended,
could be easily and honorably disposed Of But, said
Mr. Butler his manner, his manner, sir, was of itself
sufficient prOvOCation and neutralIZed the quail
fcatiOn of the aifrOnt. To this, Mr. Mangum re-
piled, that if the manner of Mr. Benton We're an
exception in this to his uniform style OF adj
dress under the least irritation, and sometimes with
out intending the slightest offence whatever, then
there would be in the manner Ill which the Otien-
sive epithet in this case was given, sufficient
| ground for demand of redress. But the uniform
| manner of expression of Mr. Benton, under the
slightest provocatiOn and occasionally without pro-
vocation, and without intention to offend, beng
rough and bOsterous to speak, there could be no
deduction made from his violence Of expression In
this instance conclusive of direct insult.
Mr. King, man of deliberatOn and Judgment
in affairs Of this kind was next called upon for his
| opinion in the presence of Mr.. Butler Mr.. Bell
was also sent for but it was some hours past
midnight, and the Senator from Tennessee, selZng
| the occasion of Mr.. Foote'S speech, had disposed
himself to sleep, he was not disturbed. Mr. hlng
| conceded in the opinion Of Mr. Mangum. The re-
suit of this conference was that before the adjourn
| ment on Sunday morning. Mr.. Mangum bore a note
| in behalf of Mr.. Butter TO Mr. Benton, and re-
ply back reiterating the language of the attront
| administered III open session of the Senate. Al
| this interview, Mr. Mangum had a conversation
with Mr.. Benton, who failed, as we understood
from the purpOrt his answer on the OCCASION 10
make any concession looking to a prompt paclhca-
| ton. During the day, Gen. WaddY Thompson and
others friends of Mr.. Butler, further consulted with
| Mr. Mangum, and the result was the conclusion
that a note of different purport TO that OF the
| morning should be dispatched 10 Mr.. Benton. In
the meantime, if We have understood the narrative
/ of our informant accurately, Mr.. Mangum waited
| upon Mr. Benton at his house, and had long con-
versation with him to purpose, and without any
| definite understanding Towards shutdown OF the
Sabbath, (for affairs of honor like pitched battles,
| must 90 on while the CdSuS beiH is pending, with
out regard to Sunday,) another note, and note OF
another character to that of the morning, was sent
| to Col Benton. Mr.. Mangum declining TO be the
bearer of it. for reasons which his friends admitted
| good and valid, it was borne over to MIR. Benton,
| at his house, by another gentleman, whose name
| we are not authorized TO give. No reply was made
| by Mr. Benton, in writing, that evening. On Mon
| lay afternoon, upon affidavit, Mr. Butler was ar
rested in the cars which pass by BIadensburg, and
| brought back and examined. Mr. Benton was also
| examined briefly, before Squire Marshall. On
| Tuesday morning. Captain Goddard, chief OF Po-
lice, at Gadsby' hotel, bound over Mr.. Butler and
| Mr.. Nangum, each in the sum OF S5OOO to Keep
the peace. IN the face of these bonds, an answer
20 the final demand made upon HIM, III behalf OF
Mr. Butler, was expected of Mr. Benton. no an
swer was given. as required. Last afternoon,
"Wednesday the l6th,) after consultation, the
friends of Mr.. Butler agreed that he should remain
till five o'clock p. M, for answer, and that II
by that hour no reply made, the friends, IN be-
half of the offended party, would consider all pro-
ceedings in the case as at end. No reply was made
within the prescribed limitation, and acting upon
the decision of his friends, Judge Butler left III the
| boa+ Iasr NIGHT en- route for South Carolina.