The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-19

WAsuINGros, Aug II, 1888.
The Late Difficulty betceen Col. Benton aud Jedgc
Butler.7 Brief Outline Of the Ne gotiaoas 6eiye.s
the Parties.
The participation Of this deponent in arrest ng the
late appreh ded hostile meeting between Col Benton
and Judge Butler Of the Senate and tho mystery and
Interpretation which prevail in the public mind re-
qure, as far enabled to give it, statement
of the facts in the case.
Subsequent to the in the Senate, late n Sa-
turday night last, perhaps hour after Mr. Benton
had given to Mr. Butler, alphabetically, the Gle in his
throat the latter called upon Mr.. Mangum, and
drawing him into an adjoining room, expressed his
wish that Mr. Maugum should become his friend,
cordDg to the acquisitions Of the thirty articles
Mr.. Mangum (and our informant has been thoroughly
advised OF what Mr. Mangum did in the premises, with
the liberty Of giving the facts to us) observing the
warlike temperament into which Mr. Butler hal been
excited, and fearful that IL he declined to act as
quested the difficulty ght be assigned to some one
who would precipitate hostile meeting, without frst
exercising judcious discretion to bring about JUS
tihcation, and, believing, in fact that Of
did not exist, undertook first step to adj
ment consultation with Mr. Butler upon the merits
Of the case.
He stated to the Judge that the lie was based upon
contingency, qualification which must fret bs sd-
mitted to exist to wit, that Col Benton had been
declared acting dishonorably in the public alton OF
the Kearny resolutions. MIR Mangum further stated,
that in accepting the place of the friend of the Offend
ed party he must be left his udgm mt and not
tied down to the rigid etiquette Of the dueo To this
Mr. Butler assented. In the of the consulta-
ton, appeared that the contingency upon which the
insult depended, could be easily and honorably dis
posed Of But said MIR. Butler his nner his man
ner, SIR Of itself sufficient prove cation, and
tralized the qualification of the afront 10 this Mr.
Mangum replied that IL the manner Of Mr.. Benton
exception in this to his uniform style OF
address under the least irritation, and sometimes
without intending the slightest offence whatever,
then there would be, in the manner In which the Of
fensive epithet in this given, a sufficient
ground for a demand Of redress But the uniform
Il ri
est provocaton, and occasionally without prcvoca.on
and without intention to offend, being rough and
boiserous, so to speak, there could be dedu ton
made from his violence Of expression in this lance
conclusive Of a direct insult
Mr.. King, a Of elaboration and judgment
in affairs of this kind, next called upon fo.
his opinion in the presence of MIR. Butler. Mr. Bell
midnight, and the Senator from Tennessee, setting
the occasion OF Mr. Foote'S Speech had disposed him
self to sleep, he not disturbed Mr. King conceded
in the opinion of Mr.. Mangum. The result o: this
conference was that before the adjournment Sun
day morning, MIR. Mangum bore a note in behalf Of
Mr.. Butler to Mr. Benton, and a reply back reterat-
ing the language Of the afront adm nstered in open
session of the Senate At this interview, MIR Mangum
had convers alton with MIR. Benton, who failed
understood from the purpor his answers the
cason- to make any COMPASSION looking to prompt
pacifcation. During the ~, Gen. waddy Thompson
and Others, friends Of Mr.. Butler, further consulted
with MIR. Nangum and the result the conclusion
that note Of different purport to that Of the morn
ing should be despatched to Mr. Benton. In the mean
time II we have understc cd the narrative Of nfor
mant accurately, Mr.. Mangum waited upon Mr.. Ben
ton at his house. and had long conversation with him
t6ho purpose, and without any definite understand
ing Towards sundown of the Sabbath, (for FAIRS Of
honor like pitched battles must 90 while the cayus
6eHis pending, without regard to sunday another
note and note OF another character to that Of the
morning, was sent to Col. Ben .on. Mr. Mangum de-
Ginning TO be the bearer Of It, for which his
friends admitted good and valid it was borne over
MT. Benton, At his house, by another gentle
man, whose name not authorized 20
give No reply was made by Mr.. Benton in writing
that evening On Monday afternoon, upon our afhda-
W.T. Mr. Butler arrested in the which pass by
Bladensburg and was brought back and examined.
MT Benton was also examined briefly bsIore squire
Marshall. On Tuesday morning, Captain Goddard,
chief of Police, at adsbys hotel bound over Mr. But
keep the peace In the face of these bonds,
swer to the 6na demand made upon him, in behalf Of
Mr. Butler, was expected Of MIR. Benton. No answer
was given as required. Last afternoon "wednesday,
the ith) after consultation The Mr. Butler
agreed that he should roElsin till Ave o'clock, r. NJ,
for an answer and That II by that hour reply
made the friends in behalf OF the ofe ded would
consider all proceedings in the case as at end No
ply made within the prescribed limitation, and
acting upon the decision of his friends, Judge Cutler
left in the boat last night for South Carolina
And thus the matter stands TO sum up in three
Of Judge Butler first attempted adjustment which
failed; that they next resolved upon the utmd ratio
regum which also failed and that while nothing can
be shown that Colonel Benton intended q breach OF
the peace, nothing appears to have occurred toshov
his readiness to heal the breach in the Senate.
We have nothing to regret in the actisn which
took to pr, these aged and venerable Senators
coming to The bloody alternative of coffee and pistols
for two We thank Judge Crawford for his COM
alton of conduct; fellow citizens aad
own udgme mt endorse 1t; and hone yet, that he
affair will be accommodated to the sstisiaston Of all
los on or