Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-03


great degree Of snormy, and in Republic, Of which law
and order the msnspngs must shock and outrage the
moral Of the public well the Senate in the highest
degree.
past and until very recently, departed in its practice from
the strict rules of order debate and tolerated personalities
which were increasing in frequency and violence Tins
neglect Of its rules may in some degree paate but
in nowse justify excuse the personalities which ed 70 tne
Of disorder and violence into which the committee have
been directed to inquire They rejoice that the late presiding
officer Of the Senate after careful inquiry into the rules Of
the body announced be his duty and bis purpose as Il
is the right Of member promptly to cheek all such ds
turbances Of its order
The application the question before them OF the princi-
Piles and considerations which the committee have stated
painful duty but which they must perform without favor
or prejudice.
Ia the first place. they report to the Senate their unan
opinion, that Mr.. FoorE is entirely innocent OF
any design or desire to assassinate Mr.. BEsTos. But
they bound to say, that at various times during
the present session, Mr. FooTE without any suicn pro-
VOCATION 90 far as the committee informed, INDUCED in
personalities towards Mr. BESfoS of the most offensive and
insulting character such calculated TO arouse the
erces resentment Of the human bosom These were sui
fered by Mr. BESros for long time with great erbearance
On the 26th Of March last they were renewed and on
this OCCASION Mr. BENTON manifested his resentment with
much violence On the succeeding day he ecninated in
language equally personal disodery, and abusive He COM
planned that the Senate permitted such ouages and an
nounced his purpose if the Senate did not protect him in
future, to redress the wrong cost what 1t might.
On the 18th of April last Mr.. FooTE spoke again, and
used the language which se forth in the narrative Of the
committee. This language the committee consider personal
and offensive Because It's application TO Mr. Benton could
be misunderstood and because in effect and implication
charged him with being caumniat6r. That Mr. FooTE
promptly called to order by the presiding officer,
member OF the Senate, must have been owing to the
fact that the coocaon of the passages in the speech
that the personality Immediately perceived Indeed
the application of the term caumniator Mr.. BENTON
not made until the moment when the disorder arose. AT
that point in the remarks Of Mr.. FoorE Mr. BEHToN left
his and proceeded towards Mr. FoorE in the al
ready mentioned He not armed does appear that
he has carried anns but the contrary. This, however
II is believed, Yves not known to Mr.. FeoTE.
What his intention was, the committee have not been able
ascertain by direct testimony but they cannot avoid the
inference from all the circumstances that he intended either
to make personal assault upon Mr. FoorE to inmdae
him. His manner, coupled with his previous declarations
certainly such to justify Mr. FooTE in the belief that
the first his intention, evidently did excite such
prehensions in the minds of many if not most all, Of the
Senators who witnessed it. Mr. FooTE then left his seat
without advancing towards Mr. BESToN, but in fact placing
himself further from him, and, though he drew deadly wea-
pom he did not present it, and readily gave It up when de-
manded of him. No blow was struck-no shot fred-but
there imminent danger that the Senate chamber would
be the scene Of deadly and criminal encounter.
The committee cannot too strongly condemn the practice
of wearing arms in the Senate chamber
Ours should be the deliberations Of peace, patriotism, and
visions uninterrupted by personalities uncontrolled by
force, uninmdaed by preparations for deadly conflict Sc
natos should rely for defence upon the Senate whose high
duty il is protect its members from injury insult and
whose practice should furnish perfect guaranty Of such
protection different would convert the halls Of leg
aton into bloody arenas and destroy the vaue not the
stence of the institutions from which spring glory and
good.
The committee have searched the pecedent and find that
similar has been witnessed in the Senate Of the
United States Personal conflict has, several OCCASIONS
occurred in the House of Representatives and in the British
House Of Commons. In the former body, punishment
has been inflicted, the House being satisfied with the
atonement Of ample apology In the British Parliament
the House, in case, committed member to the Tower
for striking another; but in general they proceeded
further than to put the offending member in the custody Of
the sergeant aarms and their decision has been made upon
view, and not after the report Of a committee
In the present case under all the circumstances the
mtee forbear recommend any action the Senate They
hope that the strong condemnation of the personalities which
led to threatened violence. thA, attempt by a
member. tn : me presence of the Senate,
:. carrying in the Senate chamber,
euricient rebuke, and warning not unheeded in
uure Should this hope prove van and similar scenes Of
violence again occur they doubt that the Senate will
enforce prompt, stern, and effsctual punishment