Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-03
THE DISORDER IN THE SENATE.
In senate, JULY so, 1850.

THE DISORDER IN THE SENATE.
In SENATE, july so, 1880
NJ pEARCE. from the Select Committee appointed to
nyesea,e the disorder which took place the Senate the
l7,h Of April last made report which, on his motion,
laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. BENTON. Mr., President, there was motion made
and agreed 70 lust now that the report of the committee that
was raised to investigate disorder which occurred in the
senate some time ago should be printed believe the motion
was only print the report move to print the evidence
accompanying the report.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr.. Presden. when presented the re-
port omitted to state that there large volume of evil
dence accompanying it. in the shape Of appendix, which
laid the table before submitted the report because was
rather voumnous transport from my desk to the table
with convenience The motion made confined TO the
printing Of the report That all the committee deemed
il necessary print But the gentlemen concerned
desous Of printing the testimony, have objection though
i should prefer il 10 be printed in a separate volume
Mr. FOOTE. As am partly interested in this matter,
will make single remark. have objection to the print
ing of this testimony, provided the expenditure be not too
feel particular interest IN the matter because
five or six of my best speeches constitute part Of the es
mony and wish to give them additional circulation
Mr.. BENTON. The motion is to print one single copy
of the evidence for the information OF members want
copy know word Of the report made by the con-
mtee. But my parliamentary experience has taught me
that the whole power in the evidence upon which
il boomed In Great Britain exclusively do they rely
on the evidence that they sometimes make octave voume
and sometimes nearly quaro volume of evidence, preceded
by pages of reporthe report merely operating
index to show the conclusions at which the committee
arrived My opinion that the whole power OF the re-
port whatsoever may be, in the evidence, and that evil
dence wish 70 have printed by order Of the Senate
Really do why any gentleman should object that
this testimony is volumnous. Be the volume OF what 1t
should be printed. hope, sir, there WILL be no OBJ
lection to the printing
The question then being taken Mr.. BESTos's motion
to print the testimony appended the report was agreed
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The committee appointed in conformity with resolution
of the Senate Of the 18th Of April, 1850, report
That the request of Mr. BENroS and Mr. FooTE, they
summoned witnesses and took much testimony, which set
forth at large in an appendix herewith presented.
In order proper understanding of the facts into which
the committee directed to inquire il necessary to pre-
mse that several occasions prior to the nth Of April last
the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. FooTE) had INDUCED in
remarks personal to the Senator from Missouri Mr BES
Tos That the occasion last preceding the one in ques-
on, Mr. BESroH complained Of these personalities, in strong
and violent language addressed the Senate reoed the
personalities upon Mr. FooTE spoke of the failure Of the
Senate protect its members from such insults and decar
cd his determination, if the Senate did not protect him there
after, redress the wrong himself what might. He
also sad in substance that member offering such insults
should be cudgeed. On the following day, Mr. BENTos
brought into the Senate the newspaper report Of the aterca
ton, which be said had been revised by Mr. FooTE. He
pronounced lying report and denounced it cowardy
On the 18th Of April, the Senator from Missouri (Mr.
BENroN) said, in debate, follows
Sir, intend by these amendments to cut at the root of
all that agitation, and cut up the whole address OF the
Southern members by which the country thrown into
fame. mean show that there foundation for any
such thing that is offer proposition, upon which
the votes will show that there has been cry of "wo
when there wof that the country has been alarmed
without reason and against that there is no design in
the Congress Of the United States encroach upon the rights
of the South to agrees upon the South to oppress
them upon the subject Of their institutions propose sir to
give the Senate opportunity of showing that all this alarm
has been without foundation and further propose give
the people of the United States the highest declaration
that be given earth that they have been disturbed about
nothing; and when come that part the question:
will whether they distractions and, these
distractions then the country has been alarmed about
To this, the Senator from Mississippi lMr. FoorE)
piled as follows:
81 repeat that did here this morning in the
expectation Of saying word and especially, would not be
heard referring any thing eanatng from certain quarter
after what has occurred but for what conceive be
to stand associated We all know the history the
Address, and the world knows its histnr"
OF the action Of band Of f---
,ney may be, will be object. Of general
loathing and contempt"
"Those who associated with and sanctioned that adj
dress charged with being agators And by whom With
whom does such accusation as this originate shall not
be personal after the lesson have already received here
intend to be- in parliamentary sense perfectly decorous in
all things But by whom is this extraordinary demonstration
hurled against all those individuals who subscribed this ad
dress BY gentleman long denominated the oldest member
OF the Senae-the father OF the Senate. BY gentleman
who, on a late occasion'-
At this point in the speech of Mr.. FooTE, Mr.. BENTON
from his seat threw or pushed his chair violently from
him passed through the opening in the railing into the
passage behind the bar Of the Senate and without remark
gesture but with angry counenance quickly strobe down
the passage without the bar of the Senate towards the
Of Mr. FoorE which is distant about twenty feet from his
own-both seats being in the back row. next the bar Mr.
Benton had weapon Of any kind in his hands about
his person.
Mr. FoorE quickly peceiving the movement Of Mr. BEN
TON, and almost simultaneously with it. left his place the
floor and proceeded down the small aisle which leads from
his the space in front of the Secetarys table, and
which is the next to the principal AISLE As be did
Il
his pocket; the pistol being fve-chambered revolver,
fully loaded. Mr. FooTE cooked his pistol either while
going down the ae after be had taken his position in
front of the Secretarys table.
Mr. DoDeE, of Wisconsin, quickly followed Mr. BENTON,
when he moved down the passage without the bar overlook
him. within eight feet Of Mr. FooTE seat and took
him by the arm; when Mr.. BENTON said Don't stop me,
Dodge" Mr. DoDeE then said, Don't compromi yourself
or the Senate, or words to that effect.
Mr.. BENTON then turned with Mr. DoDGE, and going
back TO bis seat when he perceived the pistol in Mr. FooTE
hands, which seemed to excite him greatly. He got within
the BAR near his seat and struggled with the Senators around
him, as desrous of approaching Mr. FoorE, exclaiming
" armed !" seI have no pistols !" SCI disdain to
carry arms "Le him fire )" Stand out Of the way, and
let the assassin fire. While making these exclamaions Mr.
BENTON brought back his seat by the Senators around
him.
In the time, in the midst Of great noise and confu
son Mr. FoorE had remained standing in or near the position
he had aken with his pistol in his hand cooked but with
the muZzle down. Mr.. DIcKINsoS, of New FORK desired
him give up the pistol which he readily did when Mr.
DIcKINsoN locked up his desk. Soon AFTER both Sena-
tors resumed their seats and order restored.
After giving this narrative of the proceedings in question:
the committee feel bound to say that the whole scene was