The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1850-04-26
: lTHlRTY-FlRSTs CONGRESS.
= isifA FIRST SESSION.
a.A scENE 1N CoNGREss.

tranSlctIOn OF In0uliny ousinesp Nho s'oii-
s,e proceededa 10 the consideration oi
Fooie'. motion 10 refer Bells resolutions
10 a select committee Of Is. The PEN
ding question being upon Benton's IN
s,ructions 10 q committee declaring tnai
Congress has no power over slavery in
the States on tle internal slave trade and
that Congress ought not 10 abolish slave
ry.in The district or in the ports, Arse,
nails and dock yards of tho United.
States. aq,a W th3} ,"f
Mr.. Benton addressed the Senate in
support Of bis amendmenss; his objec,
! was to show by votes Of the Senate, that
: she fears Of the south had been ground
less. Y 'iA''-i 6osl ...s
vi Mr., Butler said such votes were no.
safety valves by which 10 avert the i'm
pending dangers. X, (.
MI. Foote suid he had endeayored, TO
AVERT discussion. That the time had
! come when patriots should unite for the
purpose Of saving the Republic from the
danger which tiireatehed IL. He would
not condescend 10 notice anything COM
ing from a certain quarter Benton) ifil
were not llat an unjustifiable attack had
been made upona measure (thc South
ern addtess) which many OF them had
been proudio sign. That address would
live ia the esteem ofpatrio,s. Who was
lis author2 The Senator from South
z Carolina, over whose deathoihe nation is
nov mourning, and who was il that al
tempted TO ilnpusn that addressl ltwas
an individual known as the Oldest men,
! Der Of The Senate. Mr.. Foote was pro
ceeding with some sarcastic and pungent
remarks, evidently in illusion to Mr.. Ben
ton, but had said no'hing sufficiently
open and offensive TO Justify the chair in
calling him 70 order, when, M III.
~ MIR Bcn,oi rose much agitated aud
throwing his cl,air from him, proceeded
by the narrow passage outside ofthe bar
, towards Foote's sea-, whiub is on the out
side row Of seats. near the Inain entrance.
Mr. Dodge, oflvisconsin, apprehending a
collision between Benton and Foote, en-
deavored to dstain The former from mo-
wing from his seat, but overcoming all re-
sistancc, he continued towards Foote,
who, leaving his place, stepped down in
20 the main aisle and took position on,
and Just in front oftir, Sergeant-at-arins'
seat, at The right of the v C President,
drawing a pistol from his bosom and
.cockedi 1t. ~ 'ss s'4. g >
The scene which ensued is ndescriba-
bio. Loud cries forscrgea eapt-ai-arms and
cries Of order resounded from all sides Of
the chamber. Great excitement in theSen-
a,c. Benton was about TO attack Foote
When the latter drew pistol, ,retreating to
tile centre of the Hall, & il was only with
the mos, strenuous efforts that the parties
were kept from collision. Many per
sons rushed from the galleries and out OF
&, tile chamber i'll apprehension ofa general
melee. Several Senators surrounded
Foote. Dickinson took the pistol from bin.
Benton meanwhile wits struggling in the
hands OF friends who were endeavoring
70 prevent him from reaching Foote.
Benton boldly denounced Foote us an as
sassin who had dared 10 bring pistol in
the. Senate 10 murder him. He said 81
have no arms; examine me. carry no.
thing oftle kind. Stand out ofhis way
and let the scoundrel aud assassin fire.
In pltering this sentence, Benton threw
off those who held him, tore open his
vest, and Invited tho fire Of his antagon-
ist. Foote in tie mean time was res
trained from advancing towards Ben'oa.
The Vice President after repeated and
vigorous efforts, succeeded in restoring
order, and comparatively quiet ;3i+fv8
Mr. Benton and Fcote having resumed
their seats, MI Foote rose and inquired
If he could proceed in order.
NIr Benton. in very loud lone, ant
much excited, demanded that the Senate
should take cognizancc Of the fac, that I
pistol had been brought here TO assass
mate him.
MIR Foote explained. He had no in
stention 10 attack anybody. His whole
course had been that ofthe defensive.
Mir Benton protested against an init
nation that he carried arms. lie neye
did so. i9sa
q Vice President requested Foote t
take his seal until il would be ascertaine'
what course was proper for the chair Il
pursue. 9fas ~.
Mr. Hale could not let such iransac
.ions as had just occurred 90 TO the coun
try without investigation. ~
"a Mr. Fooie. u court il. ai $a
80 Mr. Borland said ne never knew Ben
ton 10 carry arms. "a
MIR Benton in his seat. No, nerfr!!
Mr. Dodge moved committee ofsevel
be appointed to investigate the subject
MIR Clay expressed a hope that Ben,ol
and Foo,e would go before magistrate
or else pledge themselves before tn
SENATE not TO commit q breach
peace. Ae5 !. 5,el
Mr Benton. have done nothing 4
authorize a charge Of intention TO comml
breach Of peace. would rot in la