New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-04-18
NJ. CLAY appealed from this decision.

D
slude1 incidentally. ln no complimentary terms
70 the Southern address and those who origin
/ ated IL.
Mr BUTLER sad that he senator from N'sso1-
/ vas much NJ s,aken. il BE- supposed tie southern
people would b. SATISFIED with votes upon trulsins
Sucn votes were Mt 70 BE- sa'@tyyalyes 10y WihcA
/ 70 avert the dangers impending
Mr. FooTE arose % address the senate. TIE
Vice Presiien, remind him that the question De-
fore the Senate was upon the appeal AMI suggest
ell that he conhne himself = that point
NJ F0oTE declared bis design . proceed IN oT-
der lie had endeavored - avoid dsc1ssion' as
the Senate would bear witness He felt that the
time had come when patriots should unite ior the
purpose Of saving the Republic from the dangers
. whic. threatened il. 7, was very Wei known that
he wOnd not after circumstances which mad oc
| cured here condescerd b. notice anything coming
from certain quarter Mr.. Benton L 70 were not
that nm un'us'ihabie attack had been made upon
measure with which himself AM other rentlemen
/ were identihed-the : Southern address which many
ofthem had been proud 60 sign. TIE history oil That
/ address was n glorious one. and would i've 10 the
/ esteem of patriots .n the future when those who
4 imuucned II should long have been forgotten. W no
was It's author The Senator from South Carolina
/ over whose death the Nation now molrned. And
who was il that attempted toimpurn that address
and % designate those who s,ued It ne a-ltators
II was an individual known rs the Oldest member
Of the Senate.
Nr FooTE was proceeding with some sarcastic
aud pungent remarks, evidently in aTuslon t. Mr.
Benton but bad said nothing sufficiently open
and offensive 10 Justify the Char IN calling nun 10
order. when Mr. Benton rose, much aeltated' AMI
throwing his chair from him. proceeded by the mar
row passaee outside Of the Bar toward Footes
seat which on the outside tier Of seats, near the
main entrance 10 the Senate. Mr. Dodge OF Iowa
NJ Dodse of Wis and others. apprehendng
collision between Benton AMI Fcote en- Favored
% detain the former AZ his seat. Overcoming al
resistance. he continued toward Foote who
leaving his place. stepped down the main aisle
and took position in the area, just u front ~ tie
sergeant arm seat at the right o. the VI Pres
dent. drawing a pistol from lis bosom mud
cooking IT,
The scene which ensued $ ndescrbable Loud
calls for the Sergeant al Arms. were made. and
c-es Of order resounded from al sides of the ham
Der Many persons rushed from the galleries and
out Of the chsmbe-, In apprehension Of a General
melee. Several Senators surrounded Mr. Foote
among whom was Mr.. Dickinson, who, securing
the pistol locked il up in ms desk.
Mr.. Benton in the meantime, was Struggling IN
the hands of his friends who were endeavorns 70
prevent him from reaching Foote. " hile thus
pinioned as it were, and yet almost successfully
resisting the efforts OF those who held him, Mr. Ben
ton bitterly denounced FOotc as an assassin who
had dared to bring pistol n the senate - murder
him He said, " | have no arms examine me- /
carry nothing Of Sind-stAnd out ot his way, aud
let the scoundrei end assassin fire r. In utterug
tins sentence Mr. Benton threw oilrom either SIDE,
those who be- d him tore open his vest, and invited
the IRE OF ms antagonist
Mr.. FOOTE IN the meant nae was restrained rom
advancing toward NJ. BFNION.
The VICE PREsIDENT after repeated and vi-0r-
Gus efforts, succeeded IN restoring comporativ"
state OF quiet.
Mcssrs. BrvroN and FoorE having resumed
their respective seats,
Mr. F6orr rose, and inquired if he could proceed
10 order.
Mr. BENTON, IN a very load tone and much ex
cited demand thru the Senate sinai. take cogni
zance Of the fact that pisto. has been brought Boo
here TO asssssiuate me
Mr. FoorE expIaned-He had 40 intention to
attack anybody; his whole course had been that OF
the defensive. II had been informed that an at
tack upon him had been intended and supposluc
when the Senator from Missouri advanced toward
him, that he armed aud designed 70 attack
him he had himself advanced - the center Of the
chamber in order to be m position where he could
meet M Benton in the main aisle. upon equal
terms
NJ. BENTON protested AGAINST any irtimation
that be carried arms He never did SO.
The NIcEPEEsiDENr requested Mr.. Foote ~
taae his seat until t could be ascerIa.neI what
course vas prope- for the Chair to pursue.
Mr.. Hale regretted the necessity which seemed
% impose Itself upon him. one Of the youngest
members of the Senate, bat # 40 one ess moved
in the premises he should deem himself unworthy
of his scat if he could let such a transaction a. be
had lust witnessed 20 ont % the country without
Investigation. The Senate owed such course u
itself
Mr. FoorF. Ia his seat court it.
Mr. BoRLAND SAID he had apprehended 10 dan
ger, aud instead O, the matter being a serious
affair o. be investigated he thought it OF which
the Senate should be ashamed and should say as
little about II as possible.
Mr.. FooTE expressed his assent to the propose
non for Investigation. but soemnly protested that
he had only armed himself IN view Of a Vremeatat-
ed attack, a-airs, which he had been warned
Mr.. DoDGy of Wis thought Committee O. in-
vestigat0n ought to be appointed He stated that
he had known Mr.. Benton thirty five years, and
never knew him to carry
Mr. BsNroN-iu his seat Sill much agitGted-
Nsyo- never
Mr. Donor moved that Committee Of seven be
appointed 10 investigate the subject !, was due
10 the Senate and the country.
Mr. CLAY expressed the hope that Messrs. Ben
ton ana Foote would 20 before a Magistrate or else
IN the presence of thu Senate, pledge themselves
not to commit breach OF the peace, in tac further
prosecution OF tins affair.
Mr. BENTON have zone nothing u authorize a
charge OF intention L. commit n breach o the peace,
and VIII rot in Jail before give q promise by
which admit such thing. even by imphcan n
carry no arms, Sir aud It IS lying, and co"ardly'
to iusinuate anything OF the kind against me
Mr. CLAY said his suggestion had no reference 70
the past but 20 the future.
Mr. FOorE said he was ConsututionIOvnc and
l4w.abidinc man. He only wore arms when he
had reason to believe he vas IN danger OF beng
attacked He preferred another method o. settling
difficulties, and had always lef. the door open to
avoid the necessity for any other mode Of settle
gleut than that referred 70. lie declared that be
hal -
ate controversy which had occurred. but ntmated
that as q man OF honor. be felt bound to take pro
/ ceedings elsewhere
Mr. BENTON greeted The last remark with a con
temptous lau-h loud enough to be heard through
. ont the Chamber
Afrcr further debate the motion = appoint
a Committee was agreed %, and before any ur,her
acton was bad the Senate adjourned