The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-18
TELECRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.


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Inportant Telegraphic summary.
The scenes which were enacted in the Senate,
yesterday, are enough TO make US despair OF any
settlement of the slavery question OF quiet and
peaceable character. That body, II seems, were
engaged. during the principal vart Of the day, In
debating Mr.. Foote'S motion - refer Mr.. Bells
resolution to q committee Of thirteen, and had
proceeded very favorably and quietly until Meesrs
Benton and Foote got into an alteration,
which was near ending rather tragically. On
a personal remark being made by Mr.
Foote, Mr. Benton lef his seat, and rushed towards
that Of Mr.. Foote. The latter gentleman then de-
scended to the aisle, and drew pistol from his
pocket, which he cooked, and then awaited the
attack which he supposed Mr.. Benton was about
to make upon him. Mr. Benton was prevented
from reaching Mr.. Foote, and the pistol was taken
from Mr.. Foote's hand, and locked up. A COM
mittee of seven were appointed to investigate the
subject, and report on it, and the curtain fell.
We cannot command language sufficiently strong
to express our adherence of such scenes as that
which occurred yesterday in the Senate. They
are positively disgraceful If their prevention here
after be not secured, there will be end to legis-
lation, and the Senate will be converted into an
arena for the settlement Of private quarrels. We
were in hopes that the worst was over-that Sena-
tors would proceed with the important business
before them in a calm, rational, and dgnihed
manner.
If there has heretofore been any doubt Of the
course which Mr. Benton was determined to pur-
sue in the Senate in relation to the question of
slavery, in connection with the new territories,
there is no room for any In his seat yester-
day he defined his position 20 plainly and clearly
that q blind man even can almost see it. That
course is to insiet, as fAs as his influence
extends, upon the admissoa Of California as
State without reference to the ether terri
tories, notwithstanding that he is aware, well
as any person is, that it will be opposed by the
Southern members with all their might, and that
il will leave the main question Of slavery still open
for agitation and difficulty hereafter As far as we
understand the feelings of the Southern members,
they will consent to no such legislation They
want the whole subject disposed of at once, and 90
do the sensible and moderate people of all parties
in the North. Mr.. Benton is, therefore, playing
second fiddle to the cabinet in the Senate, and has
united himself with the freesolers and abolitionsts
in the factious and disorganizing policy which they
have pursued since the commencement Of the SEES
sion. We hardly think, however, that he will sue
coed in effecting his object The only reeult that
will, according to present appearances, follow on in
eisting upon admitting California separately, will be
to proong agitation in Congress, and, perhaps of
preventing any legislation on the subject at all
during the preeent session. Let the country mark
the men who are thus betrayng te best interest," and
exerting themselves to produce state OF affairs
that can tend to nothing but disorganizaton OF the
government, and dissolution of the Union.
The House of Representatives succeeded In
electing Clerk-Mr. Young, democrat. and late
Commissioner Of the Land Office, being the sue
ceeeful candidate. The House then adjourned.
The new Clerk will take his station to-day, and
that body will proceed to the consideration Of the
business before them, which was interrupted by
the death Of Mr.. Campbell, their late Clerk.
The greet anti-rent trial at Hudson, is being pro-
eeeded with as expeditousy as possible. The pro-
ceedngs Of yesterday and the day before, will be
found in another column. The quantity Of land
which is covered by this suit is only one hundred
and fifty acres, but the title which is sought to be
invslidated covers some one hundred and sixty
thousand acres. This is what gives importance 10
the case