Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-04-26
From Washington.



SENATE.-Mr. declared his belief
that the committee was all cut and dried,
and that the appointing was them alto
ge,her farce.
Mr.. Douglas said he was inclind to
vote for Mr.. Clay's amendment. He
has only opposed the appointment of
the Select committee because of his un.
willingness to make the admission of
California dependent on any other meas
ure. He would vote for the amendment
for the precise reason stated by Mr..
Clay. IL the committee was farce, he
was not disposed to make t a tragedy
by fac,ious opposition.
| Mr.. Webster thought that the adoption
of The amendments would not preclude
propositions for instructions.
| Mr.. Hale followed at some length in
opposition to the, amendment and tn the
proposed reference. He said the North
would be defeated, aud by Northern men.
| He concluded as follows: "ien,lemen
of the South. you have been put where
you have laid us on, cold; do NOT point
at u.s." Daughter.
Mr.. Clay said the North was destined
to no defeat at The hands of The SmtI,;
the only triumph of patriotism over the
ultra aboItiOnists, whose voc ltlOn would
be gone as soon settlement of This
question was attained. Great applause.
Mr.. Foote appelleI To The friends oi
the Select committee 10 refrain from all
further debate.
Mr., Clay slightly modified his amenh-
ment, and it was adop,ed--yeas %
nays %.
Mr.. Hamlin moved on amendment
but il was rlled out of order.
Mr.. Benton then moved the amend
ment previously submitted by him, COW
ering fourteen different points and said
he would ask the yeas and nays on each;
a debate ensued upon question of or.
der. ..... ...
Mr.. Clay objected, on the ground that
it was inconsistent with The proposition
by which the Senate declared that il
would no, instruct them. -....
The Vice. President said that incnnsis-
tency nigh, be good reason for the
rejection of The amendments. but il was
no. the question for the chair /, d.ciL. as
to.a point of order. .... ...
Mr.. Clay appealed.
Mr.. Benton addressed the Senate il,
support of his amendment; his object
was to show by the vote of The Senate
that the fears of The South had been
groundIess. .,..-. ..... ... .
MIR, Butler said. such votes were not
safety valves by which to avert the dan.
gerous impending. .n.. g..
Mr.. Foole said he had endeavored TO
avert discussion; that the time had come
when patriots should unite for the pmr.
pose of saving the Republic from the
danger which threatened it; he would not
condescend to notice anything coming
from certain quarter, (Ben.on.) If il
were not that an unjustifahle attack had
been made upon measure the South,
ern address, which many of them had
been proud to sign, that address would
live in the esteem of patriots. Who was
its author! The Senator from South
Carolina, over whose death the nation is
now mourning. And who was it that
attempted to impugn that address! /,
was an individual known as the oldest
member of the Senate
Mr.. Foote was proceeding with some
sarcastic and pungent remarks. evidently
in allusion TO Benton, bui had said nothing
sufficiently open and offensive To Justify
the chair in calling him to order. when
Benton rose much agilaled, and lhrowing
his chair from him, proceeded by a mar.
row passage outside of The bar, towards
Foote's seal, which is on the outside row
of seats, near the main entrance.
Dodge, OF Wisconsin, apprehen ling
a collision between Benton aud Foo,p
ends arored To de;an the lnrtnrr from
rlslng from his seat, overcoming ali re.
sisiance he continued towards FIute
who. leaving his place, stepped down IL
The main aisle and took pusiIinn on The
rear just in ihe front of The Srargeant-al-
Arms seat. al The right of The Vice Pres
ident, and drawing a pistol from his bo
som cooked it. The scene which nnsued
is understandable. Loud cries for the
Sergeant-at. Arms, and cries oi order re
sounded from all sides of the Chanher
Mr.. Is. Was about 10 attack Fooie when
the latter with his drawn pistol re,reaie.
to the centre OF the Hall, aud !, was only
| by the most strenuous effnr.s that the
parties were kept from collision. Many
persons rushed from the galleries and
out Of the chamber in appreh,nsiol nI
general melee. Several Senators SUR
rounded Foole. Mr.. Dickinson took
the pistol from him. Benton was mean.
while struggling in the hands oi his
friends, who were endeAvafiug 10 pre-
vent him FROM reaching Foole. Mr..
Benton boldly denounced F"e AS AN
assassin, who had dared to bring a pistol
into the Senate to murder hun. He SAID
II have no arms, examine NE; | carry
nothing 0i The kind; stand out vi his way.
and lei the scoundrel and assassin fire"
In ut,ering This sentence Benton threw
off those who held him, tore open his
vest aud invited the fire Of his antagonist.
Fcoie, meantime, was restrained from
ad vancing towards Benton. The Vice