Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-04-05
Correspondence Of the Daily Free Press 5

personal alteration between Mcssrs Foote and
Benton, commenced in the United States Senate
day before yesterday All the facts connected with
this matter have been placed upon record, and viii
CORN part of our congressional history. The scene
of this personal alteration in the United States SEN
ate has never been surpassed by any thing OF the
lind--not excepting that which took place between
Benton and Clay, some eighteen years ago, in which
the people were interested and sided with one party
or the other.
iVhat was the provocation on the part OF the Sem
ator from Mississippi, to justify the strong language
used by the Senator from Missouri! Since the COM
mencement of the present session, Mr. Foote has ia
ken every opportunity to lash with his bitter sarcasm
and abuse with his low black guardism, not only the
Senator from Missouri, but every other Senator,
whose views did not exactly harmonze with his
lie has attacked several times Gov. Seward, once in
speech Of or columns, which was e-writtcn for
the press These attacks, Seward not at home in
cXtcmporaneous debate, did not reply to at the time
MIR. Hale always ready at repartee, has gencaly
replied to him, and come of the best in the Senate,
but frequently vice versa in the verbatim report OF
the discussion in the papers next doy-Mr. Foote
always making it point re-write his speeches for
the press and ia Senator has got the better OF him,
60 leave out the point to which he replied. Several
,
Mr.. Benton in most abusive terms, bringing up per-
sonal m1,tcrs AMI accusing the Senator OF impure
motives for his course Of action This personal
abuse and low black guardism Mr. Bonton has here
to!orc taken no notice Of and once during the dcyc-
~ Of a TRAD, ARCS, and left the Senate.
Nr. Denton is knowuiob be strong friend orCa,i-
to,n.a, aud anxious for her immediate admission
llr. Foot' no less the friend, i!v, may belicy, his
own statement, is DESTROYS Of having the territorial
question with regard TO the Whine, plyyis5, settled
1t the SAM t'uc.
On Monday, u lGc Douglass presented territorial
bills from Utah and New Mexico The next day.
MIR. tooic said lie wished to take up the Territorial
bills, in order make it the order OF the Jay Tor Fri
day. Mr.. Eoote anxious to have this territorial
question settled before the admission OF California
Here was the commencement between Foote an
Benton, and OF the personal alteration. AT fist
sight, no one would IN this difference any coca
sion iorany thing OF the kind. Mr.. Foote however
apparently believed that il he made personal mat
ter OF it, he could prevent the exercise of vast nhu
cnce on the part OF the Father OF the Senate On
every occasion, therefore, when this question has
come up, and nton has manifested an anxiety for
the immediate lmss.on o, aIio.na, Mir Fooe has
ccl sel the Senator form Missouri, ofactng from in
tcrested motives for the good Of his iumiy-h.s
own son-in-law.
As soon as Mr.. Foote sat down, after expressing
desire to have the territorial question taken up an
early day, Mr.. Benton arose and stated his reasons
for urging immediate action on the California qlcs-
ton that the present condition OF California dcmau-
ded it OF them. lie said he was the friend OF Cali
foma, and for the future should take every occasion
10 press upon the Senate the importance OF definite
action.
Alter he had sat down. Mr.. Foote commenced
one Of his most insulting speeches ing largely in
10 personalities.
Now, was chance for Mr. Benton TO reply to re-
pcaed personalities, and he did it in very strong Ian
guage, calling MIR. Foote coward and blackguard
and abuser OF every one and said that if the Senate
whose duty it was, did not protect him from his vile
calumny, abuse and low blackguardsm, he should
do it himself. During the delivery of Mr. Benton's
speech, the Senators were completely dumb did not
seem to know what to do. At length Mr. Foote
murmured out ORDER and finally, Mr.. Benton, called
70 order'by the Vice President, sat down.
The next morning report of this debate appear
ed in the Union and lnteigencer, the official report
OF the Senate. Mr.. Foote'S remarks as usual had
been all rewritten and completely changed There
is no Senator more condemned by the printers than
Mr. Foote, and Il because he writes horrid scrawl
and is so astidious about the precise language, he
ever altering and re-al,erng 20 such extent that it
leqnires almost much tine TO correct proof, as o
set 1t up in the first place. As soon an opportuni-
ty occurred, that morning. Mr. Benton arose in his
place, said that be wished o'make some remarks res
pectng the newspaper account Of what occurred yes
terday as reported in the two official papers. lie
said that it was lying account from beginning to
end, that the whole report had been changed, sys-
tematicaly changed, that the reporter was not res
ponsibe for it, but should be exonerated from all
Lame; that all personal debates like that of yester-
day should always be reported verbatim, word for
word, that the country might see what actually had
occurred and that true history might be preserved
Asfor himself, he had not changed line of his re-
port, lie told the reporters to make it out them.
selves.
This lashing Of Foote was enjoyed very much by
the senators many OF whom had previously suffered
py MI foote's systematic changing of his reports
Durihg MI benton's remarks he gave the Senator
IRON Mississippi to understand that he was willing
TO abide by the laws OF honor and was able 10 defend
himself, and Mr. Foote in his reply said he was also
willing.
40 appreciate personal alteration like this, an
individual should know the parties Benton is tail
and athletic, stern and unyieldnp in his djsnosi,ion
dghiled IN his manners, with look that lrowns
down all opposition and with peculiar nasal twang
IN speaking. Foote is small, sprghty, courteous in
his manners, stepping about in the Senate like
french dancing master, and in speaking, generally
though he calls himsefvery impetuous when irving
10 be very sarcastic slow, and measured in his Ian
guage' going deliberately to work as though he was
determined not to be out generated
There are now three distinct leaders in the demo.
cratic party, Benton, Foote and Calhoun, each one
bitterly opposed to the other two, and each one ay-
ing way of his own to settle matters
rs this letter is already long, will defer noticing
oiher matters I'LL my next. The Senate adjourned
over to-day ill Monday, on account of GOOD Friday
Badger contendng that we ought in dutv bound 10