Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-19


in that body-the Father OF the Senate
TAT this moment Mr.. BENTON rose from his seat,
stepped into the lobby, and advanced apparently with
an intent to attack Mr. FooTE towards the seat of Mr..
F., which distant from his own about twenty feet
As he approached Mr. F., the latter gded from his desk
through Of thesma asles into the area in front of
the Secretarys desk drawing from his person he did
so large pistol, which he held in his hand. The VeE
PRESIDENT and others demanded ORDER but the conu
sion great as to drown every voice. Mr. BENTON
returned by the lobby to his own seat frequently ex-
Release me that the assassin may fire. &c, &c.
Inthe meantime several Senators had nterfered and
in the hustle we lost sight OF the pistol entirely.
Mr.. BENTON continued his EXPLANATIONS that the
assassin should fire = pistol has been drawn in the
Senate, and it brought here to fire on me why
don't the cowardly assassin ire?"
Several Senators called upon the Chair to order the
Sergeant Arms to take person into custody
whom we could not understand
After order was partially restored, and members had
taken their Seats
impression that the Senator advancing upon him was
armed.
Mr.. BENTON demanded that the Senate take cogni-
of this attempt assassnate him in the Senate
OF this attempt to assassnae him the false pretext
that he was armed attempt to assasslnate MN on
the same false pretext that every nsea
who wants to make out case OF SELF defence mat
was the pretext OF every assassin.
Mr. FooTE said that the Senator was advancing upon
him in threatening and menaelng manner and, sup
posing he armed he (Mr. F. had lett the crowded
more elbow If he had supposed that the person
advancing to attack him was not armed, he would
never have drawn the pistol.
Mr. HALE said that as transaction OF this character
had taken place, should not pass by without an lnves
Mr. BoRIANp thought that rather than resort to an in
vestgaon it better to say as little as possible. He
did not think that there was any danger foot at all
MT. Fo orE said that so far as he was concerned he
begged to be heard. He knew his own heart and nten
had nothing of the ASSASSIN about him. So help him
God he came here with the intention to settle the great
questions in such manner would conduce to the hap
piness of the country He begged that the affair might
be investigated. Ii it could be proved by circumstan
ces declarations in any shape FORM that he armed
hiselfo attack the Senator from Missouri; if there
any thing to sustain the charge of suspicion,
then he would be willing to be expelled from the Sc
nate, to a seat of which he would be unworthy. He
only arms gle pistol because he had been IN
formed it was likely he would be attacked lie mad
simply prepared Tor his defence tie repeated as an
honorable Senator that, so lar as he was concerned
there was not the least ground for suspicion lie begged
an investigation, for his own personal honor.
Mr. MANGUM moved that committee OF seven be
appointed to investigate the outrage pepe'fa'ea III Tic
Senate. -,
and Mississippi either to go voluntarily before Justice
of the Peace and enter into bonds to keep the peace or
TO pledge themselves the Senate prosecute the
quarrel farther during the present session OF the Senate
Mr. BENTON (emphaticaly) said that he had done
nothing on God Amighty's earth to provoke bTeach
of the peace He would rot in jail before he would give
promise that would leave him in such predlcament
1t was lying and cowardy to mpue to him the bearing
of arms and making of that to justify his assassl-
nation.
Mr.. CLAY said that his observation was not to the
past, but to the future He simply wished Senators to
take an obligation as to the future.
Mr. FooTE had only this to say. He was a Constitu-
tionlovng man; he knew that ne had CONSTITUTIONAL
rights and capable of maintaining them. He never
threatened human being in his life He never executed
threat. He wore arms to make an attack; lie
never wore arms but when he was menaced and threa-
tened with the cudgel, he was advised by trends 10
wear arms for his own defence, he man OF
small statue and not in very good health. tie accord
ngy armed himself, supposng possible that he might
be attacked after what had then occurred Having the
constitutional righto bear arms ne would exercise the
right.
The resolution offered by Mr. Mangum was finally
adopted, and the Senate then adjourned
The foregoing is condensed from the Republics re-
port of the proceedings in the Senate.]
The Unions report of Mr.. Foote'S remarks, which
Mr. Benton interrupted by approaching him, is fol-
lows:
"And, sir, those who subscribed that address, 1.-THE
Southern Address, those who sanctioned it, are
charged with being agitators, BY whom-by whom
by whom is thus charge brought? With whom does such
accusation this originate! wont be personal At
ter the lesson have received mean to be-n parlla-
mentary sense-perectly decorous in all things But
by whom is it that this extraordinary declaration Is
hurled against all those individuals who signed that
address, By gentleman known to be the oldest MEM
Der of the Senate; by gentleman, who, on ate'-
Here Mr.. Benton approached, &c. and Mr.. Footepro-
ceeded to the open area We certainly see nothing in
this language to provoke much less justify personal
| assault.
The Union publishes card from Mr.. Foote, con-
a. MI nl-