Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-18
LATEST NEWS.

WASHINGTON, April II, P. M.
VIOLENT SCENE In THE SENATE!
REVOLVER DRAWN BY MR.. FOOTE.
CONDUCT AND BEARING OF MR.. BENTON +!
Election of Clerk by the House of Representatives..
SENATE-A bill giving the assent of the U. States to
the sale OF certain privileges by the city of Tuscaloosa
was taken up and passed.
THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE
Mr. FooTE's motion to refer the resolutions submitted
respectively by Messrs CLAY and BELL to select COM
mtee of thirteen, was then taken up.
Mr. BENTON moved series Of instructions by which
the committee to be governed. The series en-
braced five distinct propositions.
Mr. CLAY moved an amendment, striking out the in
structons, and declaring that the committee should be
untrammeled.
Messrs. BENTON, HALE and WEBSTER opposed Mr..
Clays amendments
Messrs. CAss, CLAY, FooTE and MANGUM, support
ed it.
Mr.. BENTON moved 10 lay the whole subject on the
table. Lost: yeas "a, nays2S
The question on Mr.. CLAWS amendment was then
taken, and it was adopted, as follows Yeas 30, nays
%.
Mr.. HAMLIN moved to except from reference to the
committee, everything relating to California
Mr.. BENTON moved to amend Mr.. Hamlins motion
tons to the committee.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD to point of order. He asked
the presiding officer the motion OF Mr.. Benton could
be entertained in the face of the decision which had just
been made by the Senate, refusing give instructions
the committee!
The VICE PRESIDENT decided Mr. Benton's motion
to be in order
MI. CLAY appealed from the decision of the Chair
Mr.. BENTON entered into an argument in support of
the decision of the Chair He declared his object to be
in submitting his Instructions to compel the Senate to
vote on each proposition submitted. By distinct vote
upon each point made he trusted to be able show
the country that no danger need be apprehended He
proposed to strike at the root of the evil of the day
The cry OF wolf! wolff" had been raised when there
was no wolf Mr.. B. desired to convince the country
that the Southern Address had been based upon dan
gers which did not in reality exist.
Mr.. BUTLER remarked that simple votes upon tuisms
like those contained in the instructions moved by the
Senator from Missouri would not satisfy the South
would they to convince the country OF the abb
sence OF danger to the Union
MIR. FooTE rose and commenced speech by saying
that in consequence of what had taken place in the Sc
nate short time since, he should abstain from replying
to anything which had fallen from certain quarter
He then eulogised Mr. CALHOUN whose death the whole
the Southern Address. He said the signers OF that ad
dress would live in the hearts of the people Of the
try when their calumnia ors would be consigned to in
fanny. Who said MIR. F., illuminated those signers ;
A gentleman-an ndivdua-who styles himself the
oldest Senator in that bodyhe Father of the Senate
AT this moment Mr. BENTON left his seat and ap-
preached by way of the lobby the seat occupied by the
Senator from Mississippi, (Mr Foote in threatening
manner
Mr. FooTE Immediately retreated by one of the small
aisles to the front of the VICE PRESIDENTS Chair
pointing he did so, revolvng-b pistol towards
Mr. BENTON. AT this point scene OF rare disorder
sued. Mr. BENTON became furious, and amidst the
breaking of chairs, the overturning of DESKS the SILVER
ing OF glasses, and shouts and of "order his
voice could be distinctly heard, excaiming "Let the
cowardly assassin fire !" He endeavoured TO take off
his coat present his bare breast target for
Mr. FooTE to fire at. In the midst OF the confusion,
knocked the pistol out of Mr.. FooTE's hand.
The greatest confusion and disorder regned in the Sc
nate Chamber upwards of ten minutes, during which the
only voice distnguishable was that of Mr. BENToNs cry
ing out for the assassin to fire"
After something like order had been restored Mr..
HALE rose and suggested that the matter should be in
vestigaed at
Mr. BoRLAND said nothing existed to be investigated
Livery senator nau seen Wllat nad taken place.
Mr. BENTON remarked, with much vehemence, that
any Senator said he had intended to in the
affair which had just taken place. he pronounced that
statement le He said was the suberfuge of cow
ards to justify assassination.
Mr. CLAY called upon the Senators from Missouri
and Mississippi either go voluntarily before Justice
of the Peace and enter into bonds to keep the peace
10 pledge themselves to the Senate to prosecute the
quarrel farther during the present session of the Senate.
Mr.. BENTON said he would rather rot in jail than do
anything by which he admitted that he had committed
a. breach Of the peace.
Mr. DODGE, of Wisconsin, spoke highly of Mr. BEN
TON, and moved the appointment of committee to in
vesigate the recent outrage.
Mr. MANGUM offered a resolution providing for the
appointment of committee of seven Senators to in
vestgate the matter.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. FooTE and explained why he had drawn a
pistolon the floor of the Senate chamber He said he
presumed the Senator from Missouri had sought his seat
for the purpose of attacking him-presumed also, that
the Senator armed and had therefore, drawn the
pistol to protect himself.
On motion, the Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.-Fou additional ballots
were had for Clerk to-day. The ninth ballot resulted
as follows: Necessary to choice 95-For Young, De-
mocrat Qate Commissioner of the Land Office 96for
James c. Walker, Wing, s2-scatterng TO- So
RICHARD M: YOU'VE, of Illinois, was declared to be duly
elected Clerk of the House Of Representatives.
@..........-
PREcocous CITY.-The town of Southport, in
Wisconsin, has recently been transformed into the city