Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-24

Senate Chamber did present hour ago!
Col. Benton and Gen. Foote made quite exhibition;
comedy spirited tragedy. | sat in the reporters
gallery directly opposite the gentlemen, and saw it all
The debate on the California question and Foote's
Committee" had been going on for some hours. Messrs
Benton and Clay were fairly pted against each other.
Benton aborng to have the bill for the admission
of California brought up before the Senate immediately
and unembanassed by any other question. Clay as
completely committed to, and determined on the oppo-
site policy; and TO them checkmating each other by
parliamentary rules amendments, and amendments to
the amendments, was study tor sharper.
After Mr.. Clay's amendmentto Mr. Benton's amend
ment which struck all out and substituted the oppo
site had been carried by vote OF the Senate you
know Mr.. Hamlin of Me. moved amendment to Mr.
Foote's original resolution. This was declared out
of order; but the Chair decided it in ORDER and imme
diaely Col Benton rose and moved his old amendment
just rejected by MIR. Clay's amendment as an amend
ment to MIR. Hamlin's amendment, and declared his
determination to have each OF its seven
teen clauses Mr.. Clay had been very much excited
Tor some time Every muscle in his body was qpverng
and there was evident rush otblood to the head
He rose in considerable excitement and declared Mr.
Beuton's amendment out of order The chair decided
otherwise and Mr. Clay appealed from the decision,
with much excitement in his manner that | great
ly feared an outbreak his part, while Col. Benton
had such appearance OF calmness that it rather as
sured me that there would be no breach of the peace
Did not miss my calculation that time?
Col. Benton then arose to discuss the point Of order
before taking the vote, and spoke with more warmth
than he had yet done, but with no appearance of ag-
spirit OF the house, who knew and felt he had the
power to control its action, and was calm in the
consciousness OF untried strength. But he made a
quick transition. He urged his amendments as the
best means OF allaying the excitement at the South,
and spoke with much force and dignity that when
he sat down Involuntary repeated what lady had
said to me two hours before He is glorious old
man !"
Mr.. Butler of S. C.-wth the silver white hair and
the rudy tace-then rose and made few remarks that
sounded sadly undignhed after Mr.. Bentons. Then
MI Foote took the floor and soon reached towering
height of gasconading eloquence. He lauded the
Southern Address, of which Mr. Benton had spoken as
causing needless alarm, and declared it the production
4 that honorable Senator for whom every good man in
the nation was now mourning. His style of speaking
struck me as ludcrous grandoquent and rather sar
castle in its personal references to Mr. Benton but this
gentleman did not appear at all disturbed looked at
him and could see indications of excitement Sud-
denly Mr. Fooe paused in his flight of eloquence, and
came down to his naturally calm tone, which is really
very pleasant He was evidently preparing for some
grand demonstration. He turned, and with waive of
the hand and inclination of the head toward Col
Benton, gave evidence that he had some personal re-
marks to make but declared he was determined to be
governed by strict parliamentary rules | glanced to
Col Benton He looked calm, then back to the speak
er, who, in an ronical manner pronouncng the
words the Oldest Senator on this floor" this al
luding to Mr.. Benton, and as he commenced the next
sentence he started running the aisle toward
the Presidents desk and looking back over his shoulder
as he got pistol out OF his side pocket He gained
the opening around the Presidents desk before there
was any general movement among the Senators, and
there he cooked tried to cock his pistol pointing the
muzz!e toward the ground. He appeared to have some
trouble in drawing the lock, but think he got it set
CHANGING back, saw Col. Benton in the passage that
runs around under the gallery and behind the seats. He
was near w. Foote's seat, but not inside the bar of the
House. Mr. Foote'S is on the outside of the circle
and next to the baustrade that divides the bar from the
passage running round and close to of the little
doors the rst from the main to the Presi-
dents right hand Col Benon's is similarly situated but
further round to the same side.
Some gentlemen in the passage thought Mr. Benton
Chamber CIV
Dickinson ofyour State says he kne from the manner
IN which ne thrust his chair back that he intended to
attack Mr. cote but he did not get in through the
door near his seat, and not within two or three
steps OF it when Mr. Foote reached the open space in
front OF the Chair Some gentlemen took him back to
his own place, and Mr.. Foote calling upon them
10 let him come on he prepared. Some one caught
his arm, and Mr. Dickinson took the weapon from him
tie appeared perfectly COOL and took the precaution to
Keep the muzze downward while he took II from
Foote's grasp Just here all was confusion the Pres-
dents hammer going, but scarcely heard the men in
the gallery were swearing, the members the floor
up and calling all manner of order and disorder Mr.
Foote was taken back to his seat and Col Benton now
appeared to have learned that his antagonist was armed
and soon became the cynosure of all eyes. He APP
his coat, and laundering 'Let 90 !" to those who
were holding him; He has pistol, has he? Let him
hire! let me go stand off" And close at my side
some men had burst INFO the Reporters gallery
Foote's coward-a id coward" "Take care
what you say, srn Odd ifI cam he's a coward
he runs and draws pistol!' Benton was roaring
themselves over the Ladies gallery above the sound of
glass breaking, mingled with the other sounds and
hurry, bprly, what mess thought Bentons clothes
would have all been torn to ribbons. AS MANY as
could get hold OF him clutched him tightly while some
moved desks and chairs to give room.
Mr. Foote made no effort to reach him, and began to
protest the reason why he drew pistol. Benton had
been roaring" 81 am not armed p and throwing back
his coat to show that he was not was because he
thought, the gentleman" had one. 81 am not armed
neUer carry arms Let me go to the assassin. Let
me GO" 1t was too comca in the very midst of the
scene, to Dickinson stand up as cool as cucumber
after ne had locked up the pistol, and CALL loud enough
to be heard above ALL for the business before the Sen
ate-the amendment OF the honorable Senator from
Missouri" thought the Senate had turned round and
the business before was now behind it, but any amend
ment would be in order, and in spite OF the crowded
state OF the moor and gallery, no could deny there
was room for it.
Mr.. Fillmore behaved with great dignity and calm
ness and most OF Senators retained their presence of
mind and resumed their reats. Mr. Benton was pressed
down into his; but instantly his feet again pro-
lestlng against letting this matter pass pistol had
been drawn upon him-he asked the Senate to take
cognlzance OF it, ne would. 1t protect its own
dignity, or he would protecthimself.
ME- cote was explaining, that he carried only in
sel-defence-he expected to be attacked-was small
man, and had weak physical organzation-never at
tackled any man-never threatened any man-his life
mad been ne OF t-deence-thoughtC Col Benton haG
pistol, and retreaed to the open space SO that thew
gould meet farly-so that he would not endanger his
friends by meeting him in crowded corner-saw him
coming, and expected to be shot stabbed-theretore
VP0H space W allow Idlf play. Just
think Mr. Greeley what a nice pistol gallery that
would have been The walls crowded from floor TO
ceiling with dense of people!
one southern gentleman moved the doors be closed
but Mr. Fooe begged his friend would mol do him this
all sides ' ''oSe OH
Mr.. Clay appeared distressed and moved the GENTLE
men be required to give legal bonds or to pledge their
nGhor there that neither would seek renew the quar-
sion of Congress- NN'''6 ''''' 'oS-
ov 1o sd Benton said he would "rot Jail" rather than
Col Benton left the Chamber with his friends and
left '@- VIC iiouse ADJOURNED, and
4ban COMMITTEE seven is to investigate and report and
ueu, suppose, the Hon. body will spend week gas
S Sohaung on the dignity of this Honorable bodyS
csn Peope 70 ne american An Senate and the
until the next political fight comes off 7i IN very nee
neafa o gGqd deal about the dignity of this body lust