The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-02

ing day he rscriminAted, In Language equally per.
sonal disorderly, and abusive. he complained
nounced his purpose, If the Senate did not protect
him in future, to redress the wrong, cost what II
might;
and used the language which Is set forth in the
narrative Of the committee. This language the
committee consider personal and offensive because
its application to Mr.. BENTON could not be misun-
derstood, and because, in effect and by implication,
it charged him with being a calumniator That
MIR. FooTE was not promptly called to order by the
presiding officer, or some member of the Senate,
must have been owing TO the fact that the cooca-
ton OF the passages in the speech such that the
personality was not Immediately perceived. In
deed, the application Of the term "calumniator to
Mr.. BENTON was not made until the moment when
the disorder arose. Al that point in the remarks
Of MIR. FooTE, Mr.. BEsToN left his seat and pro-
ceeded towards Mr. FooTE in the manner already
mentioned. He WAS not armed, nor does II appear
that he ever has carried arms, but the contrary.
This, however, 1t 10 believed, not known to Mr..
Foorr.
What his intention was, the committee have not
been able to ascertain by direct testimonyj but
they cannot avoid the inference, from all the cir
cumstances, that he intended either to make per-
sonal assault upon Mr.. FooTx to intimidate
him. His manner, coupled with his previous de-
clarations was certainly such as TO justify Mr..
FooTE in the belief that the first his intention,
az 1t evidently did excite such apprehensions in
the minds of many, if not most ALL of the Senators
who witnessed it, Mr. FooTE then left his seat,
without advancing towards Mr.. BENTON, but in
fact placing himself further from him, and, though
he drew deadly weapon, he did not present IT,
and readily gave it up when demanded of him. No
blow was struck-no shot fired, but there was im-
minent danger that the Senate chamber would be
the scene of a deadly and criminal encounter.
The committee cannot too strongly condemn the
practice of wearing arms in the Senate chamber.
Ours should be the deliberations of peace, patri-
otism and wisdom; uninterrupted by personal-
tics, uncontrolled by force, unintimidated by pre-
paratons for deadly conflict Senators should rely
for defence upon the Senate, whose high duty it is
to protect its members from injury or insult, and
whose practice should furnish perfect guarantee of
such protection. A different course would convert
the halls of legislation into bloody arenas and de-
stroy the value, if not the existence, of the nstiu
tons from which spring our glory and our good.
The committee have searched the precedents, and
find that no similar scene has ever been witnessed
in the Senate Of the United States. Personal con-
tict has, several occasions occurred in the House
OF Representatives and in the British House of Com
mons. In the former body, no punishment has ever
been inflicted, the House being satisfied with the
atonement Of an ample apology. In the British Par
Lament, the House, in one case, committed men,
Der to the Tower for striking another; but in gene
rail- they have proceeded no further than to put the
offending member in the custody Of the sergeant
at farms, and their decision has been made upon
view, and not after the report of committee.
In the present case, under all the circumstances,
the committee forbear to recommend any action to
the Senate. They hope that the strong condemna-
ton of the personalities which led to threatened vio
lence, their censure Of the attempt by member,
to avenge himself in the presence OF the Senate and
OF the practice of carrying arms in the Senate
chamber, will be a sufficient rebuke, and Warning
not unheeded in future. Should this hope prove
vain, and similar scenes of violence again occur,
they cannot doubt that the Senate will enforce
prompt, stern, and effectual punishment,