The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-04-22

Great Exoitement in the u g. Senate,
The Cincinnati Commercial, Extra, Of.
Thursday contains a 4elegraphic nccouni.
10 detail, Of a most exciting scene which
took place ln.the Senate chamber on We'd
aesday. The material part we condensc
from that account.
After the transaction Of The morning bu-
siness, the Senate proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of Foote'S motion to refer Bells re-
solutions to select committee of thirteen,
The pending queHtion being upon Ben
tons instructions to the committee, declur
lingthnt Corgless has no powerover slavery
in the States or the internal slave trade,
and that Congress ought not to abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia, or in
tho forts, prsenals and dock-yaIds Of the
United States.
Clay moved to apncnd this proposition so
as to read, provided that the Senato does
not deem it necessary to express in advance
any opinions or to give any instruction,
either general or specific, for the guidance
| of the committee.
A discussion here arose in which Ben
ton and Clay were the principal speakers.
Mr.. Benton deprecated the delay in acting
upon the admission of California, and Mr..
Clay charged Mr.. Benton witt, being him
self, the chief cause of delay. Several
points Of order arose Mr.. Douglass and Mr..
Foote participating in The debate. Mr. !.
Clay's amendment finally carried. A de-
bate then arose on Mr.. Benton's amend
ment. Mr.. B. soid his object was to show
by votes Of the Senate that the fears of the
South had been groundless.
Butler said such votes were not safety
valves by which TO avert the dangers i'm
pending.
Foote said he had endeavored TO avert dis
cussion, and that the time had come when
patriots should unite for the purpose of saw
ing the Republic from the danger which
threatenedit. He would not condescend to
notice anything coming from certain quar-
ter, (Benton), if il were not that an. injus-
tifable attack had been made upon a mea-
sure, the southern address which many Of
them had been found to sign, that address
would live in the esteem of patriots. Who
was It's author? The Senator from
South Carolina over whose death the nation
is now mourning and who was it that at
tempted to impugn that address? 1t was
an individual known as the oldest member
of the Senate, nj III VaH...
Foote was proceeding with some sarcas-
4 tic and pungent remarks evidently in allu-
sion 70 Benton, but had said nothing suffi-
ciently open and offensive to Justify the
ehairin calling him % order, when Benton
rose, much agitated, and throwing his chair
from him proceeded from "a narrow pas
sage outside of the bar towards Foote's seat
which is on the outside row of seats near the
main entrance. s- t....l.,.
I Dodge of Wisconsin, apprehendinga a col
! lision between Benton and Foote, endeavor-
ed to detain the former from moving from
! his seat Overcoming all resistance, he CON
1 tinued moving towards Foote, who, leaving
bis place, stepped down the main aisle and
took a position on the area just in front
Of the Sergeant-at-arms, whose seat is atthe
right of the vice President, and drawing o
1 pistol from his bosom, cooked it.
The scene which ensued is indescribable
Loud cries for the seargent-at-arms, and cries
of order resounded from al sides of the
chamber. I Great excitement prevailed.
Benton was about to attack Foote, when
the latter drew a pistol retreating 10 the
centre Of the Hall, and it was only by the
most strenuous efforts that the parties were
kept from collision. Many persons rushed
from the galleries and out Of the chamber,
in apprehension of general melee.
Several Senators surrounded Foote, Dick
inson took the pistol from him. Benton,
meanwhile, was struggling in the hands of
his friends, who were endeayoring to pre-
vent him from reaching Fooe.
Benton boldly denounced Foote as an as
sassin who had dared to bring pistol in the
Senate TO murder him. He said, 81 have
no arms-examine me ! carry nothing of
the kind-stand out of his way and let the
scoundrel and assassin fire" In ustering
this sentence Benton threw off those who
held him 10 reopen his vest, and invited the
fire Of his antagonist.
Fooe, in the meantime, was restrained
from advancing towards Benton. y ''t 'E
1 The Vice President, after repeated and
vigorous efforts, succeeded in restoring order
and comparative quiet. IN u ua.
Benton and Foote having resumed their
seats, Foote rose and enquired if he could
proceed in order. II
Benton, in very loud tones and much ex-
cited, demanded that the Senate should take
cognizance of'the fact that pistol had been
! brought here to assassinate him. seA Z
Foote explained tia; he had nointention
to attack any ybody, and that his whole course
had been that of the defensive. He had
been informed that an attack upon him had
been intimated, and supposing, when the
Senator from Missouri advanced towards
him, that he was armed and designed an at
tack on him, he advanced to the centre of
the chamber in order 10 be in position
where he could meet Benton in the main
aisle, upon equal terms. ap oa pi9qn
Benton protested against any intimation
that he carried arms. He. never did SO. ID,
The Vice. President requested Foote to
take his seat until it would be ascertained
what course was proposed for the Chair to