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

SENATOR'S FOOIE AND BENTON.
The deplorable scene, which occurred in the
Senate of the United States, on Wednesday, will
produce feeling of deep modification and indig-
nant censure throughout the Union. Every
American citizen will feel that he has received
personal reproach in the fact that the dignity Of
the Senate has been so grossly outraged. He can
not but ask himself the question, what will
foreigners think and say of this disgracefu event
and will they not point to it through all time te
ridicule institutions and depreciate our nation
al character? We can only hope, that the Senat
will take the sternest measures within its power
to rebuke and punish either or both Of the partici
paors in this lamenable breach of its decorum, tc
whom blame may be justly imputed.
At this distance, we cannot we'll determine upon
which of the two Senators censure should fall more
heavily. Mr.. Foote was unquestionably in the
wrong, in using ofensivelanguage, Gfhe did SOY in
the first instance. The force of his apology for
afterwards drawing pistol must depend entirely
upon the cause afforded him by Mr.. Benton's man
ner of approaching him, for believing that the lat
ter intended personal assault. We are not pre-
pared to say that weak and sckly man, no mat
ter where the place, is bound to allow powerful
antagonist to fall upon him, without using a wea-
pom of defence which he may have upon his per-
son. If there is no doubt that Mr.. Benton did
leave his seat, and, walking along the lobby, ap-
proach Mr.. Foote whilst addressing the President,
for the purpose of making personal attack, there,
on the sacred floor of the Senate Chamber, then
there be dispute that he is chiefly to blame
md dasaryaS n punishment NOT short If aynul SiOr
from the body. 1t will be remembered that, in the
violent fray of words, which took place between
the same Senators, on the 26th of March, Mr.. Ben
ton complained of his being restrained by the pro-
prieties of the Senate Chamber from giving i'm
mediate chastisement to his antagonist. We re-
publish short passage in that memorable debate.
Mr.. BENTON. pronounce it cowardly to give in
suits where they cannot be chastsed. Can take a
cudgel to him here
SEVERAL SENATORS. Order, order.
Mr.. FooTE. l have done with the subject here
Mr.. BENTON. Is Senator to be blackguarded here
in the discharge OF his duty and the cuprit go unpun
ished2 Is language to be used here which would not
be permitted be- used in the lowest ot-house tavern,
oyster cellar and for the of which he would be
turned out OF any tavern by decent andord?-
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator is called to
der.
MIR BENTON Ifsuch things are to 90 on and he is
to persist in such backgu rdsm here, in place where
the cudgel be applied to him. we must have the
public indignation brought upon him until the public
sentiment shall make him behave with the propriety
due to the Senate.
The next day, Wednesday, the 9th of March,
Mr. Benton renewed the controversy by animad-
vertng upon the published report of the remarks
made by Mr.. Foote on Tuesday, and, after resort.
ing to almost every epithet conveying the charge
of falsehood he intimated, quite distinctly, in the
following sentences, purpose, which he seems
to have acted upon, on Wednesday last;
"'His Senatorial priviegesn Sir claim no Sena-
toria privileges claim privilege OF attacking any
person on this floor. claim no privilege OF insulting
any body here have done II In the thirty years
have been here have never begun to insult any one
but if It's begun with me, although may bear with IN
suits a long time, yet, when once take nouce OF 1t,
there shall be end one wey the other And 1t the
Senate does not know that it is Senate il this Senate
does protect itself from which would disgrace
the veres brothe; il this Senate permits language to
be used here which cannot be used in the hiest bro
the 10 the Five Points, III the suburbs of the city
if they permit such language to be used here and to be
used here with respect 10 me, mean from this time
forthto protect myself cost what may"
This was doubtless meant to be regarded as a
declaration that if Mr. Foote again ventured to
assail the Senator from Missouri, the offence
would be resented upon the spot. 1t was an
avowal for which there should have been no tole-
ration in the public mind. For whatever may be
the uniustifabeness of one Senator's using in
sulting language towards another, the deliberate
purpose of resentng it on the floor of the Senate
chamber cannot be excused