New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-03
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, AUGUST 3

must shock and outrage the moral sense of the
public ~ well eB The Senate IN the highest degree
IL 10 much 10 be regretted that the Senate has
tr some time past agd u1tI very recently. de-
parted ia lis practice from the atricy rules of order
q debate, ard tolerated personalities, which wer,
i0creosirg IN frequency ard violence. This ne.
ri,ct II 10 own russ may ia some degree palate,
tus can in nOviso i1siiy or excuse the psrsonai.
ives which led 10 the scene Of disorder and vio-
lerce into which the committee have bsen direct
I'D 20 inquire. They rejoice that the la-a presii.
ing oioero the Senate after careful inquiry into
tie rules Of the body, announced II n DE- his duty
rid bis purpose, "a il IS the right Of every mem
Der, promptly 20 check AT such Disturbances ~ its
order.
The application 10 the question berors them
of the principles and combinations which the
comui tce have stated, i8 painful duty bat
ore which .hoy mast perform Without favor or pre-
jldice.
In the first place, n ey report to the Senate, a.
their unanimous opinion, that Mr. Foote is entirely
innocent Of any design or desire 70 assassnate Mr.
Benton. Bat they are bound 70 say. tia. q;
various times daring the present session, Mr
Foote, without any sufficient proyocstion 50 IA 81
the Committee are ihJ-med. INDUCED in PERSONAL
tics t0v, ard ar. eaton Of the most Offensive AM
insulting character, such as were cal ;ulated -
GrouEe tie dercestrosentment 10 the human bosom
1hele were suffered by Mr.. Benton for a long tine
with great iorbeRran:e.
On tie 26.h Of March last they were renewed;
ard on this occasion Mr. Benton nantes; his re-
sentment with much violence On the aucceecing
day he recrimins.ed, Ia language equally personal,
diso-deliy and abusive. He complained that tho
Senate permitted such outrsges, and announced bis
purpose, if the Senate did lot protect him IN
future, 10 redress the wrong, cost what It might
On the l7th of April last, Mr.. Foote spoke again
ard used the language which is set forth 10 ne
narrative Of the Committee. This language the
Committee consider personal and Offensive becal se
It's application 70 Mr. Benton could not DO miIgl.
derstood, sud because ia effect and by i'm yicatioa,
it charged him with being q calumniato.. That
Mr.. FoJte was not promptly called to order by the
presiding officer, or some member OF the Sehats,
must have been owing 10 the fact that the col0ca-
ton Of the passages IN the speech was such th2t
the personality was not Immediately perceived.
Indeed the application OF the term "cald nna50r
TO Mr. Benton = IS not made INT the 10 mont wh5n
the digorc er arose Al that point, in the remarks
of Nj FOote. tr Benton left lis scat and proceed
toward Mr.. Foote IN the manner rsady nea'
toned. lie was not armed, nor does 1t appear that
he ever has carried armT, but the contrary. ThiS,
however it is believed was not known to air. Fo0te.
What his intention was the Committee have not
been able to aEcertain by direct testimony bat
they cannot avoid toe inference, from all the cir
cunEtaLces that he intended either to make per-
sonel assault upon Mr. Foote or to intimidate him.
His manner, coupled with his previous decara-
tons, WIS certainly such 70 justify Mr. Foote In
the belief that the first was his intention, az il
evidently did excite such apprehensions in the
minds Of many if not oil Of the Senators Who Wit
nessed il. Mr.. FOOte then left his seat without
ADVANCING toward Nr. enton, but in feet placing
himself f0fther from him, and, though he drew 2
deadly weapon, he did nos present 1t and readily
gave it up when demanded Of him. No blow was
struck-no shot fred-but there was imminent
danger that the Senate chamber would be scene
of deadly and criminal encounter.
The Committee cannot too strongly condemn tde
practice OF caring arms IN the Senate chamber
Ours should be the deliberations of peace, patri-
otqp, and wisdom uninterrupted by perSonaltles,
uncontrolled by force unlntlmld ated ~ pfePara-
tion FOR deadly conflict. Senators should rely for
defeuee upon the Senate, whose high duty it is TO
protect its members from injury and insult aud
whose practice should furnish perfect guarantee
of such protection. A different course would con-
vert the halls of legislation into bloody arenas, and
destroy the value if not the existence, OF the nsi-
tusiOsh .IOm Thich spring our glory aud Cur good.
The Committee have searched the precedents,
ard ind that TO similar scene has ever been Wit
neteed in the Senate oithe United States Personal
cbGict has On several OCCs siOHS, occurred Ia the
House Of Representatives, aud IN the British
House OF Commons. In the former body, no pun
ilhmeLt Lss ever been inflicted, the House beng
satisfied with the atouement at an ample apology.
L. the British Parliament tha House, in one cale,
committed a member to the tower for striking IN.
other but, in general they have proceeded 40 fur.
tier u an 10 put the oil ading member ia the
dy the sergeent ataims, aud their decision has
been made upon view, AID not aftcr tho report Of
Committee.
In lie present case, underGll tn cifcums.ances,
the Committee foIbeor 10 recommend any action
to The Senate They hope that the strons con
domination Of the personalities which led 70 threat
eped violence tLeir censure Of tho attempt, by
member, y avenge himself in the presence Of the
Is A. & ,1s.. -.
Senate Chamber, will be q sufficient rCblko, All
a warning not Undecided in future. Should ths
hope prove vain, and similar scenes Of yio.ea;3
again occur, they cannot doubt that the Sels5
viii enforce prompt, stern and e.aCtua' yulishm 10