Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-04-22
Photographed for the Baltimore Sun
WASHINGTON, April III P. M.

Encounter Betucen Benton and Foote.
After the close of my letter, and the depart
ure OF the mail, the following scene occurred in
the Senate:
Mr.. Benton after being twice voted down, pro-
posed telteen new ana endments. for the purpose,
as he aHowed, OF throwing obioquy on the au-
thors and signers of the southern address.
Mr. Foote remarked that the Hon. John c.
Calhoun, who was in his grave, and the cause
OF mourning with the nation, was the author,
and that he would live when his callmniators
and contemplated who, said Mr.. Foote, is
thus aspersing his memory la gentleman who
cal Is himself the Oldest Senator, a man Who
Here Benton, with violent crush of his chair,
left his scat, and with an expression Of connte-
nance which indicated Il resolve for no good pur-
pose, rapidly approached Mr.. Foote. The latter
withdrew TO position near the Vice Presidents
chair, in the aisle, and drew a pistol, without
however pointing the same; and merely stand
ing in an attitude of defence, the barred of his
weapon turned towards the glonnd.
Mr.. Benton was within three or four feet
from Mr. Foote's cnair when he was stopped
Mr.. Foote was also surrounded, and immediate
ly surrendered his weapon. Some theatrical
h0urlshes We're then made, such as s!let the as
| sassin," w9o was no longer armed, Esshoot,''
sc.
| The whole matter is to be investigated by a
committee.
Mr.. Clay proposed that both should be bound
over to keep the peace, which no doubt is the
best thing that can be done in the premises, to
which Benton replied that he would rather rot
in prison.
have no doubt that if Benton and Foote
were confined iii Jail, or, if he insist upon it,
Mr.. Benton alone, the whole slavery question
woaa DE settled without any difficulty. X.
The correspondent of the New York Sun, who
has devoted mach time ''ts the work of ascer-
tanning the sentiments of Whig Senators and
Representatives towards the Administration as
WHOLE" declares positively fiat
''Of full twenty, from all sections of fine coaln-
try, with whom | conversed did not find one
not anxious for an immediate and entire re-
modelling of the Cabinet 1t was said by more
or less OF these gentlemen, that the President il
as anxious as themselves, to he rad Of his present
Council, not 'hesltaGng to say 10 them that
whether Mr.. Crawford eNonerales himself or not
from the charge of improperly obtaining money
from the Treasury; he Qhe President owes 1t to
the Wing party to supply his place with some
other officer Webster is being looked to as the
successor of Mr.. Clayton, and Mr. Builder King,
as the gentleman who is to step into Mr.. Craw-
ford;s shoes. MIR. Clay's speech delivered on
Friday was designed, it is thought, to force the
cabinet into crisis to terminate in lis disrup-
ton. Though on excellent terms with the PIE
sident both himself and Mr.. Webster are under
stood TO express themselves frankly as of opin-
ion that the interest of tine country and the Wing
party require a speedy change in the parties
holding the reins of government. Their recent
demonstration in connection with powerful
wings ofthe Democratic party, in favor of full
and final settlement OF the slavery issues, is as
much q movement against the Cabinet as against
the Free Sellers, and Messrs. Benton and Sc
ward, the former being as anxious to stave off
settlement of these issues us the latter'
New POSTAL accommodation
aruh California IN 2 days.-We learn by pri-
vate and reliable information from Washington,
that proposition will be laid, in few days,
before the Senate, anlanating from company,
of the highest responsibility, for running a line
OF post coaches from Independence, Mo-, to
California, in 2l days, to be expressed in 10
days. The company only ask Of Congress Il
strip of land 100 feet in width for the whole dis
lance, with the privilege of purchasing from the
government a quarter section OF land, for the
purpose Of stations, one in every 10 miles The
company asks of the government the use OF this
route for Is years, aud agree to make the IRAN
CtllSc dlU SIttnlS Vi lultt upoii
having the road in operation within months,
and undertake 10 place 5000 men upon the line
at cnoe.-DetnoH Aduertiser, 9th.
EMIGRATION TO CAL1FoRNA.-We perceive
by the Western papers that thousands of men,
women, and children are making preparations
TO leave by the first of June, by the overland
route to California. Almost every village OR
hamlet will send forth its hundreds
The Detroit Advertiser says that not less than
5000 men have already made arrangements to
leave the State of Michigan for California, and
anticipates much pecuniary inconvenience there
from to those who remain.
All the steamers from New York 20 filed to
their utmost capacity with passengers.
The Boston "Shirping List" states that the
number of vessels which have sailed from the
United States for California from the LIST of JAN
uary 1919, to the 9th of the present month, is as
follows: steamers 30, ships $50, barqnes 1903,
briggs 242, schooners 1872, and one soop-mak-
;,,, a t,tuJ nf 02k vessel.