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

The following is the report of the committee
charged with the investigation of the facts con-
nected with the disorder in the Senate, on the
18th of April last, in which Messrs FoorE and
BENTON were parties:
The Report or the COMMITTEES.
The committee appointed in conformity with
resolution OF the Senate, of the 18th of April 1850,
report:
That. at the request of Mr.. BENTON and Mr.
FooTE, they summoned witnesses and took much
testimony, which is set forth at large in an appen
dix herewith presented.
In order 70 proper understanding Of the facts
into which the committee were directed to inquire
II 10 necessary to premise, that several occasions
prior to the 18th Of April last the Senator from Mis-
sissippi Mr. FooTE) had INDUCED in remarks per-
sonal to the Senator from Missouri, (Mr. BEsT0s.)
That, on the occasion last preceding the one in
slities in strong and violent language. addressed
" the Senatej retorted the personalities upon Mr.
FooTs spoke Of the failure Of the Senate protect
its members from such insults; and declared his
thereafter, to redress the wrong himself cost what
IT might. He also said, in substance, that men,
Der Offering such insults should be cudgelled. On
the following day, Mr.. BENTON brought into the
which, he said. had been revised by Mr.. FoorE
as cowardy.
On the 18th of April, the Senator from Missouri
(Mr. BENTON) said, in debate, as follows
"Sir, intend by these amendments to cut at the
root OF all that agitation, and to cut up the whole
address OF the southern members by which the
country was thrown into flame. Imean to show
that there was no foundation for any such thing;
that 49, mean to offer proposition, upon which
the votes will show that there has been cry of
",ooy' when there was no wolf; that the country
has been alarmed without reason and against rea-
son; that there s no design in the Congress of the
United States to encroach upon the rights Of the
South nor to agrees upon the South nor to Cypress
them upon the subject of their institutions. pro-
Pose sir to give the Senate opportunity of show
ing that all this alarm has been without foundation;
and further propose to give to the people of the
United States the highest declaration that can be
given on earth that they have been disturbed about
nothing; and, when we come to that part of the
question, we will see whether they distractions
or not and II these distractions, then the
try has been alarmed about distractions"
To this, the Senator from Mississippi (Mr.
FooTE) replied as follows:
81 repeat that did not come here this morning
In the expectation of wing word; and, especially,
would not be heard referring to any thing emana-
ting from certain quarter, after what has occur
red here but for what conceive to be direct attack
upon myself, and others with whom am proud to
stand associated We all know the history of the
Southern Address, and the world knows its history.
IL is the history of the action OF band of patriots,
worthy of the highest laudation, and who will be
held in veneration when their calumniators,
matter who they may be- will be objects of general
loathing and contempt"
"Those who associated with and sanctioned
that address are charged with being agitators.
And by whom? With whom does such an accuse
ton as this originate? shall not be personal after
the lesson have already received here. intend
to be, in parliamentary sense, perfectly decorous
in all things. But by whom is this extraordinary
denunciation hurled against all those individuals
who subscribed this address, BY &c tleman long
denominated the oldest member of the Senate-the
father of the Senate BY gentleman who. on
late occasion"-
AT this point in the speech of Mr.. FoorE, Mr..
BENTON rose from his seat; threw or pushed his
chair violently from him; passed through the open
ing IN the railing into the passage behind the bar
OF the Senate; and, without remark or gesture but
with an angry countenance, quickly strobe down
the passage, without the bar of the Senate towards
the seat Of Mr. FooTE which is distant about TWEEN
ty feet from his own-both seats being in the back
row, next the bar. Mr.. BENTON had no weapon of
any kind IN his hands or about his person
Mr.. FooTE quickly perceiving the movement of
MIR. BENTON, and, almost simultaneously with it,
left his place the floor, and proceeded down the
small aisle which leads from his seat TO the space
in front of the Secretarys table, and which is the
one next 10 the principal aisle. AS he did so, he
looked over his shoulder and drew pistol from his
pocket; the pistol being a FIVE chambered revolver
fully loaded MIR. FoorE cooked his pistol either
while going down the aisle, after he had taken
his position in front of the Secretary's table.
MIR. DODGE, of Wisconsin, quickly followed MIR.
BENTON, when he moved down the passage, with
out the bar, overlook him, within seven or eight
feet OF Mr. FOOTE'S seat, and took him by the ARM
when Mr.. BENTON said, "Dont stop me, Dodge"
Mr.. DoDGE then said, "Don't compromit yourself
or the Senate, !" or words to that effect
MIR. BENTON then turned with Mr.. DoDGE, and
was going back TO his seat, when he perceived the
pistol in Mr.. FooTE's hands, which seemed to ex-
cite him greatly. He got within the bar, near his
seat, and struggled with the Senators around him,
a. If DESTROYS of approaching Mr.. FooTE, enclaiIn-
ing 81 am not armed;' al have no pistols" 81
dlsdain to carry arms" "Let him fire. "Stand
out Of the way, and let the assassin fire." While
making these ordinations, MIR. BENToN was
brought back TO his seat by the Senators around
him.
In the mean time, in the midst of great noise and
Mr.. FooTE had renamed standing in
or near the position he had taken with his pistol in
his hand, cooked, but with the muzzle down. Mr..
DIcKIssoN, OF New York, desired him to give up
the pistol, which he readily did, when MIR DicKIS-
SON locked il up in his desk Soon after, both SEN
ators resumed their seats, and order was re-
stored.
After giving THE narrative of the proceedings in
question, the committee feel bound TO say that the
whole scene was most dscreditable to the Senate.
lie origin must be traced directly TO the violation
VI that rule Of order which forbids all personalities
which, though il allows the member to speak with
the utmost freedom of the measure or subject be-
lore the Senate, does not allow any depression in
order 10 arraign the motives assal the character
81 any other member who advocates or opposes il.
This rule is not founded merely in conventional
iecorum, or that natural courtesy which prompts
men 10 avoid what is painful or unpleasant 10
others Neither is IL only because Of the dignity Of
Inc body that "reyiling, nipping, unmannerly
words" are forbidden to be spoken. II s required,
Tor the freedom and purity Of legislation that such
\ rule should be made and strictly enforced As /
no delibcrative assembly can deserve the name |
which Is ovcrawed by violence the deliberations
Ji such body, TO be free, must not be disturbed or
checked by personalities OF language which arc |
even more painful 10 the generous mind than vio-
ence itself, from which not only the timid but the
sensitive shrink, and which prompt men of impet |
nous character 20 quick and passionate resentment
To preserve the judgment undisturbed freedom
Df thought unawed, and due liberty Of speech I'M
checked. II must not be allowed that one member |
should denounce anothers motives or arraign his |
character for any thing said done within with
out the Senate chamber.
II Il should happen that the conduct Of member !
prove TO be Infamous, he may be expelled as un- |
worthy the association of the body. II he utter |
mischievous opinions in the Senate they may be !
and their III. tendencies there exposed
But, from mere personal assaults, nothing but evil
can How. They lower the dignity and character
d the body, disturb its decorupi and harmony, |
)verawe its deliberations, impede its business dc
strOy ts usefulness. and tend 10 introduce the law
" orcc IN the place Of reason and the law Of par
lament Still worse is actual personal conflict be-
tween members. "a blow struck in The House of
81