Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-25
ment was adopted. Yeas 25, nays %, as fol-

ment was adopted. Yeas 25, nays %, as fol-
I lows:
Yen.-Atchison, Badger, Barland, Butler,
Cas-. CLAY, Clemens, Davis of Miss. Dickinson,
Dodge of lows. Doeglass, Downs. Foote, Hunt
or, Jones. King. Mangum. Mason, Morton,
Pearce. Risk, Sebastian, Soule. Spruance, Stur-
seon Turrey, Underwood, Y"lee.
Mus. Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury, Bright,
Case, Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Mass, Dayton,
Dodge Of Wis, FeIch, Greene, Hale, Miller,
Norris, Phelps, Seward, Shields. Smith, Walker,
Wbi,comb.
| Mr. Hamn moved TO amend, by nsertlnga
provision excepting from the reference the ques-
ZION OF the admission Of California as a State
| Alter debate. tins amendment was ruled out OF
order, as identical with one previously rejected
| BY The Senate.
| Mr. Benton then moved the amend nents here
,ofcre suggested by him. covering fourteen di-
eerent points, 10 each of which the connection OF
California with other subjects is objected TO, and
said he would ask vote by yeas and nays on
each.
Another debate ensued upon the question Of
order.
Sir Clay objected to the amendment. on the
ground that it was inconsistent with the PROPOSE
ton by which the Senate had declared that 1t
would not instruc: the Committee.
| The Vice President decided that inconsistent
CIV might be good reason for the rejection OF
the amendment but was not question for the
Chair To decide point OF order
Mr. Clay appealed from this decision.
| Mr. Benton addressed tho Senate in support Of
his amendments. His object w.s, tc show by
votes Of the Senate on the several points which
ne had presented, that the fears OF the South had
been ground,ess That there was no danger to
the rights of any section of the Union. he also
alluded incidentally, in no complimentary terms,
to the Southern ADDRESS, and those who or9ina-
led it.
Mr. Butler said that the Senator from Missouri
was much mistaken, il he supposed the Southern
: people would be satisfied with votes upon tru-
isms. Such votes were not TO be safety-vaives
BY which 10 avert the CANCER impending.
Mr. Foote arose to address the Senate. The
Vice President reminded him that the question
before the Senate was upon the appeal, aud
Suggested that he confine hluiseif To that point.
Mr. Foo'e declared his design to proceed IN
order. He had endesv Jred 10 avoid discussion,
as the Senate would bear witness. He feit that
The time had come, when PATRIOTS shlud unite
for the purpose of saving the Republic from the
dangers winch threatened 1t. Ii was very well
known that he would not, after circumstances
which had occurred here, conGes cend to n',ice
anything coming from a certain qu'rt-r, tMr
Bentonl If it were not that an ui]is'Ihatle at
tack had been made upOn Il measure WIN wach
hIm-e f and other gentlemen were identlhed-
the Southern Address which many of them h I'D
been pfous. to sign TIE history OF that address
was Curious one, and would live IN the Is
,eem of patriots III the future, when those who
mpugned !. should long have been frsoiten.-
Who was ITS autnur> Tine Senator from South
Carolina over whose dei.h the ,tion now III urn
ed. And ~hp il that attempted TO mpngn
that address, and to designate 'b,se who signed
ii as agitators: 1t was an individual known as
the old, st member Of the Senate.
Mr. Foote was proceeding with snme sarcastic
and pungent retnarks evidently III auslon to
Mr Benton. but had sud nothing sufficiently oP
en- and offensive to justify The Cnar IN calling
hin 10 order, when Mir B-nton rose, much a.ita-
ted and thro siny his chiir FROM hun. pr,creded
by the narrow passage oHslde OF the Bar tow
ard Foote'S seat, winch IS Oh he outside tier OF
seats, near the inain entrance IT, the Senate Mr
Dodge OF Iowa, Mr. Dodge OF Wis, and others,
appreh, niILg a COLLISION between Benton ana
Fuo,e. underworld to delaIn the former at his
seat. Overcoming all resistance. he Continued
towards foots, who | av ng MS place, stepped
dawn the u'aln aud 10 X position III the d
rea. Just in iront o the sergeant-at-aruis seat
al the right Of the Vice PresIdeni, drswing
pistol rpn his bos"'n AID cooking II.
Il The scene which ensued Is indescribaLle. -
Loud calls for the sergeant at-srms were made
and cries o: order re>ounded fro.., all sides of
the chamber. Many persons rushed from the
gallerr and out Of the chamber In apprt hepsion
of general melee. Several Senators surround
ed Mr. Foote, among whom Mr. Dickinson,
who, securing the pistol, locked it up in his
desk.
Mr Benten. in the meantime, was struggling
in the hands of his friends who were endeavor-
ing prevent HIN from reaching Foots. While
thus pin'oned, as II were, and yet almost
cessiuly resisting the Efforts of those who held
hlm Mr.. Benton bitterly denounced Fooie
assassin, who had dared to bring pistol IN the
Senate To murder MN. He said have no
arms, examine me, | carry nothing of tn. Kind
stand out OF his way, and let the scouBdre and
assassin FIRE !" In utierlng this sentence Mr.
Benton threw of from either SIDE, thoss VINO
held him, open his vest, and invited the fire
of lis antagonist.
MIR Foote. IN the meantime, was ''s'rained
froa. advancing toward Mr. Ber',.'.
, The Vice President "Ssf repeated ana Vis'r-
Gus efforts, succes1~a I" 'eS'o''"S aeohpa'a'"e
Ms. Benton and Foo,e having resumed
.aeir respective seals,
I Mr.. Fooie rose, and eDquired if be cood pro-
coed in order.
| Mr. Ben:on, in very loud tone, and much ex-
cied Il de maud that the Senate shall take coy
VIZ ince OF the fact that pistol has been brought
IN mere to asslssnate me.
Mr.. F,o,e explained tie had no in'ention TO
auacn anybody h's VIII lie course had been that
o the deens We. He had been informed that All
attack upon hun had been defended aud supp -
lug wien the Senator ifon Missouri advanced
iowa ard lia,, thai he armed and dcsisn.d to
attack hin. he advanced to the centre at the
Chamber, in order to be in position where lie
could meet Mr.. Benton III the main aisle, upon
equal ,erurs.
Mr.. Benton protested against any inimation
tina, he naa carried arms. He never did so.
The Vice President requested Mr. Foote to
rase his seat until it cnuld be asceItained VIA;
course proper for the Chair to pursue
i Mr. Hale regretted the necessity which SEEM
ed to iInpuse itself upon him. one OF the young
est members in the Senate, but if no one else
moved in the PREMISE, ne should deem himself
unworthy Of his seat IT he cauld let such trans
action as he had Just Witnessed go out to the
count without insestgalioa. The Senate owed
such a course 1, itsef
/, Mr.. Foote IN his seat court it.
Mr.. Bor,ani said he had apprehended no dam
ger, and instead Of the matter BEN. serious AT.
lar 10 be investigated, he thought it one OF