Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-04-26


sal topic of discussion during the past week. Mr.
FooTRs proposition to raisea compromise committee
was under consideration, and was vigorously opposed
by Mr.. BENTON who moved that the subject be laid
ON the table for the purpose Of taking up the Cali
fornia bill BENToa then moved his fourteen propo I
sitions OF instructions to the committee. Mr. Clay
moved as an amendment a resolution, that the Sem
ate did not think fit to instruct the committee upon
any subject, which amendment was adopted. Mr..
BENTON again moved his instructions, and said he I
would discuss them and demand the vote upon them
separately, fer the purpose Of showing that the South
had been crying WOLF wolf, when there was no wolf
He animadverted very severely upon the authors and
signers of the Southern Address.
Mr. FooTE said that Mr.. CALHOUN was the author
of the Southern Address, and that his memory would
be held in yeneration when that of his calumniators
was covered with infamy and reproach But by
whom, he asked, was this extraordinary attack made
upon the authors and signers of the Southern Ad-
dress By gentleman known to be the oldest MEM
Der of the Senate; by gentleman who on late
| At this moment Mr.. BENTON, who sat about TWEEN
ty feet from Mr.. FooTE-both their seats being in
the outer circle-rose up furiously from his chair
which, it would SEEM he upset, and strided rapidly
towards Mr.. FooTE. FooTE glided from his desk,
through of the small aisle into the in front
of the Secretarys desk drawing from his person. as
). he did SO, largo pistol FooTE instantly sur
rounded, and gave up the pistol. BENTON returned
by the lobby to his seat and then tried to pass
between the desks to FooTEs new position. He was
however, prevented by Senator'S, who surrounded
him. BENTON struggled to get free, and called upon
the assassin to Shoot &C.. the said assassin
having been disarned and the pistol locked up in
| Senator's desk.
1t seems that before FooTE could make his escape
from his seat draw pistol for his protection
BENTON had got within three four feet of him. and
he narrowly missed thrashing; BENTON is almost
giant, and FoorE mere pigmy, and in bad health
On former occasions of collision between BENTON
and FooTE we have thought that they were equally
to blame, but in the present it would appear
that BENTON IS clearly and solely in the wrong
FooTE's remarks strictly parliamentary, when
he was interrupted by BENToNs rushing upon him.
and think that there can be no question of his
right to defend HIMSELF and consequently of his right
to provide himself with the means of defence He
would have been fool indeed, when threatened by
man of twice his physical strength not to have
provided himself with the means of equalizng that
inequality. The disgrace of using firearms in the
Senate Or indeed, anywhere else, rests with the per-
whose threats of violence necesstate their use
and not upon him who only employs them in his own
defence. People are too apt when occurrence of
this kind takes place. to condemn parties indiscrimi-
natey when: in fact only the aggressor is culpabe
for We believe that man has a right to defend his
person against illegal violence no matter how sacred
the place may be. AS for carrying arms we detest
the practice general rule but if man is cow
ardy enough to presume upon his superior strength
for the purpose Of bullying abusing another we
think that the other, when aware of his danger is
fully justified in providing and using any arms he
may please for his own defence It is evident that
BENTON commenced this affair, else why did he leave
his seat and rush at FooTE. Some of onr cntnna
porares talk about expulsion but of course no such
thing will be done. It is probable that resolution
of reprimand may be passed, and SO the matter b.
dropped. We have read attentively the history o
the affair in the official report in the Union and In
elligencer and also the account given by the Repub
y lic-the correspondents of the Baltimore Sun, tn
~ New York Herald, the Philadelphia Bulletin, an,
the Charleston Courier and all agree in attribun
: the attack to BENTON.
P S.-Since the above was penned, we have re
~ ceived the following account from eye witness
: the scene Our informant says:
On Thursday, Foote'S compromise bill was unde
ID discussion The Senate Cobbies and galleries) wa
~ crowded. Benton who had staked his reputation
~ on defeating the measure, finding that the Senat
nv was not with him. became infuriate-made an as
l sault upon Calhoun and the Southern Address Foot
he to repe the assault and became very much
no cited He alluded to the Missouri Senator as tn
author Of the assaults upon the Southern Address
at this moment Benton rushed from his scat adyar
nd cling upon Foote, which he Footc) disco'
IRIS ered than turning his face he commenced DRAWN
rv his pistol, which being somewhat difficult to efec
he slept backwards to the front aisle and then
sumed his position. The most astonishing coolne
of action marked this procedure Benton was t
ken back to his seat and then and there did vocie
ate much about the attempt being made to ASSASSIN
&C. ate him apparently forgetting that he made Il
ION first advance Foote is size larger than F. c. Hi
Esq. but not possessed of SO much physical energ
Or Benton is much older man than Foote but this d
Su ference is much more than made up by his treme
dous physical powers. His weight is about $40 Ii
arc The Senate appointed committee to investigate Il
to matter, which committee think will never report
Democrats District Meeting.
" AT the request of number of the Democratic pa
ave ty of the Wilmington District give notice that
ble meeting of our party will be held at the Cou
lelr House. Wednesday night the 5th of June ne,
for the purpose of appointing Delegates to the
lers Convention to be held in this town on the 18th
ave June. Three Delegates from each Captains beat
ced to be appointed and it is desirable that the meeti
nus should be full 5.a