The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-18

the question of her admission in any way connect
ed with or dependent on, any provision III the ma,
| ture of a compact which has not been required OF
either OF the following named States ONO, indl-
ana, Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin,
Florida.
8. That they shall not make a party TO, or in
any manner bind to, include in, or connect with,
any provision having the character or intent OF
compact any State, or people, having the political
organization of State not represented in this body
8. That they shall not connect the admission OF
the State Of California with any matter foreign to
the admission Of that State in direct manner, ON
precisely equal footing with the original states,
and unencumbered with any other conditions, re-
| sponsibilities, or considerations.
| Mr.. BENTON said that these made fourteen
propositions, and he would il the previous ques
ton can be put in force in the Senate. lie would
call for the yeas and nays each of them.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD raised point OF order.
Were these instructions in order, the Senate hav-
ing decided that no instructions should be given to
The VICE PRESIDENT ruled the amendment to
be in order.
Mr.. CLAY appealed from the decision of the
Chair.
Mr.. BENTON said that here was an open attempt
to force the previous question the Senate without
any rule ofhe Senate and against the rules OF the
Senate II was the previous question to cut off all
amendments, and thus to cut of all debate He
felt It TO be his duty to resist it.
MIR. b. then gave the reasons why ne had offered
these amendments; 1t was to obtain vote on each
Of them, and to show the country that the alarming
procession Of dangers heralded forth did not in re-
atty exist.
Mr.. BUTLER said that he desired to say to the
if he supposes that the southern people be salts
| ned by votes on truisns, he is mistaken. He then
defended the southern address.
| MIR. FOOTE said that he desired to say a few
words upon this subject. 1t was the time for every
| patriot to speak out. He had abstained as the
Senate well knew. from alluding to any thing
which fell from certain quarter since what had
taken place in the Senate some days since. But il
was said that there danger to be appre-
hended, and that all that has been said was of no
account whatever. Mr.. F. then eulogized MIR.
Calhoun, and defended the Southern address, say
ing that those who signed it would outlive the at
lacks OF their calumniators. Who are their calum-
| niators. gentieman-one who calls himself the
oldest Senator-the father of the Senate.
| lat this moment Mr. BENTON rose from his seat,
stepped into the lobby, and advanced, apparently
with an intent to attack Mr.. FooTE, towards the
seat of Mr. F., which was distant from his own
about twenty feet. AS he approached MIR. F. the
latter glided from his desk through one of the small
asles into the in front of the secretarys desk,
drawing from his person as he did so large pistol,
which he held in his hand. The VICE PREsI
DENT and others demanded order, butthc confusion
was 80 great as to drown every voice. MIR. BEN
TON returned by the lobby to his seat, fire.
quently exclaiining, Let the assassin fre-let the
| coward fire. Release that the assassin may
| fire, &C., &c.
In the mean time several Senator'S had interfered,
and in the hustle we Lost sight of the pistol entirely
Mr.. BENTON continued his ordinations that
g the assassin should frey "a pistol has been
drawn in the Senate, and it was brought here to
fire on me; why don't the cowardly assassin fire?'
/ [Several Senators called upon the Chair to order
the Sergeant at arms to take person into
| tody-whom we could not understand
After order was partially restored, and members
| had taken their seats
Mr.. FOOTE explained that he drew the pistol
under impression that the Senator advancing
| upon him armed
| Mr.. DICKINSON asked what the question
The CHAIR stated it.
| Mr.. BENTON demanded that the Senate take
cognizancs of this attempt to assassinate him in
the Senate; of this attempt to assassinate him on
the false pretext that he armed an attempt to
assassinatc him on the same false pretext that
| every cowardly assassin used who wants to make
| out case of sefdefence. That was the pretext Of
every assassin.
/ MIR. FOOTE said that the Senator was advancing
upon him in threatening and menacing manner,
and surprising he was armed, he (Mr. F.) had left
the crowded spot he was in, and sought one where
he would have had more elbow-r room. II he had
| supposed that the person advancing to attack him
was not armed, he would never have drawn the
pistol.
Mr.. HALE said that as a transaction of this
character had taken place, ii should not pass by
| without investigation by the Senate Having
made the suggestion, he left 1t TO sager heads than
his own TO adopt such course was due to the
vindicationof the dignity Of the body.
MIR. BoRLAND thought that rather than resort TO
an investigation, il was better to say little
possible. He did not think that there any dam
ger on foot at all. [Laughter.l
| Mr.. FOOTE said that 80 far as he was concerned
| he begged TO be heard He knew his own heart
aud intentions; he knew something of his own
| character. He had nothing of the assassin about
| him. So help him God he came here with
the intention to settle the great questions in such
manner as would conduce to the happiness Of
the country. He begged that the affair might
be investigated If Il could be proved, by cir
cumstances or declarations, in any shape or form,
4 a. l. c.
Missouri; or, IL there any thing to sustain
even the charge Of a suspicion, then he would be
willing to be expelled from the Senate, TO a seat in
which he would be unworthy. He only arms,
single pistol, because he had been Informed II was
| likely that he would be attacked He had simply
prepared for his own defence He repeated, as an
honorable Senator, that far as he was concerned,
there was not the least ground for suspicion. He
begged an investigation, for his own personal
honor.
MIR. DODGE, Of Wisconsin, thought that on this
occasion, il would be proper TO appoint commit
tee TO investigate the subject that il might be fully
| understood by the Senate and the people Of the
United States. He had known the Senator from
Missouri for thirty five years, and had never known
him 10 carry arms. He had always believed that
he would use them on proper occasion. When
| he (Mr. d. advanced towards the Senator, being
one Of his Oldest friends, he did 10 prevent diff
fculty in the Senate, deemng IL 10 be his duty TO
keep the peace. One was his bosom friend for
thirty five years, the other Senator towards whom
he was not unfriendly. But he believed ifthe gen
tlemcn were to have difficulty, the floor OF the
Senate not the proper place for IT, The streets
and the grounds were open 70 them If they wanted
TO have fight.
He moved that committee be appointed 10 in
vesdgate the affair for the credit OF the Senate
we'll for the purpose Of presenting the subject in
proper point OF view, and placing the two Senator'S
where they should be placed. He bad nothing TO
say about the drawing Of the pistol; that was the
Senator'S own act. For the honor of the country,
and the honor Of the Senate, which has been con-
sidered as one Of the most dignifcd bodies in the
world, there ought 10 be an investigation. He
GREETED exceedingly 10 sec the position in which the
gentlemen appeared. They belong 70 the same
; party. This, however, made difference with
him; but he moved that the Of the Senate be
taken, in order that the subject may be reported
upon and understood. He asked that committee
. Of FIVE be appointed.
Mr.. MANGUM concurred entirely in the re-
, | marks which had fallen from the Senator from
, Wisconsin. lie had drawn up resolution, viz !;
That a committee Of seven be appointed to investi
gate the disorder Of to-day in The Senate and that
. thew report the result 10 this body.