Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-10
FOOTE ON BENTON.
Fran the "reminiscences OF Henry 5; toote,
Il ''D in the Washington Chronicle.

\ scene occurred IN tue Deud1e pI'"o9u -
Ranton and myself, which should here BRET
II cxplaiu Iu the summer OF looo Whde Mr'
T,lboup' ; remains were being transported from
Washington to South Carolina, but before tney
had left Washington, MIR. Benton rose up one
moruiug ard made, as | understood them, some
very disrespectful illusions to the llustrlouS
deceased. | stepped to the chair OF MT; But
Ter, Mr.. CaIhoun's own Senatorial colleague,
and urged him to say something 10 response.
He seemed not exactly to understand the lm-
nort Of MIR. Benton's words, and therefore re-
spoDded to him in very confused aud lneftec-
,ve manner. | rose up to subjoin one or two
observations 10 style, as am willing 10 ac-
knowIedpe not little animated and indignant.
Mr. Benton rose up suddenly from his char
which was some distance from mine, making at
the time prodgious noise, and advanced
ramdly in the direction of my position, which
was one of the outer circle fseats, aud seemed
to be aiming to get behind me whilst L was
speakips, ia order to strike me when IN this
npnrotccted attitude. had been warned by
Senator Pratt only day or two Eetore that he
had publicly threatened to do me violence ID
,bc Senate if ever undertook to allude to him
ssa;n, and I had deemed it expedlent to put on
arms for my own defence. | was wearing at the
m,u,nt q Colts revolver, which l GER
t,nly intended 10 use should it become neces-
,1ry, On drawing it, I took a step or two
n tbe right which carried me to the
central aisle of the Senate. then turned
toward the central door OF the chamber, intend
;ng c.rtaiuly if Mr.. Benton should pass the cor
Der near my seat aud advance single step
down the aisle was standing in, after having
warned him OF my intention, to fire upon him
a, cnce, conceiving that in shooting IN the dl-
rectiou of the central door should be able to
avoid doing injury to any one else; for l un-
louttedly did not intend to succumb to his vlo-
Ietce while 10 the decorous performance OF my
Senatorial duties. When MIR. Benton saw l
vas armed, be paused, and in second or TWO,
allowed Governor Dodge, the venerable Sena-
ttr from Wisconsin, to conduct him to his chair.
Before he had fairly reseated himself, Mr.. Dick
ensou. of New York, asked me for my pistol,
which willingly handed him. Then 1t was
that Mr. Benton broke out again voclterously,
eycaiming, LET the assassin shoot! at the
same time theatricaly tearing open his vest.
made short explanation OF my conduct to
the Senate after which the affair was referred
to special committee, whose report and the
evidence annexed thereto occupy one large
printed volume, in which future generations
will find huge and somewhat lncougruous
mass of facts Of a very ludlcrous and interest
lLg character.
will close this reminiscence with some
what curious anecdote A few days after the
two Senators from California, Messrs. Gwin
and Fremont, were admitted to the seats which
they had been quietly claiming for several
mouths, the latter, MIR. Fremont, Introduced
several bills, evidently drawn by MIR. BeDton,
his iather-in-law, having relation to important
lGcal concerns in California, and OF ma
ulre as | thought, if allowed to pass, to do very
great detriment to valuable national Interests
iDthat quarter. Several old and valued friends
Of mine 10 California, and among these Judge
Sha,,uck, had warned me in very serious
mauuer against these very movements. Before
taking any decided step IN the matter. l coun-
seed with my old and valued friend, DR.. Will
liam NJ Gwin, whom knew from more than
twenty years acquaintance and familiar inter-
cour:e would be sure to give me correct lntor-
NATION. The Doctor, 10 very concise and de-
clded language, confirmed all that Judge Shat
tuck had said on this subject, and stated that
he should himself be disposed to do what he
could to defeat these schemes of Colonel Ere
mout, but for the fact that he was his col
league, and he was desrous OF cultlVatlng bar
mony with him as far as he honorably could.
lorposed each of these bills, and they were
defeated. On the last night Of the Senatorial
session, when the general appropriation Oil
was on It's passage, renewed attempt was
made on the part of Colonel Fremont, by an
amendment to this bill which he introduced,
70 attain the very objects, or portion thereof,
ior the purpose of ofrealizing which his separate
bills had been Introduced. Amid the excite
uent and confusion Of the moment this amend
asnt was very near passing. No one had pre-
>nled as yet any opposition to it when got
9paud explained its true character, and urged
>enators to aid me in defeating it. The
amendment was voted down, and presently, al
NFward the general appropriation bill passed;
a'er which, motion was made to go into ex-
ecure session, which was carried. Just as l
S':S putting my papers back into my drawer
Colonel Fremont approached, and said, 10
Very quite manner, that he wished to speak
with me outside the Senate knew very we'll
What this meant; for before this time | had
aeTer been even introduced to this gentleman,
aSln truth | never have yet been.
replied to him that would join him i'm
IeAilately which [ did.
hen We got together outside the central
.n .@Sr Of the hall, he turned to me and said,
lG. Benton is not at all pleased with your
;Vaduct this evening"" "Ah !" said | ;; this
sHGiY unfortunate, as / have been laborlng
ssss'duousIy to concilate this father-in-law OF
'Va1S sI, Tor several years. -
=. Upon growing a little excited, he said | do
Nmyself like the manner in which you have
vin vyen lntermeddling With my California affairs.
raEsnaouid like to know q responded what
,sallOrnia ,.s affairs you can possibly have to at
Saa Sua 10 here which l, as Senator from the
e;t 4ts o OF mississippi, may Hot properly NEEDLE
ppan' continued thus, substantially: "Col.
s,iImSGot' s,IaS beg to say to you that you have
in iaHeu ,tS up the wrong passenger. While L am
~s1e n.s1 Senate shall act a fearless and inde,
ssr" svnaent part regardless whom it may offend
ed d'e my my own constituents" To this he answer
lI.' lou are not gentleman" So soon as
I" words were uttered | struck him. Just as
CI,",a.S proceeding to return the blow, Senators
foiaae f%Ise and Mangum came hastily through the
luther hostilities.
Au about an hour a oentlcman from New