Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-13
y. wHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor
A SCENE IN TIE SENATE.
rhe FOOte, benton and Fremont
Quarrel.

quarrel.
From Foots's Reminiscences.l
A few days after the two Senators
from California, Messrs. Gwin and Ere
mont, were admitted to the seats which
they had been quietly claiming for sew
eral months, the latter, Mr.. Fremont,
introduced several bills, evidently drawn
by Mr.. Benton, his father-in-law, having
relation to important local concerns in
California, and Of nature, as thought,
if allowed to pass, to do very great detri-
ment TO valuable national interests in
that quarter. Several old and valued
friends of mine in California, and
among these Judge Shattuck, had warned
me in a very serious manner against
these very movements. Before taking
any decided step in the matter, ] coun-
seled with my old and valued friend, Dr.
William M. Gwin, who, knew from
more than. twenty years acquaintance
and familiar intercourse, would be sure
to give me correct information. The
Doctor, in very concise and decided Ian
guage confirmed all that Shattuck had
said on this subject, and stated that he
should himself be disposed to do what
he could to defeat these schemes of Col.
Fremont, but for the fact that he was his
colleague, and he was desirous of culh-
waiting harmony with him as far as he hon
orably oould. / opposed each Of these
bills, and they we're defeated. On the
last night of the Senatorial session,
when the general appropriation bill was
on its massage, renewed attempt was
made On the part of Colonel Fremont,
bv an amendment to this bill which he
introduced, to attain the very objects,
or a portion thereof, for the purpose OF
realizing which his separate bills had
been introduced. Amid the excitement
and confusion of the moment TINS
amendment was very near passing. NO
one had presented as yet any opposition
to it, when | got up and explained Its
true character, and urged Senators to
aid me in defeating it. The amend
ment was voted down, and presently
sfterward the general appropriation 6ill
usssed: after which motion was MADE
to 90 into executive session, which was
carried. Just as | was putting. my
papers back into my drawer, Coionei
Fremont approached, and said, IN a
verv auiet manner, that he wished to
speak with me outside the Senate. !
knew very well what this meant, Tor
before this time / had never been even
introduced to this gentleman, asin truth
meyer have vet been. Ireplied to HIM
that / would join him Immediately, which
I did. When we got together outside
.ho central door of the hail, he turned
70 me and said "Colsnel Benton is
not at all pleased with your con-
JUct this evening" All" said I,
St5;s Is truly unfortunate, as / have
been lsboring Assiduously to conciliate9
this father,in.law of yours Tor seyeral
years" Upon wh:cb, growing little
excited, he said: do not myself IKE
=, e manner in which you haya been IN,
IN ,ddling with my California affairs,
@I seT"5 1ubor' d like to know" / responded
" l.Lnt s1T lin ,rnia affairs you can possibly
h0uo woa. 70 U attend 10 here which |, as Sen
ntor naro from the Stal1 of Mississippi, may
not not nronerly NEEDLE With" l continued
thus, substantially: vol' fFsmonI,
beg TO say to you that you nave @ekgs
up the wrong passenger. " cue ap 81
the Senate shall act fearless a No III
dependent part, regardless whom It may
offend. save my own constituents. 10
this he answered: lyon are not gen.
tIeman." So soon as these words were
uttered 1 struck him. Just as he was
spparently proceeding to return the blow,
Senators Clark and Mangum came
hastily through the folding doors OF the
Senate. and prevented any further hos
tilities. In about sn hour a gentleman
from New Jersey, who was aiterward
Governor Of that State, brought me
rather a strangely worded note from
Col. Fremont, which / recognized as vir'
taally a challenge to the field OF. honor:
wrote a reply Immediately that l
would proceed to Baltimore early IN
the morning, and send an accept
ance from that place. Before the Senate
adjourned, Messrs. Gwin, Jones and
Dodge, of that body, waited upon me,
and informed me that they we're just
from Colonel Benton's residence, where
thew had demanded that this affair
should proceed no further, and urged
That should consent TO. withdraw my
note in order that Colonel Fremont
u;gbt he able 10 withdraw his. To this
I verv properly consented. proceeded
n ths State Of Mississippi next morn
ing. Iu few days thereafter my non
ored and chivalrous friend, Hon. Rev
erdv johnson, transmitted me q copy Of
a verv denunciatory handbill Just issued
bv Colonel Fremont, Of which Colonel
Benton vas himself undoubtedly the
author. and urged me, under al tne
circumstances existing, to take no DO
tee whatever thereof | followed ms
advice. Several years thereafter, when
Coloael Fremont was IN q manner 80