The daily Cairo bulletin., 1882-04-28
Old Tom Benton.
A Scene IN the Bonnie.-The Giants IN Turmoil
How Benton Left Congress-

A Scene In the sona,o--The Giants IN Turmoil
How Benton Left Congress
On March l4th, the one hundretth
anniversary Of the birth. at Hart's Mills,
N. c., Of Colonel Thomas II. Benton oc-
Cured, Ben Perley Pooro, the veteran
Washington correspondent of the Bos-
ton Journal, honored the occasion by re-
citing some incidents in the old states
mans life, from which we extract the
following:
Colonel Benton disliked John G. Cal
houn very much, probably because he
regarded him as o rival for the Demo-
cratic nominee for the Presidential
chair. On one occasion, when Mr.. Cal
houn had made an able report on the
evils OF public patronage, and had sup
ported il in one of his terse 10 minute
speeches, Colonel Benton occupied two
hours in reply, taking the ground that
.sto the victors belong the spoils, Mr..
Southard followed, sustaining Mr.. Cal
houn's report
Colonel Benton rose again, and, with
out, noticing what Mr. Southland had
said poured forth his abuse on Mr., Cal
houn, who sat with his burning eyes fix
ed upon him and his whole face elo-
quent with scorn. Benton grew more
indignant as he saw that he was more
despised, and. finally, advancing to-
ward the Senator from South Carolina,
and shaking his index finger at him. he
accused him Of the basest partisan feel
tngs. 10 crown the vile TRADE, he
charged him with "a direct attack on
truth"
''This created great sensation among
the Senators, and Mr.. Poindexter eN-
claimed: II call the Senators 10 ORDER,
"You are welcome 10 do So" shouted
Benton; take down what said at the
Secretary's table" Mr.. Calhoun rose and
appealed TO the Senate 10 allow the SEN
ator from Missouri TO proceed, as moth
ing he could say troubled him; but the
words had been taken down, and were
submitted to Mr.. Van Buren,, who oc-
cupied the chair us Vice President, and
who attempted to shield Benton, by de-
Gliding that the Senator from Missouri
was in order.
Mr.. Webster took the floor, and was
questioning the right of the Vice-Presi-
dent to thus set aside the call TO order,
when Mr.. Van Buren blandly remarked
"The Senator from Missouri has the
floor, and the Senator from Massachu-
sets will take his seat" Mr.. Webster $
great black eyes flashed like beacon
lights beneath his heavy eyebrows. He
declined to sit down, and asked if he
had not the right TO say a few words
when he was about TO make a notion
Mr. Van Buren, said that he was not
aware that such was his intention
"What right" thundered Mr.. Webster,
"has the chair to PREJUDICE my inten-
tionsp / know my rights on this floor,
however, and 1 propose TO exercise
them" He then went on to show that
MIR. Benton was out Of order, and he
concluded with an appeal from the de-
cision of the chair,
Then began contest of giants, as
the question was argued with warmth
and power never witnessed in these
days, when Senators placidly talk to the
reporters for the benefit of those who
read the Congressional Record. Fre-
linghuysen, Goldsborough and Leigh
successfully showed that it was not par.
liamentary for one Senator TO charge
another with making direct attack up.
on truth. Mr.. Preston hoped that the
matter could be arranged, but Mr., Cuth-
bert, of Georgia, in an ebullition OF
froth and anger, said that while the
words might not be parliamentary or
gentlemanly, they should be accounted
for by the parties, in accordance with
the code Mr. King, of Alabama, took
the same high-toned ground, and de-
clared that if he had been insulted, OF
should be insulted, he was ready to be
killed in defending his honor.
Finally Mr.. Poindexter called for the
yeas and nays. Mr.. Van Buren, in
stating the question, went over the ar
gument sustaining him, but his decision
was reversed by vote of "a against q.
Benton was then permitted TO proceed,
which he did for q while in his grand
Eloquent style, and then, yielding TO the
entreaties of his friends, he sat down.
When Colonel Benton ran for the
seventh time for the Senate he was de-
feated by Henry S. Geyer, for the gen
GRAFTON which had grown up since he
had entered public life "knew not 10.
seph." He then took the stump as O
candidate for the House of Representa-
tives and was elected as Missouri com
promise Democrat defeating Wing and
Southern Democrat. But be was a
mere cipher in the House, and when the
time for his reelection came around he
was defeated by Know-N Nothing cap-
didate, This soured him beyond meas
ure, and finally, at midnight, on the Sd
of March, 1855, he emptied his desk in
10 a red silk bandanna handkerchief,
and, with his bundle in his hand went
TO the door, when. as the hands Of the
clock reached II, be shouted: "Mr.
SpeakerW The occupant Of the chair,
thinking he desired TO record his vote on
a question then being taken, said Gas
was and is the custom1, WAS the gen.
tleman within the bar when his name
was calledy'
''No, sirr' said Mr. Benton, II am
here, sir! ! appear outside the bar, sirl
as an ex-meInber Of Congress, to pro-
test against any man calling my name.
II any clerk calls my name will cue
him, sirr' The gentleman from Mis-
~