Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-06-01
OLD TOM BENTON.
A Scene i'll the Senate--The Giants in a
TurmOll.-HOW Benton Left Congress.

A Scene i'll the Senate--The Giants in a
TurmOll--How Benton Left Congress.
On March 14th, the one hundreth anniver-
sary of the birth, at Harris Mills, N. C., of
Colonel Thomas II. Benton occurred, Ben:
Perley POOre, the veteran Washington cor
respondent of the Boston Journal, hOnored
the occasion by reciting some incidents in
the old statesman's life, from which we eN-
tract the following:
Colonel Benton disliked John c. Calhoun
very much, probably because he regarded
him as a rival for the Democratic nominee
for the Presidential chair On one occasion.
when Mr. Calhoun had made an able report
on the evils of public patronage, and had
supported it in one of his terse Is minute
speeches, Colonel Benton occupied two hours
in a reply, taking the ground that Ito the
victors belong the spoils." Mr.. Southland
followed sustaining Mr.. CalhOuns report.
Colonel Benton rose again, and, without,
noticing what Mr.. Southland l.ad said, poured
forth his abuse on Mr.. Calhoun, who sat
with his burning eyes fixed upon him and his
whole face eloquent with scorn Benton
grew more indignant as he saw that he was
more dispised, and, finally, advancing to-
ward toward the Senator from South Carroll
na, and shaking his index finger at him, he
accused him of the basest partisan feelings.
To crown the vile TRADE, he charged him
with "a direct attack on truth"
"Ths created great sensation among the
Senators, and Mr.. Poindexter exclaimed: Il
call the Senators to order" "You are well
! come to do So" shouted Benton: take down
what 1 said at the Secretary's table,. Mr..
Calhoun rose and appealed to the Senate to
| allow the Senator from Missouri to proceed,
as nothing he could say troubled him but
the words had been taken down, and were
submitted to Mr.. Van Buren, who occupied
the chair as Vice President, and who at
! tempted to shield Benton, by deciding that
! the Senator from Missouri was in order.
Mr. Webster took the floor, and was ques-
tioning the right of the Nice-Presldent 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 Massachusetts will take his seat" Mr..
Webster's great black eyes flashed like bea-
con lights beneath his heavy eyebrows. He
declined to sit down, and asked if he had
not the right to say few words when he
was about to make motion. Mr.. Van Bur-
en- said that he was not aware that such was
his intention. "What right" thundered Mr..
Webster, "has the chair to PREJUDICE my in
tentions? l know my rights on this floor,
however, and propose to exercise them
He then went on to show that Mr.. Benton
was out of order, and he concluded with an
appea] from the decision of the chair.
Then began a 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 Congress
sional Record Frelinghuysen, GoldsborOugh
and Leigh successfully showed that it was
not parliamentary for one Senator to charge
another with making direct attack upon
truth Mr.. Preston hoped that the matter
could be arranged, but Mr.. Buthbert, OF
Georgia. in an ebullitiOn of froth and anger,
said that while the words might not be par
liamentary 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 declared
that he had been insulted, or should be in
suited, he was ready to be killed in defend
ing his honor.
Finally Mr.. PoindeXter called Tor the yeas
and nays. Mr.. Van Buren, in stating the
question, went over the argument sustaining
him. but his decision was reversed by q vote
of "a again 81. Benton was then permitted
to proceed, which he did for a while in his
grandiloquent 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 defeated by
Henry S. Geyer, for the generation which
had grown up since he had entered public
life "knew not Joseph" He then took the
stump as candidate for the House of Re-
representatives. and was elected as a Missouri
compromise Democrat, defeating a Wing and
Southern Democrat. But he was mere
cipher in the House, and when the time for
J L: hn1 Iofao fnI
by Know Nothing candidate, This soured
him beyond measure, and finally, at mid
night, on the Sd of March, 1856, he emptied
his desk into red silk bandanna handker-
chief, and with his bundle in his hand, went
to the door, when, as the hands of the clock
reached II, he shouted; "Mr. Speaker" The
occupant of the chair, thinking he desired
to record his vote on question then being
taken, said, Gas was and is the CUSTOM
"Was the gentleman within the bar when
his name was called?"
mo, sir !" said Mr.. Benton, 81 am here,
sir l appear outside the bar, sir! as an ex-
member of Congress, to protest against any
man calling my name. 1T any man calls
my name | will sue him, sir" Yes, sir.
said Benton, land if the Sergeant-at-Arms
attempts to arrest me, l will sue him, sir"
Every one expected scene, but the pre-
siding officer simply said: If the gentleman
from Missouri is not member of the House
the doorkeeper will please keep him outside
of the hall !" A roar of laughter greeted this
announcement, and before it had died away
Col. Benton, carrying his bundle, turned his
back upon legislation and left:
Why the Chickens say ''Peve.''
American Republican.