The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-05-04
manitowof pilot.
THURSDAY, MAY 4. 1882.
OLD TOM BENTON.

SCENE IN THE sENATE-THE GIANTS IN
TURMsM-How BENTON LEFT
CONGRESS.
On March 14tb, the one hundredth
anniversary of the birth, at Harris Mills,
n. c., of Colonel Thomas 81. Benton oc-
Cured, Ben. Perley Poore, the veteran
Washington correspondent OF the Boston
Journal, honored the occasion by recit-
lug some incidents in the old statesman's
life, from which we extract the following:
Colonel Benton disliked John g. Cal
houn very much, probably because he
regarded him as rival for the Demo
cratic nominee for the Presidential chair.
On one occasion, when Mr.. Calhoun had
made an able report on the evils of pnb
lie patronage, and had supported it in
one of his terse Is minute speeches, Col.
Benton occupied two hours in reply,
taking the ground that ''to the victors
belong the spoils." Mr.. Southland fol
lowed. sustaining Mr.. Calhoun'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 eloquent
with scorn. Benton grew more indig-
nant as he saw that he was more despis.
ed, and, finally, advancing toward the
Senator from South Carolina, and shak
ing 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"
''Tbis created a great sensation among
the Senators, and Mr.. Poindexter ex-
claimed: 81 call the Senators to order"
''Yon are welcome to do So" shouted
Benton; take down what 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 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 nf the Vice-Presi-
lent to thus set aside the call to order,
when Mr.. Van Buren, blandly remarked:
1.-The Senator from Missouri has the
floor, and the Senator from Massachu-
sets will take his seat" Mr.. Webster's
great black eyes flashed like beacon
lights beneath his heavy eye brows. He
declined to sit down, and asked if he had
not the right to say few words when he
WAS about to make a motion. Mr.. Van
Baren said that he was not aware that
sach was his intention. "What right"
tlurdered MIR. Webster, "has the chair
to PREJUDICE my intentions2 / know my
rights on this floor, however, and L pro-
pose to exercise them" He then went
on to show that Mr.. Benton was out of
order, and he concluded with an appeal
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 piacidly talk to the re-
porters for the benefit of those who read
the Congressional Record. Frelinghuy-
sen, Goldsborough and Leigh successive
ly 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.. Cuthbert, 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 &C
cordance with the code. Mr.. King, of
Alabama, took the same high-toned
ground, and declared that if he had been
insul.ed, or should be insuted, he was
ready to be killed in defending his honor.
Finally, Mr. Poindexter called for the
yeas and nays. Mr.. Van Buren,, in stat
ing tie question, went over the argu-
ment sustaining him, but his decision
vas reverse ed by vote Of "a against q.
Be ton was then permitted to proceed,
which he did for while in his grand
elo uans style, and then, yielding to the
Ell re ties Of his friends, he sat dovo.
Whel Co. Renton ran for the seventh
tim for the Senate he was defeated by
81 Try S. Geyer, for tie generation which
h !, | grown u since h bad entered pub
lie life knew not Joseph" He then
tooI the stump as q candidate for the
House of Representatives and was elect
ed a Nilsson compromise Democrat,
defeating Wing and Southern Dem
ocrat. b 1t he was mere cipher in tie
House, aud when the time for bis re-
election came around he Was defeated by
"A Know-Nothing candidate. This sour
ed him beyond measure, aud finally, at
midnight, on the 81 of March, 1855, he
emptied his desk into red silk bandanpa
handkerchief, and, with his bundle in his
h.ud, went to the door. when, as the
hands of the clock reached II, he shout
ed: "Mr. Speaker" The occupant OF
the chair, thinking he desired to record
his vote on a question then being taken,
sud Gas was and is the CUSTOM, "Was
the gentleman within the bar when his
name was called2"
"No, sirl' said MIR. Benton, 81 am
here, sirl appear outside the bar, sir!
as an ex-member Of Congress, to protest
against any man calling my name. If
any clerk calls rny name l will sue him,
sirl" ''The gentleman from Missouri"
oai1 tho he r,ro tam, ont If mr.