National Republican., 1883-06-06
BENTON AND FOOTE.
A Famous Scene in the Senate as a Man Now
Living Saw It.
A Recollection OF the Old Days when
Senators Abused Each Other Roundly.
Tn mc EllRor

/ read in your paper OF few days ago an
article from MeYriwether's Weekly giving o
statement furnished by Col Jacob Thompson
of scene that occurred between Senators
Benton and Foote, correcting. as he claimed,
the report of tho same in the Century. l
desire 10 correct the correction. AS to what
is said in the magazine, know nothing, as l
have not seen it, but rs to the fracas, know
everything, for was there. As Col. Thomp-
son evidently knows nothing about it, and
must have obtained from an imaginative,
secondhand authority what he narrates, I
feel impelled TO place here upon record an
accurate account of the occurrence 1t was
sitting in the old senate gallery, north of and
facing the presidents chair, and immediately
over Foote. The latter occupied seat on
the outer circle, and, think, the second or
third desk from tho middle aisle
was looking down on his bald
pate whilst he was uttering tho
Benton. The latter also was in full
view, seated on the outer circle, perhaps five
or six desks farther north and east from
Foote, and farther from the middle aisle.
1t may be as we'll to state here that there
had been a great deal of Sitter feeling exist.
ing between these senators for n considerable
time, generated by an acrimonious political
for he had greater gift of invective than
any man l ever heard. 1t seemed to be no
trouble to him to annihilate every person iu
this way to whom he was not friendly, and
he certainly did not lack the will to do So
Benton was not bit more lovely in DISPOSE
tion, Indeed less so, think, for he seemed to
possess more hate naturally in his feelings
than any other man / ever knew, and he was
not slow to express those feelings in the most
whitening language. He hated, and never
forgot to hate, excepting only in the case of
Gen. jackson, who from being regarded his
great enemy became in the end his greatest
friend.
But Benton was supremely egotistical and
vain. 1t was, al, Thomas II. Benton, have
set this ball in motion;" and he did not con-
cede the equality Of any other man in the
senate. For many Of them he had perfect
contempt. Foote was one of the members.
OF this class Benton did not wish to stoop to
speak at all, or even refer to, if he could avoid
it. Foote knew this and his self esteem, also
extraordinarily large, was CALLED by it. 1 am
inclined to think that the greatest cause of
the difficulties between them was in this very
plainly exhibited contempt of Benton. Foote
had frequently attacked him with his very
severe and abusive language and Benton had
told the senate that If that body did not pro-
tect him hereafter from such attacks he would
take the matter in his own hands and defend
himself
When Foote began his speech l think there
was a general excitement as to what might be
the result. None of us had to wait long be-
fore Foote began one of his famous hypo-
thetical climaxes esofdenunciation which, when
he had piled it up high enough, was to point
out the party referred to by toppling over on
and overwhelmingly crushing him. Benton
sat In his great arm chair looking at him and
awaiting the end Then he instantly arose,
and with a tremendous push Of his right
hand sent his roller chair creaking over the
floor backwards. He stepped into the aisle
leading toward Foote and advanced with q
furious look and firm tread. He had made
but two or three steps in that direction when
Foote hastily put his hand into his left breast
pocket and pulled therefrom q pistol, which
looked about six or seven inches long in barrel.
He cooked 1t and hastily retreated to the
center space in front of the secretary IS
desk. Here he was at once surrounded by
other senators, who took the pistol from him,
and saw ono put IL in his desk. Benton
went no further toward him when he left his
place, but rather toward his own chair and
entering the inclosure, violently and frantic
ally cried, Let tho assassin shoot" Then
he pushed toward Foote again. uttering " Let
the assassin shoot" and made an apparent
effort with both hands to bare his breast in
most theatrical style. ~ have no arms l
have no arms |" he roarcd again and again.
At this time, however, Foote had no pistol as
Benton doubtless could see, and his action
was merely dramatic parade. In retreating
from Benton Foote left place, whore, if he
had desired to defend himself or use his pis-
tol, he had nothing TO do but to turn slightly
to the left toward tho wall, and with
out endangering any one. But to hur-
riedly leave his place and get in
the center of the chamber, where he'could not
have fired without danger to senators, was an
action not to be explained on any other
ground than that of shrinking from the con-
test. know that he had the reputation OF
being a brave man-had fought such duels,
and was ready to fight moro--and think he
was really game But none of us are always
the same, and he had every reason to believe
that Benton meant work. The latter had
killed his man, and his appearance was mas
sive or giant like to such small arrangement
as Foote. More than all the latter had done
wrong In making this attack, of which he
could not but but feel the full force. Con-
science naturally would make him weak
"'Tis conscience that makes towards of us
all, and taking in all this appearance oil
things, as none would be quicker than he ia
do whilst standing about eight feet four and
before Benton during his raving, he was
short time, however, after the excitement had
declined, he stated that he had left his desk
for the purpose of getting q clearer place tc
use his pistol, which explanation, as have
shown, could not bo received for a moment
An oblivious committee was appointed. as
usual, to investigate the whole matter and
report what action should be taken in the
premises. This committee, of course, re-
ported what all knew, and recommended that
no action be taken on the subject. i thought
that something more would have grown be,
tween the parties out of this, but it did not
suppose that Benton felt he could rest upon
having made Foote retreat and Foote him.
self with the abuse he had heaped upon Ben
ton: Both, likely, were glad to thus end
their difficulties
As to Col ThompsOn's small piece of history
about Lincolns builoonery in congress we
have all heard so many charges rung on
charges of that character during the war by
Col. T.'s friends, that another statement OF
this kind does not possess much point at this
day, even If tho history is true. Perhaps il
ought to DO remembered that If Col. Thomp-
son and his friends never practiced such buff
foonery themselves it was because God had
not endowed them with the same per.
petual fountain of broad humor that
was ever bubbling up in Lincolns soul
Yet there We're some other things
said about him that have become
historical, and may well be envied by the
most exalted and refined princes. Such are
tho possession of an honest and true heart
If there ever was one TO be found in high
place, and the fact that he never turned away
from suffering, whether the appeal came from
the union or confederate side. In his earn.
est exertions for the salvation of his country
he exhibited presciepce and a wisdom nm,
paralleled, which caused halo of glory tC