Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-27
Early Senatorial Manners.


the Senate has been generally regarded
as Indicating a deterioration of man.
ners in that august body. The United
States Senate has won the name of be-
ing the most dignified and courteous
legislative body in the world, and it
has deserved it, but its earlier records
shoW that more eminent and able men
than the present South Carolina sena-
tors occasionally lost their tempers in
the heat OF debate. To be sure, blows
were never before exchanged during a
session of the Senate, for buildOZing
blackguards of the Tillman type have
been rare there. The New York Sun
digs out the official account of a lively
encounter, half a century ago, between
Thomas II. Benton of Missouri, and
Henry S. Foote of Mississippi. This
incident occurred almost at the close
of Benton's 80 years service in the
Senate. Neither participant had been
especially distinguished for serenity of
temper moderation of language un
der provocation. For example, in the
22d Congress, during a debate on jack
sons veto of the bill rechartering the
Bank of the United States. Mr.. Ben
ton accused Henry Clay of using indie
corous language about the President.
This interesting colloquy ensued:
Mr. Clay-There are some peculiar
reasons why l should not go to that
Senator for my views of decOrum. in
regard to my bearing toward the Chief
Magistrate, and why he is not a fit in
structor. | never had any personal en-
counter with the President of the
United States. benton had been in
volved in street fight with Gen. jack
son in Nashville in 1871 l never
complained of any outrages on my
person committed by him. jackson
had struck Benton with a horsewhip.l
never published any bulletins re-
specting his private brawls.
l never declared my apprehension and
belief that if he were elected we should
be obliged to legislate with pistols and
dirks by our side.
Mr. BentOn-It is true, sir, that |
had an affray with Gen. Jackson, and
that | did complain of his conduct. We
fought, sir. and we fought, l hope. like
men. When the explosion was over
there remained no i'll will on either
side There is no adjourned
question of veracity' between me and
Gen. Jackson. If there had been, a
gulf would have separated us. as deep
as hell
Mr. Clay-Gen. Jackson made GER
tain charge [of bargain1 against me.
and he referred to witnesses to prove
it, l denied the truth of the charge.
He called upon his witness to prove 1t.
1 leave to the country whether that
witness sustained the truth of the
Presidents allegation. The witness
IMr. Buchanan is now on his passage
to ST. Petersburg, with a commission in
his pocket. [Mr. Clay reverted to the
dirk -and-pis remark attributed to
Mr. Benton.l Can you look me in the
face and say you never used that Ian
guage?
Mr.. Benton-I look. sir. and repeat
that it is an atrocious calumny; and l
will pin it to him who repeats it here.
Mr.. Clay-Then l declare before the
Senate that you said to me the very
words.
Mr.. Benton-False! False! False!
Mr.. Clay| fling back the charge of
atrocious calumny upon the Senator
from Missouri
Senators interposed between the two
Infatuated statesmen, and the Chair
finally secured order in the chamber.
The subsequent proceedings were
these:
Mr.. Benton-I apologize to the Sen
ate for the manner in which have
spoken: but not to the Senator from
Kentucky.
Mr.. Ciay-To the Senate | also Of
fer an apology. To the Senator from
Missouri none.
AS for Mr.. Foote the fire-eater with
whom Mr.. Benton came into physical
collision on the floor of the Senate
about twenty years after the foregoing
incident, his habits of speech were
more than Tillmanic. A single in
stance will suffice. The Mississippi
statesman had been accusing Senator
Hale of New Hampshire, of being las
guilty as if he had committed highway
robbery" in promoting certain bill
which Foote conceived was an attack
on the Institution of slavery. Turning
to Senator Hale he said:
Mr., Foote-I invite him to visit
Mississippi; and l will tell him before
hand, in all honesty, that he could not
go ten miles into the interior before ne
would grace one of the tallest trees OF
the forest. with a rope around his neck.
with the appreciation of every honest
and patriotic citizen: and that. IL nee
essary, I should myself assist in the
operation
Lucky magazine editors ana lecture
managers who get hold of Miss Stone.
The public is anxious to know the story
ao.,u. x,aouths of nfiYitY.