The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-26


that year Congressman Graves, of Ken
lucky, killed Congressman Cilley. in a
duel. They did not fight on the floor of
the House. After that duel resulted ia
tally, Congress passed a law prohibiting
duels in the District of Columbia
The encounter between Foote and Ben
ton was dramatic. On the 18th day of
September. 1850, Senator Benton charged
that Senator Foote had written, super
vised or approved a newspaper article
that was offensive to him. While Mr.
Foote was speaking, making some refer
ence to him, Mr.. Benton, the latter walk
ed excitediy toward Mr.. Foote, making
no show OF an assault. but his angry
countenance caused Mr.. Foote to expect
an attack. The Washington Post gives
this account of the incident:
Senator Foote started to run away,
and Senator Benton increased his speed
AS Benton came after him. Foote hur-
ried along and drew a five chambered re-
yolyer as he ran. Benton was in full
chase. He did not see the weapon. but
was apparently very anxious to oyertake
Foote Senator Dodge, of Wisconsin,
reached Benton, and begged him for God S
sake to do nothing which would COM
promise him with the Senate. Benton
was finally persuaded to turn and re-
trace his steps. He looked over his
shoulder, and caught the first sight of the
Senator from Mississippi with the re-
volver in his hand. This aroused him to
frenzy of desperation. He broke away
from Dodge and rushed back at Foote.
He stopped within few feet OF him.
Tearing open his waistcoat and his shirt,
he barred his breast to the Mississippi
Senator. who was brandishing the re-
yolver in his hand. He had cooked the
weapon as ne turned. when he saw that
he could run no further.
Benton stood within q few feet OF him
and with his naked bosom as target,
dramatically cried to Foote:
Il am not armed.
Il have no pistol.
II disdain to carry firearms.
Let him fire.
Stand out OF the way and let the
assassin fire.
"As may be imagined there was a
scene OF the most intense excitement in
the old Senate, now the chamber of the
Hall OF Justice OF the United States Su-
preme Court. Covering at the front OF
tn Presidents desk was the thoroughly
frightened Foote. Towering over him
was the gigantic Benton. He was in a
rage that would have made the gods
proud. Slowly F'oote wilted. He sank
into a chair and finally Dickinson, of
New York, came and took the revolver
away from him.
"A Senate committee investigated the
matter and did not require the belliger
ents TO apologize. The gfst OF the report
was that the Senator'S probably felt bad
ly enough and an apology was not neces-
sary. 1t was urgently recommended that
the practice OF carrying concealed wea-
pons in the Senate be dispensed with"
In 1860 there was riot in the House.
following q fiery anti-slavery speech by
Mr.. Lovejoy, OF Illinois. 1t had n funny
side. which broke up the riot A bell
gerent Northern Congressman grabbed
Mr.. Barksdale by the hair when--lo, and
behold!-his wig came Off. II was so
ludcrous a scene that it broke IN the
fighting But. growing out of that bitter
feeling a duel was arranged between
Roger A. Pryor, then OF Virginia, and
Mr.. Potter. OF Wisconsin. The Wiscon-
sin man chose bowie knives as q weapon,
and Judge Pryor's friends would not let
him fight with so barbarous a weapon
he did not object to being killed. but
drew the line at being hacked up, and
perhaps manned for life.
There have been other instances when
blows were given In the halls OF Congress.
Samuel j. Randall once struck fellow
member; Col. W. r. Morrison pulled an
opponents whiskers in the Fiftieth Con-
gress Johnson, OF Indiana, and Turpin.
Of Alabama, struck at each other; in the
Fifty-first Congress Wilson, OF Washing
ton, struck Burgan, of New Jersey; in
the Fifty-third Congress Breckenridge, OF
Kentucky, assaulted Heard, OF Missouri,
on the floor because he had called him a
liar; and later Mr.. Money. of Mississippi.
and Mr.. Holt, OF Missouri. set the pre-
cedent of throwing ink stands, which has
been followed by Greensboro lawyers.
The Springfield Republican calls atten-
ton to the fact that fighting and riotous
scenes have taken place in the legisla-
tive bodies of other countries, notably in
1893, when there was a fight before Mr..
mons.
Let rs hope that this latest breach will
be the last.
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II Miss Stone is no better looking than