The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-05-25
When \ Revolver Was Drawn i'm the
United States Senate.

Probably the gravest and most
sensational episode that ever occur
rcd on the floors of congress, and
the only time that a revolver has
been drawn by a member of either
house upon one of his associates
during parliamentary debate, is re
cal cd by the recent dispute between
Messrs. Wickersham, of Alaska, and
Mondell, of Wyoming. in the house
OF representatives. 1t took place in
the senate chamber, says the New
York Herald, more than half cen
turay ago between Senator Thomas
Hart Benton, of Missouri, and SEN
ator Henry S. Foote, of Mississippi.
when Millard Fillmore was in the
chair rs president of the United
states
"a 1850, i'll those tumultuous
times preceding the civil war, when
sectional differences were at their
height, the Senate held its sessions
i'll what is now the United States
Supreme court room, small but dig
meIaber for about 2S years and
Senator Foote for barely three
years. Senators Daniel Webster,
lewis Cass, Henry Dodge, of Wis
cousin, and Jno. G. Calhoun were
all Of the same age, born in 1882,
while Henry Clay, Of Kentucky,
was their senior by five years. Mr.
Benton was born in 1852 and Mr.
FoOte in 1900. Both were from the
south. Mr.. Benton was Il native of
North Carolina and Mr.. Foote of
Virginia. Both were educated in
the South and each had chosen the
law as profession. Both were
mem5ers of the Democratic party
and each had been a practical duel
list.
Very little has ever been written
about the outbreak between these
two men, as the proceedings were
struck from the record by order of
the senate, but Senator Upton af-
terwards gave a detailed account of
the affair in his political reminiscent
ces. After telling how Mr. Foote
had for several days goarded Mr..
Benton i'll debate on the slavery
question, Mr.. Upton says:
ION April II Benton, having the
floor, declared that he would show
that the South was in no danger;
that there was a cry of wolf when
there was no wolf, by which the
country was thrown into aflame.
Foote followed in a terrible ar
ralgnment full of loathing and con-
tempt, until finally, in the middle of
sentence that was never finished,
Benton, white with rage, arose from
his seat, and passing around
through the lobby entered the aisle
leading to Foote's desk Foot i'm
mediately advanced to the open
space in front of the speak ker's
chair, drawing a revolver as he
moved
"All was confusion in a moment.
Dodge, of Wisconsin, seized Benton,
and Daniel S. Dickinson, of New
York, took possession of Foote's
revolver, while from confusion con-
founded the senate chamber was re-
duced to CONSERVATION subdued.
During the uproar Benton could
be heard cryinng: Ishave no pis-
tol. Stand out of the way. Let
him fire. | disdain to carry arms.
Let the assassin fire
al hope that order will be pre-
served said Mr.. Clay quietly.
A pistol has been brought here
to assassinate men, yelled Benton
The scoundrel has no reason to
think | was armed
i brought it here to defend my
SELF returned Foote. My friends
urged me to that, being diminutive
in size, and quite feeble in health.
Immediately calls for the floor
were heard from all parts of the
senate. Benton repeated demanded
that cognizance be taken of the fact
that a pistol had been brought tC
assassinate him No one would
make such a motion. John p Hale