The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-05-18
When a Revolver was Drawn in the
United States Senate.

SatlOnal eplSOQe tndt ever OCCuileu
on the floors of congress, and the
ONLY time that revolver has been
drawn by a member of either house
upon one of his associates during
parliamentary debate, is recalled by
the recent dispute between Messrs.
Wickersham, of Alaska, and Mondell,
of Wyoming, in the house of repre-
sentatives. 1t took place in the SEN
ate chamber, says the New York
Herald, more than half century
ago between Senator Thomas Hart
Benton, of Missouri, and Senator
Henry S. Foote, of Mississippi, when
Millard Fillmore was in the chair as
president of the senate and vice
president of the United States.
In1S50, in those tumultuous times
preceding the civil war, when Sec
tional differences were at their
height, the Senate held its sessions
in what is now the United States
Supreme court room, small but dig
nified. Senator Benton had been
member for about 2S years and
Senator Foote for barely three years.
Senators Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass,
Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin, and Jno.
G.. Calhoun were all of the same age,
horn in 1882, while Henry Clay, OF
Kentucky, was their senior by flVe
wears. Mr.. Benton was born in 1882
and Mr.. Foote in 1900. Both were
from the South. Mr.. Benton was
native of North Carolina and Mr.
Foote of Virginia. Both were edu-
Gated in the, South and each had
chosen the law as profession. Both
were members of the Democratic
marty and each had been a practlcal
duellist.
Very little has even 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 al
terward gave a. detailed account OF the
affair in his political "reminiscences.
After telling how Mr.. Foote had Tor
several days goaded' Mr.. Benton IN
debate on the slavery question, Mr.
Upton says:
ION April II Benton, having the
floor, declared that he would sho"
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 a fame.
Foote followed in a terrible ar
raignment full of loathing and con-
tempt. until finally, in the middle OF
a sentence that was never finished,
Benton. white with rage, arose from
his seat, and passing around through
the lobby, entered the aisle leadlng
+o Foote's desk. Foote Immediately
advanced to the open space in front
of the speakers chair, drawing a re-
volver as he moved. .....
"All was confusion in moment
Dodge. of Wisconsin,, seized Benton
and Daniel S. Dickinson, of New
York, took possession of Foote's re-
volyer, while from confusion con-
founded the senate chamber was re-
duced to CONSERVATION subdued.
During the uproar Benton could
be heard crying: I have no pistol
Stand out of the way. Let him nre.
7 disdain to carry arms. Let the as
sassin fire
"I hope that order will be pre-
served said Mr.. Clay quietly.
GA pistol has been brought mere
to assassinate me- yelled Benton.
The scoundrel has no reason to
think I 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 SEN
ate. Benton repeatedly demanded
that cognizance be taken of the fact
that pistol had been brought to as
sassinate him. No one would make
such a motion. John P. Hale, OF
New Hampshire, one of the youngest
members, said that he considered it
the proper thing that an investigat-
ing committee be named, and If no
one else would make the motion he
would, but he believed it should be
done by an older and more expert
enced man.
"Mr. Clay said that he would be
satisfied if the senators would give
their word of honor that they would
drop the quarrel during the session.
I;eIoi,of f1111u