Evening star., 1943-10-17
Capital Side|iehts
By Will P. Kennedy.

There is just one historical and oficial
record Of United States Senator draw
Ing pistol on another Senator in open
session, with the undoubted intent of
killing him. 1t was the most spectacular
row ever witnessed in the Senate cham
Der. Both of the participants believed
In the code" Each had fought two
duels with the same adversary. Senator
Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri was a
giant in intellect and unusually robust
physically He had been an Indian
h2hter In his youth. He had been aide
de camp to Andrew Jackson and years
later introduced the resolution to ex-
punge from the Senate Journal the res
olution to censure Jackson. He had
killed District Attorney Charles Lucas in
their second encounter on that famous
field of honor" Bloody Island" and re-
gretted it all the rest of his life. He was
human storehouse of information as
a result of incessant study and long
years OF close association with men of
learning. He was elected to the Senate
as Democrat when Missouri entered
the Union in 1921, and was the first man
ever to serve 80 years in the Senate.
He had already served there a quarter
OF century before his assailant, Senator
Henry S. Foote Of Mississippi, was elect
ed as Unionist in 1847-and who served
only four years and 10 months. Foote
was small IN stature, intellectually acute.
and brave as lion. He had fought two
duels with Sargent S. Prentiss, in one of
which he received hip wound, which
caused him to limp the rest of his life.
In the Senate these two promptly felt
and openly expressed mutual repug-
nance. Added to this, Foote believed
Benton unsound on the slavery question.
made verbal thrusts at him and seemed
bent on badgering him into a challenge
to duel. Finally Benton became so en-
ragged he shook his fist at Foote and
commanded him never again to mention
MS name on peril of his life. The SEN
ate then occupied what was later for
many years the Supreme Court chamber
Foote's chair was up front while Ben
tons was in the outer rim A few davs
later Foote began a violent attack on
Benton. AS soon as his name was men,
toned Benton rushed menacinelv to-
ward Foote, who jumped into the aisle.
drew revolver, cooked it and pointed
1t at Benton. Benton threw off several
senators who attempted to stop him.
toote, with the gun still pointed, backed
70 the Vice Presidents desk. There
Benton faced him squarely, tore open
his shirt and defied him, exclaiminp.
Let the assassin shoot! He knows am
not armed" Foote cooled down enough
70 realize how monstrous it would be to
Kill Senator In the Senate chamber
especially one of the age and eminence
OF Col. Benton. The Senate ordered an
investigation and then never acted unon
tne long and 'incomprehensible" report.
Foote resigned from the Senate to be-
come Governor, and while occupying
that office was defeated for reelection
10 the Senate by a single vote. Two
years later he was candidate for the
Senate for the Reform party in Cali
fornia. and was again defeated bv
single vote. He served in the first and
second Confederate Congresses from
tennessee. He was appointed superin-
tendent OF the mint in New Orleans and
served until his death. Benton later
failed Of reelection to the Senate and
Tor Governor, but served one term in
the House. He was engaged in literary
pursuits in Washington until his death.