Wednesday, June 19, 2013

"drew from his pocket a five-chambered revolver, full loaded, which he cocked..."

   "Here is another instance of similar character, which did not occur in a Committee-room, but during debate in the Senate Chamber. While the Compromise measures were under discussion in 1850, on the 17th of April, 1850, Mr. Foote, a Slave master from Mississippi, in the course of his remarks, commenced a personal allusion to Mr Benton. This was aggravated by the circumstance that only a few days previously he had made this distinguished gentleman the mark for most bitter and vindictive personalities. Mr. Benton rose at once from is seat, and, with an angry countenance, but without weapons of any kind in his hand, or, as it appeared afterward before the Committee, on his person, advanced in the direction of Mr. Foote, when the latter, gliding backwards, drew from his pocket a five-chambered revolver, full loaded, which he cocked. Meanwhile Mr. Benton, at the suggestion of friends, was already returning to his seat, when he perceived the pistol. Excited greatly by this deadly menace, he exclaimed, "I am not armed. I have no pistols. I disdain to carry arms. Stand out of the way, and let the assassin fire." Mr. Foote remained standing in the position he had taken, with his pistol in his band, cocked. "Soon after," says the report of the Committee appointed to investigate this occurrence, "both Senators resumed their seats, and order was restored."

   "All this will be found at length in the 21st volume of the Congressional Globe."

[DEFENCE OF MASSACHUSETTS. SPEECHES OF HON. CHARLES SUMNER, ON THE BOSTON MEMORIAL FOR THE REPEAL OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL, AND IN REPLY TO MESSRS. JONES OF TENNESSEE, BUTLER OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND MASON OF VIRGINIA. IN SENATE OF UNITED STATES, JUNE 26 AND 28, 1854. WASHINGTON, D.C. BUELL & BLANCHARD, PRINTERS. 1854. Pg.22] 

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