Senator Foote, a Virginian by birth, became the Democratic Governor of Mississippi 1852-1854. Then the Democratic U.S. Senator 1847-1852 for Mississippi. He played a key role in passing the Compromise of 1850. During the heated debates over the five issues of the Compromise of 1850, fellow senator Thomas Hart Benson, Democrat from Missouri opposed the pro-slavery issues. As Senator Foote spoke for the legislation, Hart made negative remarks from his seat until Foote became enraged calling Benson everything but senator. Benson charged the podium as Foote drew a pistol. Other senators intervened, taking the pistol away from Foote and storing it in a locked desk.
Learn more in the award-winning Sheriff of Starr County, Book 5 in the Westward Sagas Series at www.davidabowlesauthor.com or www.westwardsagas.com how Texas Senators Thomas Rusk and Sam Houston sold sixty-seven million acres of land it did not own for ten million dollars to the U.S. Government to settle its war debt.
