The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-24 00:00:00

[PRIca 4r. STAMPED 5 .]

THE FIGHT IN CONGRESS.

The Washington correspondent of the New York
Times gives the following account of the fracas in
the House of Representatives :
" The telegraph has already given you a general
statement of the fact that we had a grand row in
the House of Representatives at about 4 o'clock this
morning, but some additional particulars may be
found interest. The Anti-Lecompton man yes-
terday determined to have a vo'e at once upon the
proposition of Mr. Harris to refer the Constitution
of Kansas to a select committee, with instructions
to investigate the frauds alleged to have been com-
mitted in connexion with the formation of that in-
strument and the election held under it. The
Lecomptonites, upon counting nose', found them-
selves decidedly in the minority, and so determined
to stave. off the vote until they should have bad
time to consult, and, if possible, effect changes
enough to save defeat. So they began the game of
factious opposition, resorting to calls of the "Yeas"
and "Nays" on motions to adjourn, calls of the
house, dec. This they kept up fr.im 3 o'clock yes-
terday afternoon until 6 this morning, the Anti-
Lecompton men pressing steadily for a vote on the
previous question, and expressing their determina-
tion never to yield to it. The Douglas Democrat's
were as firm and unyielding in the contest as the
most faithful of the Republican leaders, and deserve
all praise for their conduct.
"Everything passed off, however, in excellent
temper, and with less excitement than is usual to
night sessions, until near four o'clock this morn-
ing. Mr. grow, who is the recognised Repub-
lican leader in the house, went over to the
Democratic side of the hall to talk with Mr. Hick-
man, of Pennsylvania. As ha turned to leave Mr.
Quitman rose and asked to make an explanation.
Mr. Grow objected to any speeches which
were out of order, and then started down the
aisle with a view of running to his own seat,
when Mr. Keitt, of South Carolina, called out to
him, asking, Why don't you go over on your own
side, God d— you, if you want to object ? What
business have you over on this side, anyhow 1' or
something to that effect.
"Mr. Grow replied, quietly and coolly, saying,
This is a free hall, and .1 havo the right to object
from any part of it when I choose.' Then, in re-
sponse to an appeal from Mr. Harris, of Indiana,
Mr. Grow withdrew his objection, in order to per-
mit Mr. Quitman to go on. By this time Keitt,
who accrue to have supposed that he had only to
look ferociously at a Northern man to wilt' him—
and who presumed, perhaps, upon the fact that he
is a more
.athletic man than the gentleman from
Pennsylvania—had crossed over t' meet Mr. Grow.
As the latter was about to pass Keitt inquired in a
ruffianly tone, 4 What did you mean by that an-
Ewer which you gave me just now ?'
" meant preciseiy what I said—that this is a
free hall, and I will object from whatever part of
it I see fit,' was Mr. Grow's reply, as he looked his
assailant calmly in the face. The chivalrous atd
gentlemanly South Carolinian returned to the
charge, saying, show you, you d—d Black
Republican puppy !' Mr. Grow,- still unexcited,
answered, You may think me what you please,
Mr. Keitt ; but let me tell you that no nigger-
driver shall come up from his plantation to crack
his lash about my ears I" We'll see about that,'
said Koitt, as he caught Mr. Grow by the throat.
Mr. Grow threw his assailant's hand off, and Mr.
Reuben Davis, also of Mississippi, who had fol-
lowed Mr. Keitt, evidently with the intention of
restraining him, interposed at once for peace.
"This ended the difficulty for an instant, but
almost immediately Keitt broke from Mr. Davis
and rushed upon Grow, seizing him again by the
throat, when the latter planted a blew under the
left ear of the gentleman from South Caro-
lina,' which sprawled him fairly upon his face
on the floor. Mr. Keitt picked himself up, and
after some ineffectual and random passes left the
hall, and was seen no more until after the melee
ended, except by some friends who sponged his
bruises. I understand he is under the impression
that he 'stubbed his toe,' and so fell. The mistake
certainly is excusable, for the blow which he
Provoked from Mr. Grow's long-sufr.p ing patience
was so severe that be would hardly be expected to
have any very clear recollection of the cireum
stances

" These transactions, which take so much time to
relate, were the work of a very few minutes, and all
occurred on the Democratic side of the Rouse.
When the blow was struck a dozen Southern men
rushed towanis the parties,•some doubtless to keep
the peace, and others to have a hand in the fight.
Barksdale of Mississippi, 111`Q (leen, of South Caro-
lina, Craige, of North Carolina, and Reuben Davis
were prominent in the scrimmage. Barksdale spe-
cifically states, and I doubt not truly, that his only
object was to separate the combatants. He and
other opponents seized upon Grow at once, as Keitt
was already hors do combat. To gentlemen on the
other side of the hall it looked very much as though
the gentleman from Pennsylvania was about to be
cut into mincemeat, and the Anti-Lecompton men
rushed over in a body to the rescue. Foremost c tine
Mr. Potter, of Wisconsin, a very athletic, compact
man, who bounded into he centre of the excited
group, striking right and left with tremendous
ppo droppedsutg lz.
vigour. Washburne, of Illinois, and his brother, of
him
Wisconsin, also were prominent, and for a minute
or two it seemed as though we were to have a
td
Kil-
kenny fight on a magnificent scale. Barksdale had
hold of Grow when Potter struck him a severe
blow, supposing that he was hurting that gentle-
man. e.t-
-m was an . E
ißi Barksdale k swd aalsehtbuurrnni
en gwahroo usntdruacnkd
Grow, and struck out at the gentleman
.from i-
nois. Cadwallader Washburne perceiving the
apparently
at-
tack upon his brother also made a dash at Mr.
Barksdale, and seized him theby.hair,
o greater satisfaction. for the purpose of drawing him into chancery,
and pummeling him t
Hor-
rible to relate, Mr. Barksdale 's wig came off in Cad-
wallader's left hand, and his right fist expended
itself with tremendous force against the unresisting
air. This ludicrous incident did much towards ie-
storing good nature subsequently, and its effect was
heightened not a little by the fact that in the ex-
citement of the oc3asion Barksdale restored his wig
wrong side foremost.

"There seemed to be very little method in the
struggle, and it was hard to tell who was in for
earnest and who was trying to restore order. The
Speaker yelled and rapped for order without effect.
The Sergeant-at-Arms stalked to the scene of battle,
mace in hand, but his American eagle' had no
more effect than the Speaker's gavel. Owen, Love-
joy, and Lamar, of Mississippi, were pawing each
other at one point—each probably trying to per-
suade the other to be still. Mr. Mott, the grey-
haired Quaker representative from Ohio, was seen
going here and there in the crowd. Davis, of Mis-
sissippi, got a severe but accidental blow from Mr.
Grow, and various gentlemen sustained slight
bruises and scratches. A Virginia representative,
Ivas
who thought Montgomery,
about to 'pitch in,' leid his band upon is
of Penosyl;.anuiln
to

starting of the vessel next autumn. All doubts
have, however, been set at rest by the arrival of the
present shaft, which is now being completed in the
turning lathe. There are not many lathes iu the
kingdom of sufficient size and strength to turn a
shaft of this kind, since apart from its own weight,
it has counterbalancing masses of iron to relieve the
strain on the lathe in turning it round, which brings
up the whole mass to about 60 tons. This is turned
slowly at about one revolution per minute, the cut-
ters, of which there are two, one at each side, shaving
off long thin strips of the cJld metal at the rate of
about one hundred- wei,ht per hour. By the com-
pany turning this shaft for .fteniselves, they effect
an immense saving per hundred-weight in its (natio e
cost, which in a piece of metal-work of such size,
and one in the manufacture of which su many ri4E3
had to be encountered, of course amounts to a con-
siderable sum. With regard to the future of the
Leviathan herself, there is perhaps no question more '
frequently asked by the public than that of where
she is to be docked in case of her wanting repairs or
her bottom requiring cleaning. This question, how-
ever, has, we are glad to say, been satisfactorily
decided, though not quite as regards decking her.
Thoreare some docks, we helieve, in Liverpool which
are long enough to take in the Leviathan if their
entrances were only wide in proportion ; but, as
they all fail in this latter important partioular, the
great vessel when she wants cleaning will have to
be gridironed, as the screw colliers ale—that is,
run aground on rows of piles laid along the rivet's
side for the purpose, and the tide of course will
leave her dry at cacti_ low water. A spot has
been chosen for this purpose in the Mersey, be-
tween Woodside and Bi.kenhead, and to this
place the Leviathan will be taken as often as she
needs repairs or cleaning. .tt is almost a pity,
however, that no: "gridiron" of sufficient length
could be formed or made in the Thames or in any
other river in the kingdom brit the Mersey, which
is one of the most rapid and dangerous, and in
which, we should think, the Leviathajhvven with
all the aid which Trotman's anchors give her, must
run more or less of risk either in navigating or
staying at anchor.