The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-27
Correspondence ofthe Boston Courier.
WAsHISGToN, Feb. 81. 1889.

According to the expectations of man,
persons, the subject to which | alluded i,
my last letter, was brough, before the Hous,
this morning Immediately after the Jour
nal was read, MIR. Prentiss of Mississippi
offered resolution that an inquiry he forth
with instituted whether Alexander Duucar
OF Ohio, be the aulhsr Of certain correspop.
dence in the Globe, and whether, if so. bs
iins not violated his privilege as a membe,
OF the House, and done that which render,
him unworthy of his seat, and j.rstifying hi,
expulsion from the body. Mr.
Prentiss attempted to prove tLa, this is the
legitimate fruit Of the law which Congress
has recently passed to suppress duelling.
MIR. Jenlfer succeeded. The whole bent
OF his remarks appeared to be against the
duel!ing law, and called upon those in fa
yor OF that law, to weigh well the effects OF
the measure which they have supported.-
His remarks were evidently intended to
bring the recent act against the practice OF
duelling, into odium, and to show that such
virulent abuse rs that now under CONSIDER
alton was the result Of such law.
Mr.. Menifse of Kentucky, took the floor.
Ills only points were to prove that gentle
man, MIR. Duncan, to be utterly destitute Of
honor, and coward. The re-
remarks of Mr.. Mcniiee were, in my opin-
ion, as ungentIemanly, as vile, and abusive
as those of which he complained.
The House was in n state Of great excite
ment, the galleries were very much crowd
ed, and spectators even intruded upon tho
Z Il.
excitement, to which the audience had been
raised, that there was n universal clappng
all over the House, whcreupon threats were
made to clear the galleries, which, however,
were not putinto execution. MIR.
Gray of New-York, followed, and in the
course of his remarks took occasion to refer
to the Cilley affair" of last winter, which
brought Mr.. Wise Of Virginia, to the floor,
who entered into somewh hat an elaborate
Justification of his conduct on that memoir
able OCCASION. He set the duelling law
which has just passed, AT defiance. and de-
elared that he did las, winter what he would
do again, let the pharisees aud puritsus say
what they would. The question to lay on
the table was again taken and decided in
the negative. Ayes 81, Noes lOi. o
Thus whole day has been consumed with
this nffair. The House was more crowded.
and there was more excitement than there
has been on any previous occasion during
this session. AT one time it seemed almost
MS if the most furious would rush into open
conflict in the hall. The scene was on
of the representatives, of the ma
'ion' and actually disgraeefuI TO the whole
country. The greater part
Of the remarks which were made to-day,
were upon the merits of the new law iE re-
a,ion to duellns, and to show that that law
would either be entirely nugatory, or would
result III screening towards from the righ- |
eous indignation of those who may consider |
themselves aggricved. The
spirit which was manifested on this subject |
IN the capitol to-day, was enough to strike |
,very ehristinn-feeliag man with horror and
shame. The House presented a perfect
boiling over with rage aad fury,
md members from all parts were adding fu-
i TO the flames. ] was proud of the land
IF my birth, rs | Witnessed the destitutien
If priuciPlc and the unworthy motives by
which men were actunled. was glad that
here was one part Of the country at least,
which did not bow the knee 10 such cut
hroat principles, aud such miserable codes
,f morality as some Of the representatives
'f this great nation manifested to be their
'ule of action. | was glad that there was
'ne portion Of the country which had risen
'bovc such petty fiivolities; one por-
ion of the country, where public sentiment
rad learned to distinguish between honor
Ind dishonor, and to award each to those
she were worthy which had learned that
,e who cnlumnisfcs another man, does so
IT the expense Of his own reputation, and
where the shafts Of malice fall back into
he heart and character Of their author.
was proud that in New-England even
,arded justice presides over the condac; Of
men, and that the poisoned chaliee is there
,resented to the lips Of him who prepares
{, and that he is obliged To drink OF the
potion to the very dres.. /