The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-27

The presen, military force of Maine
1890.
The scene in the House of Representa-
lives at Washington, on Thursday last
judging from the accounts we have seen O
it, was extremely disgraceful to all who uer
concerned 1t.
The following extracts from the Cores
pondence Of the Journal of Commerce, ans
Boston Courier, both Wbig papers) will
show our readers who were the actors il
the proceedings and the parts they acted.
Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce
WASHINGTON, Thursday February 81.
The House presented an unusual anc
painful sense Of excitement to day. l say
painful, but it no doubt delighted most o
the lockers on.-The news spread rapidly
this morning, that Duncan was to be i'm
paled and fayed alive in the House, and
that, in all probability, there would be n few
lives sacrificed on the floor. A vast con-
course Of spectators was accordingly assem-.
bled in the galleries, and even the privileg-
ed seats on the foor were filled. The Sen
ators came down in numbers to witness the
spectacle. No parallel could be found for
the scene, except in the gladiatorial exhi-
birions of ancient Rome. The spectators
all had their favorites, and would no doubt
back them with bets, till one or another
were slain. Loud applause from the gal.
leries sometimes cheered on the con,batants,
and, al other times, deep silence and atten-
tion gave them still greater encouragement.
Ii was painful and hu,nilating spectn-
Gle to those who saw, in it, the beginning of
the end. The demon of party spirit has
driven out oil decency and all sense Of de-
corum from the Capitol, and the time is q,
hand when fowl personal abuse, on the floor
OF the House, will be succeeded, not by
mere fis;-a-cuffs, but BY fierce and bloody
conflicts. Ii is said that many members
now go armed 10 the capitol, and, if the
words which are so often banded between
them were any thing, there is occasion for
IT. The spectators were disappointed with
the show to-day, nobody was shot on the
floor, and all that the parties did was mere
ly to do what they have often done before,
--backen each other with every foul cpl
tibet that the Billingsgate vocabulary could
afford
l shall not go into the disgusting details
but give you programme of the specta-
Gle.
MIR. Prentiss offered resolution declar-
ing that it was necessary for the House to
inquire, whether Alexander Duncan, n
member from Ohio, had published in the
Glsbo certain statements abusive Of Mr..
Stanley and Mr.. Soutlgate whether this
was not breach Of privilege; and wheth-
er the members offending ought not to be
expelled.-Mr. Pren,iss supported the res
olution a, great length, in very animated
speech, dwelling upon the necessity of
protecting the members of the House, or Of
suffering them to protect themselves. He
was opposed to the duel law, believing that
it would encourage blackguardism, and he
called upon the House either to protect its
or to give thss, back the arms Of
chivalry.
Mr.. Duncan, to save the trouble of eu-
luiries, nvowcd the authorship of the pub
ication, signed by his name.
Mr.. Jcnifer made some remarks express
.ive Of his apprehension tha, the duel law
would be founa practically mischievons,
though he had Reluctantly voted for it.
Mr.. Duncan followed in a long ius,i6ca-
ion Of his course. He said that, in the
House, he was prevented, by a call of the
previous question, from replying to the false
statements there made in reference to him
'ha, on the 4th Of FEBRUARY, the Intelligence
contained a speech 'dr. Stanley's,l sbu-
'vc of him that this abusive speech he
could reply to no where bu, in the newspa-
pers; tina. he and his political friends had
been abused aud insulied dailv and hnbi,u-
ally on this floor, in the other House, aad
by the lean aud hungry federal let,er-wri-
,rr' employed here BY the opposition; tha,
he was driven 10 his publication by neces.i-
~, stern necessity. What he had done was
contrary to his be,,er judgment,-against
his better feeling, aud ms he was conscious,
against all parliamentary laws aud deco
rum. But the necessity Of the case, was
has apology to his constituents snd the
country. Every word he had .aid, he be-
l'eved, IN his heart, to be true, aad every
word nc would stand by. lie had not the
duel law IN contemplation when he wrote
The articles, but he held himself, in spite of
that law, al any senllemnn's coil. In ten