The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-21
rrnm the PennsyIyania telegraph.
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| Ezonsc Of Representatives.
We take up our pen with extreme re-
luclance, to record an event without It's
parallel in the history Of Pennsylvania,
and one which, while it must attach, in
the minds of most men, and under any
circumstances, some degree of odium TO
the lower branch of our legislature, must
and will consgn ii 10 immortal inIamy, if
/ it does not vindicate its own reputation,
and the character of the Commonwealth,
by condign punishment Of the author or
authors of The indignity.
This morning, the State Capitol Gaz.
cite was issued, with the following art-
Gle, under its editorial head:
"YOU SHALL BOfH HAVE OFFICE IN
| THE CUSTOM HOUSE, If YOU VOTE
FOR THE TYLER CANDIDATE FOR
STATE PRINTER" as J. Porter Brawey said
! to MCGOWAN and Bacon. "AgreeG,' was the
sponse--and they did vote for them sure enough.
| In our next we shall hold up to the public gaze
every man who has been brbed
To understand the above rightly, it
will be necessary TO state, that on the first
/ ,
State Printer, Mr.. MCGOWAN, who is
from Moyamensing, IN the lower end of
the county of Philadelphia, and Mr.. Ba-
con, who is from Kensngton in the up
per section of the same county, both vo-
ted for Mr.. Bratton, the caucus candidate
for state printer. When the convention
met on Friday, for another trial, Messrs.
MCGOWAN aud Bacon both, Unexpectedly
TO every one voted for Dimock, the Gov
ernor's candidate. Charges that they
were "bought up were then and have
since been whispered about. With this
explanation, we proceed with our nara
| tive.
Immediately after copies Of the paper
containing the above article were distri-
buted in the house, Mr.. MCGOWAN came
up to Mr.. Bratlou, the publisher of the
Gazette, who was standing to the left of
the speakers chair, back, near to the en-
trance of the room Of the sergeani-at-
arms, and asked him, if he was the au
! thor Of that article! Mr.. Bratton said he
was. Mr.. McGowan, it is said, swore
at him--calling him ga damned rascal, !"
or some such term, and spit i'll bis face, at
the same time throwing the paper at him.
Before he had an opportunity 10 do any
thing more, Mr.. Brat,on caught him by
the vest collar, but upon loosing his hold,
MCGOWAN raised chair, and struck him
on the temple, inllic,ing rather a bad
wound.
1--WE wish it to be kept in mind by
those who read ibis, that, while this was
going on, the house was in regular ses-
sion for business, having the bill relative
to sale Of the main line of state canals
and railroads, under consideration and
that it all occurred on the floor of the
chamber.)
Mr.. b. then seized hold of the chair
with both hands, and was pressing MIR.
MEG. back, when The latter, relinquish-
ing the chair, drew from an inner pocket,
on the left breast Of his lrock coat, a dirk
knife, raising it suddenly and turning it
quickly in his hand, for blow. Mr..
Bratton at once dropped the chair and
fled behind the speakers rostrum, and
around to the right Of the clerks desk,
where MCGOWAN caught.up to him, and
.here, in the presence of the assembled
representatives Of the people of Pennsyl-
vania, drove the upliled knife, into his
back, but the blow aighting fortunately
on the left shoulder blade, the wound in
ilicted. though an ugly cash, was not
serious. No second blow was struck,
we believe for the members rushed in
and arrested the further progress Of the
homicide. The knife was taken from
MCGOWAN and proved to have been bent
into curve, by meeting with the resis-
lance of the shoulder bone. The force
and good will with which the blow was
given may be estimated from this fact
though, il is possible that the impetus of
the motion of running gave unusual force
to the blow.
While this scene was going on, and
after II had closed, the greatest and most
intense excitement prevailed-the whole
house was in communicable members
rushed from Their seats into the area be-
fore the speakers chair--business for the
time being was almost suspended. Alter
tho knife was taken from McGowan he
proceeded to his scat; and Mr.. Brat,on
was taken in the room of the sergeant-at-
arms, and the extent Of his injuries ex-
amincd.
AS soon as order could be restored
somewhat, Mr.. Dcford offered rcsolu