Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-02-17
Fracas ut vyashinfton

Fracas at WashinSton.
Most Of our readers have heard some.
thing o; rencontre which took place
some three weeks slncs II ,ht Nall &c The
House Of Representatives at Washing
Ton. between Mr.. WKLLIs, M C. from
Ohio, and Mr. SHRlvRR, the Areporter
Of the Baltimore Patriot. Mr.. WELLER,
it sppears,took offence at the report made
by Mr.. s. Of his speech in reply to Mr..
Ssewesss Of Pa; and citing Mr. Htrivsr
in the hall ofthe House, sceos,ed him, &C.
corling = the correspondent Of the 81.
Louis Republican, a. ioIloxs:a 81 ~
care you the correspondent Of, the
Baltimore Patriot?' $3.50 ~ -
I'll am."r 5ratgF 4ayla
We'll, SIR saidr Mr.. Wellsr. -FOUR &c
port of my speech, IN reply to Mr.. Stew
art of Pennsylvania, is incorrect. Il
4 hold myself responsible for my r.
ports, reiorted Mr.. Shriver.
Mr.. Weller. We'll. then, sir, it is false, !
Me- ShriysE ssYcurlie sif.'oI
III, This was putting the previous question
$50 without further debate. Mr. Weller
forthwith up with his fist and knocked
him down lie had no sooner gained his
legs. than Mr.. w. again pi,ched into him
driving him ,forcibly against one OF the
windows md smashing the glass A
struggle cnsucd, and Mr.. Shriver, who il
much the smaller man Of the two, was
again thrown. By this time, . group o!
members and reporters had gathered
round. and one Of them in,erposed to pull
Mr.. Weller off Mr.. Shriver, who was
pumre.ing away without mercy and
without stint" . 4 ali a8s4
MN Mr.. STRIVES, il appears, subsequently,
challenged Mr.. WELLER. which challenge
Gen. Dawson, Of Louisiana, (Mr. WIS
friend in the matter,i refused to accept.
for reasons set forth by him in card 10
the pubic. Tho whis papers having
teemed with all sorts Of misrcpresen,a-
ton Of Mr.. Weller's conduct since the
affair, we think It duo to the public that
Gen. Dawson's statement should be laid
before them. Here IL is: h
A CARD.
An article has this moment been shown
to me in The "Ballimore PATRIOT Of YES.
tcrday, over The signature of a. F. Shriv.
or and Edward VIM. Johnston, in relation
to the difficulty between the former and
Mr.. Weller, Of Ohio. (for whom acted
in this affair.) | desire TO say unequivo-
cally, that the statements they have made
as 10 what transpred are incorrect in
every important particular.
On Thursday evening, the 25th inst !,
note was handed 10 me by Mr., Weller,
from Mr.. Shriver, with request to act
as his frleni IN the matter, and 10 take
such a course a. 4 might deem necessary
for the maintenance Of his honor. The
next day friday [ repaired 10 the room
Of Mr. Weller. where ! received Mr.. lid.
ward VIM. Johnston, the bearer or The
challenge. twho was endorsed Us gen.
tIeman BY Mr.. VIM. Cost Johnson, Of Ma.
ryisnd ! informed him that, a. the
friend Of Mr.. Weller, we could not meet
Mr.. Shriver;. that we could NOT recognise
him as an equal; that he must take back
the challenge; and he did 81. He John
stony then remarked, What shalt We do:
Mr.. Shrivcr cannot get to see Mr.. Weller.
| informed him that, if Mr.. Shrivsr
wished 10 attack Mr.. Weller, 10 bring
him up 10 the House between one and
two o'clock p, m that day, and pledged
myself TO produce Mr.. Weller outside Of
the House, at any point he might dssig-
nate.
Mr.. Weller and myself repaired TO In.
Capitol at about twelve o'clock, M, and
remained there, until nm hour after the
adjournment-say four o'clock, D. n.
No one approaching, We walked down
the avenue to our quarters. vs.
In the evening Mr.. Edward VIM. John
sion came 10 my room. and spoke Of an
other time being fixed FOR street fight.
answered, your friend has acted co,card-
Iy in not attending today at the time
named and canno, correspond with you
farther on that subject. He then spoke
Of reconciliation, and alluded 10 his un.
pleasant situation. and adver,ed TO VIM
Cost Johnson. ] then said bring Mr..
VIM. Cost Johnson TO me, and pc rhs ps
we can arrange it. The next day (Sat-
urday) Mr.. William Cost Johnson and
Edward William Johnston came TO my
room, and we had long Interview. I
informed item then that we could make
no concessions-no compromises no a
po'ogies. No declaration was made TO
Mr.. Edward VIM. Johnston, that in the
declina,ion Of the challenge Of Mr. Shriv
CT, we meant no disrespect 10 him or his
friend; for il was my determination from
the outset, that he (Mr. Weiler) should
fight nobody but gentleman Of undispu-
ted character.