Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-02-09
TWENT Y-EIGHTH CONG KSS.
From The Baltimore Patrio,
ANOTHER OUTRAGE IN THE HALL OF
CONGRESS-.

ANOTHER OUTRAGE IN THE HALL OF
CONGRESS.
We wore surprised las, night al receiving q
letter from Warrington, informing Of at
tack which had been made upon our Washington
reporter by Mr.. Weller, of Ohio. The mail Of
this morning brought Us letter from our corses-
pondsot, giving az account Of tho attack, Which
vs. publish below.
From bullyi ing members on tho floor, at which
M. Weller m ct with such little success, he has
passed TO bullying the reporters for the newsPa-
Psrs.
We copy below, from the Boston Advertiser. that
tho attack made by Mr.. Weller upon q member
from Peonsyivania was determined upon in a
caucus Of Loco Focos, and that Mr.. w.
lec,sd "as fitting agent in this business"
Whether it was in obedience to caucus dicta-
ton that Mr.. w. made his attack upon our 70.
porter, va are not advised, but rs he was backed
up by friends, il is most likely that no only VEN
tured upon it by being assured that he should
have their aid.
Il will be seen, Ly the note which we copy be-
low from the American Of this morning, that the
a.sau. has 'sxci,ed great feeling in and out Of
the House, we'll for the place where il was
made, a. for tho attack upon tho press"
In the better days of tho Republic. when the
post Of q member Of Congress was ono Of honor,
she vindication OF the character OF tho nation
outraged and dishouored by the conduct of one Of
tho representatives., would not be left to the pub
lie press. Tho expulsion Of the offending NOM
Der would havo cut short his TRADES Of abuse.
and saved the House and tho country tho morti-
fcaiion Of the s:ene no enacted But that "chas.
tiy Of honor which felt stain like wound"
seeks in vain for suppori from the present House
Of Repres sntaiives. After what has recently
occurred in the case Of tho attack upon Mr.
Stewart, OF Pcnnsyi vania, a member, followed
up by personal violence to M: Shr'ver' !ePor
ter. MI. John B. Weller, of Ohio, may claim to
have succeeded in establishing for the present
House Of Rspresen tativss a notoristy which the
leaders OF the swell mob in London might envy.
But the expectation, which most likely Promp-
tod tho attack upon Mr.. Shriver, that the indie.
pendence Of tho press can DO ovsFawed by vio-
lence, 10 altogether vain. Tho members of Con-
gress, as public servants. whose conduct affects
and concerns tho whole Union, are subject to cen
suro or praise, q they may deserve II; and,
speaking for ourselves aud our correspondent,
they will receive il. II one Of them disgraces
his position. his disgrace shall be recorded. II
he wins honor. tho praise he merits shall be award.
cd to him. II he essays to establish the charac-
ter Of bully, he will find that the nfamy attach
cd to such . man, shall be spread far and
wide a. the press can bear il. If sinking still
lower, he becomes q backguard,-(we use the
word only because there is no other in tho lam
gusge which fully conveys tho idea Of such a
psrson)-i, We say, no sinks to tho blackguard.
tho lowness Of his conduct, aud the Disgrace Of
his position, shall not prevent tho press from pub
fishing tho facts, that dishonor aud disreputo
Mr.. Weller, then, and those who &C, like him
or aid or abet his ou'rsges. may not hope TO es'
ospo public observation and public anmadv ersion +,
by threatening OF a''aul'i"e writer's for tho pub
He makes tho bed Of infamy for himself, and he
must lie in IL.
In the particular case Of tho outrage which
have now 10 record. tho facts ns detailed in the
latter Of our correspondent, will speak for then>
selves.
OF the ma nlinsss Of tho wanton assault which
was made on Mr.. Shsiver, tho public m ay Judge,
whom they learn that Mr.. 8. is a gentlemen Of
weak frame, and is altogether untitled by nature
or education for a champion Of the ring. Mr.
Weller, on the contrary, 10 athletic, is ono whom
nature would seem to have made for such pur-
pose, and, - his course shows, he is determined
not to disappoint his destiny.
10 relation to Mr.. Shriver's position, socially
and politically. We have to say. that as q man Of
and Of general esieem, no is the equal Of any
man on or off tho floor Of Congress.
His 10 not the character that such an attack
Mr.. Weller has made on him, can affect in any
way unfavorably. Nor 10 he tho man 10 be de-
tered from the performance Of duty, by the
spprehensi ons Of such assaults, or Of any conse.
Quences 10 himself personally.
II 10 proper here TO remark that there has been
. very general expression Of sympaihy on tho
par, Of our citizens for Mr.. s, and that the in.
dignation Of the public at tho assault Of Mr..
Weller 10 very grea,.-The place and manner Of
tho assauIt wero such to almost take away the
power Of resistance, but MI SIS friends will DO
glad TO learn that tho injuries be received are
not severe though they may for a time confine
him TO his room. II is wonderful that under the
circumstances. no vas no, seriously wounded.
Washington correspondence of tho Baltimore Patriot.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, lS44.
The affair which occurred this morning in tho
Hall OF the House Of Representatives., between
Mr.. Weller and myself being such a., from the
place, iime and parties TO il. must excite much
public attention. feel bound, as painful a. il is,
in my own just6cssi ton to state. in substance, the
material facts as far ~ I eau recollect them:
A shor, time before the hour Of meeting Of tho
House, was accosted by Mr.. Weller in tho re-