Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-30
The Congressional Fights.

Washington correspondent oil the CONNER
cial Aduerfiser thus sketches some Of the dis
graceful scenes attending the close Of the KAAIh
Congress.
The fights and personal collisions which oc-
CURED on the floors Of both Houses are deeply
10 be deplored but they should not be forgotten.
The facts concerning those which took place in
the House develop not only an unamisbe, but
most alarming state Of feeling existing there.
The dihicultX between Mr.. Meade and Mr.. Gid
dings took place at about ten o'clock, when the
Southern members, after having been at one
time in the evening elatcd 10 high degree by
what they thought almost the certainty OF sue
cess in their most cherished plans, began 10 fear
that the chances of final success inclined to
their adversaries. MIR. Giddngs sits near the
Speakers chair on the left; Mr.. Meade almost
directly in front of il, not far removed. Be-
tween their seats is the open semi.clrcular area
before the clerks desk Mr. Giddings crossed
over to the desk of Mr.. Turner Of Illinois, zen
lousIy engaged in cooperating with Mr.. G., "
others in the effort to strike off the Senate a.
mendmenl or de(eat the bill. Mr.. &. asked Mr.
Turner, who is Democrat if the Locolocos on
his side Of the house were as good humored us
the Wings on the olher. Mr.. L. replied that
they were not, that they were much exaspera-
ted. Mr.. Giddings said that il was not good po-
licy; that there was no need of passion.
Mr.. Meade was sitting near in his own seat
lie said, seeming to address himself in part to
Mr.. G. and in part to another gentleman. that
the only way to manage The scoundrels was to
nut them in bodily fear, to make them under
stand that if they pursued their lacIious and in
cendary course they were doing so at the risk oI
their lives. lie was understood TO refer to the
contes, then going on. Mr.. Giddings turned to
him and said that that would hardly effect any
good purpose; that the best way would be to be
calm, to contest the matter with mild tlrmness
as long as there was fair hope Of success, ant
10 yield with good grace when il became nev
liable. Mr. Meade then sprung to his feet ant
seized Mr.. Giddings by the collar, swearing will
bitter oalhs that if he uttered another word hi
would cut his heart out. Tho members whc
in,errered say that MIR. G.. had his hand clench
ed, in the attitude of man about to strike
Had he done 50 he would have been justified
and his assuilant would have been dosperatcl
hurt, for Mr.. CT is u man of IIercuean mould
md his antagonist were so paralysed with rag
us 10 be totally powerless. Had Meade's idea
of legislation been carried out, the proceeding
would have been brought TO u summary closC
by fearful riot, in the early part of the even
ing,
The incidents of the fight between Mcssrs.
w. Johnson aud Picklin betrayed similar sPll
il. Ii arose in an alteration between the tw
upon u petty resolution Offered by The former
defeated. From words they quickly came /
blows. Those would Of course have been tel
minated Immediately by the interference olmeT
bers, but Mr. Inge Of Alabama remarkabl
quiet and genllcmany man in appearance reach
ed up and struck Mr.. f, on tho forehead with
small iron cane which he carries. After the a
fair was over he composedy answered the il
quires of the curious by saying that he ha
been expecting row the whole evening, be
tween the North and South, and he thought th
was the beginning Of it. His only impulse wa
to assist a friend from the South. NaiuC as th
confession was, il doubtless most truly indicate
very prevalent leoling among tho younga
members Of tho Southern delegations. TIL
man had probably heard Mr., Mcade's remarks
Perhaps they had been partly addressed to hin
as his seat is n.that vicinity. The awful con
sequences that might have resulted from III
meresl accidental collision, AT such limo an
ono may imagine. 1t would not be easy TO e!
aggeraIe them.