The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-23

Before our Congressional pugists and braves
are summasily condemned IL becomes US TO look
into history. which 10 philosophy teaching BY
exAopls." in order to discover how the greatest
men in the most luminous ages have deported
themselves. For that which was usual and sp-
plauded In the eminent psrsonages Of Athens
and Rome, IL commonly accepted a. agreeable
to the grand principles of justice and decorum.
Turning to the Epstles Of Cicero, Book tx,
Ep. "a, ad Anicum, we find the great orator
thus giving an account Of scuff1e which oc-
Cured in the senate house, when julius C@ ,ar
was defining his positions
Having only trifics TO write, nevertheless
send you, my At!icus, an account of The late
shindy, in which our Cesar was engaged He
was denying roundIy an allegation Of Cato, when
the erusty old man flew upon him, tooth and
nail, (pugnis ct calcibus,) and BACKED his eye,
in most convincing manner. The veracity Of
Cato il no longer doubtful, for he proceeded to
punish C@sai's nose, (nasum pertundere) in
close and irrefragable style. Julius felt for his
bowie knife, (gladiolum,) but was restrained by
the Conscrpt Fathers, who shortly af Ter formed
ring, and voted civic crown to both orators. -
Something very like ihi. occurred in the
Athenian assembly long before. Eschines had
heard some quite personal remarks from De-
mosthsnes, on which, instead of relying on rea
sons, witnesses and public judgment, the wea
poDs of women and towards, he-(but Putarch
tells the story most briefly, Life Of 4Eschines,
sec 9l)
"He fetched The orator such blow in the
face WINS cheaper than syllopism; but De-
mosthenes, with that deinosis which belongs to
him, few at his rival, and was about to gouge
out his eye, whom the assembly cried out that
they were satisfied with the arguments and vir-
tues of the two (kalokagathoD gentlemen"
These anecdotes of u semi barbarous age
may be less weighty, as precedent, than an DC
currence in the House of Commons, as reported
by Hansard, (yol. xcvii, p. 1881 1t related to
the famous debate between Pitt and Fox, on the
bill for increasing the Spanish line:
"Ar. Fox here assaed the positions of the
premier with rapid sarcasm and kecrpersonalty,
calingthe honorable gentleman blackguard and
- Of -. To which Mr.. Pitt replied
by splitting tob eco juice in the face of the
other Mr.. Fox, nothing daunted, cleiched
with his adversary, and the two orators were
soon rolling in a true Cornish hug, with occa
sional spirting of claret and several milling
punches in the bread basket. After suitable
time, the combatants rose, exchanged their torn
coats for better habits, made bows and apologies,
and received the cheers Of the House."
From these authentic documents, it will ap-
pear that nothing is more accordant with right
reason and the consent of wise men at all times,
than that the servants of great nation should
be allowed, in default of other remedy for harsh
logic, 10 resort to the ultima ratio. 1t is only
among helower or unlettered classes, that the
license is restrained. If my servants, behind
my chair, should give the lie, and reciprocaly
pull the nose, pound the visags or knock down
and drag out, should certainly dismiss them,
even after apology. 1t would not be CONNIE il
faut But the case is different with servants of
the people, who, according to the Constitution,
are sent to Congress to define their respective
positions, to eyirce their pluck and breeding, to
stand guard over their own veracity, and if ne
cessary, to square of. and delight the fancy by
blows in the face and digs in the epigastric re
gion.