The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-23
From the Nsso York Daily Times.
parliamentary Precedents.


Before our Congressional pugists and braves
are summarily condemned, il becomes us to look
into history, which is philosophy teaching by
example," in order to discover how the greatest
men in the most luminous ages have deported
themselves. For that which was usual and ap.
plauded in the eminent personages OF Athens
and Rome, is commonly accepted as agreeable
to the grand principles Of justice and decorum.
Turning to the Epistles of Cicero, Book TX.
Ep "a, ad Aiticum, we find the great orator
thus giving an account of scuffie which oc.
Cured in the senate house, when julius Ca sal
was defining his position:
Having only trifes to write, nevertheless
send you, my Atticus, an account OF the late
shindy, in which our Caesar was engaged he
was DENYING roundly an allegation of Cato, when
the crusty old man flew upon him, tooth and
nail, (pugnis Ell calcibus,) and BACKED his eye
in most convincing manner. The veracity OF
Cato is no longer doubtful, for he proceeded to
punish Caesars nose, (nasum peTftndere,) IN Q
close and rrefragabe style. julius felt for bis
bowie knife, (gladioluna,) but was restrained BY
the Conscript Fathers, who shortly after formed
ring, and voted civic crown to both orators
Something very like this occurred in the
Athenian assembly long before Asschines had
heard some quite personal remarks from De
mosthenes, on which, instead OF relying on rea-
sons, witnesses and public judgment, the wea-
pons of women and towards, he-(but Plutarch
tells the story most briefly, Life Of Eschines
sec. 9l:)
.He fetched the orator such a blow in the
face as was cheaper than syllogism but De-
mosthenes, with that deinosis which belongs to
him, flew at his rival, and was about to gouge
out his eve, when the assembly cried out that
they were satisfied with the arguments and vir-
tues of the two (kalokagathoi) gentlemen"
These anecdotes of a semi barbarous age
may be less weighty, as precedent than an DC.
currence in the House of Commons, as reported
by Hansard, (vol. xcvii., p. 1857 1t related to
the famous debate between Pitt and Fox, on the
bill for Increasing the Spanish line:
"A,r. Fox here assailed the positions OF the
premier with rapid sarcasm and keen personality
callingthe honorable gentleman blackguard and
of a.. To which Mr.. Pitt replied
by splitting tob eco juice in the face OF the
other. Mr.. Fox, nothing daunted, cler.ched
with his adversary; and the two orators were
soon rolling in true Cornish hug, with occa
sional sprting of claret and several milling
punches in the breadbasket 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.a 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, TO resort to the Ultima ratio. 1t is only
among the lower or unlettered classes, that the
license is restrained. If my servants, behind
my chair, should give the lie, and reciprocally
pull the nose, pound the visage, or knock down
and drag out, should certainly dismiss them,
even after apology. 1t would not be CONNIE il
fam. But the case is different with servants OF
the people, who, according to tho Consultation
are sent to Congress to define their respective
positions, to evirce their pluck and breeding, to
stand guard over their own yeracity, and if ne
cessary, to square off, and delight the fancy by
blows in the face and digs in the epigastric re-
gion.