New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-28
The Difficulty Between Hon. Mr.. Briggs ssl
the Postmaster.t3eseral.

WASHINGTON Friday Feb Is. lssS
| Several versions of the late assault upon the
! Postmaster-Gereral made by Hon. Mr.. Briggs
/ Of New-York, have been sent out. and regret
to say, all of them are more or less incorrect in
their statements. l have with some care col.
lected all the facts in the ease, and they are sub
stantially as follows:
On Saturday the 18th inst, Mr. Briggs called
! at the Department with petition from the
New-YOrk Chamber of Commerce, asking tas
employment of small steamer 20 receive at the
quarantine grounds and expedite the delivery Of
the European and California mails. The Postmss-
ter General in his usual prompt manner replied
that the same subject had already been urged
by Senator Seward, and Governor Fish, and that
he had declined for reasons which no mon
toned 10 order the service which they desired
and that they could not now reconsider the case
Mr. Briggs, thereupon became angry, and threw
the papers with violence upon the. floor, and
asked if Mr.. Hubbard intended to insult
him. Certainly not, Briggs" said Dir
Hubbard, :" l had no idea of insulting You or
of hurting your feelings in any way but l
have told Mr.. Fish and Mr. Seward that do
not think the department should order tho
service; and see no reason for reconsiderng
the subject" Mr.. Briggs replied vehemontly.
" Sir, you hare insulted me, aud you are no gen-
tleman." The Postmaster General continued
with perfect good nature that he did not think
Mr.. Briggs opinion in that regard would mato-
rally affect his character or standing, aud it
was altogether matter of Indifference To hun;
but said he, IL see no occasion for you TO be
angry, Briggs repeat that did not intend to
offend or insult you Mr.. Briggs, did not in
the least relent but stubbornly insisted that an
insult had been offered, and repeated with great
a. I..lL L..
At length, seeing that denial and remonstrance
was useless, Mr. Hubbard said that il Mr.
Briggs was determined TO take offence where no
offence was intended, he might do So and make
the most of it, Thereupon Mr.. Briggs jerkily
gathered up the papers, and lett the room.
Subsequently the Postmaster.( ieneral was in.
formed by mutual friend of the parties, that
Briggs regretted the occurrence of the diff.
Guilty, and would be glad TO have il amicably
arranged Mr.. Hubbard replied that no had
never felt the least resentment toward Mr.
Briggs and that he might so tell him, ii he
chose.
On Tuesday last the Postmaster-G General
being at the Capitol on business of the Depart
ment, met Mr. Briggs in one of the passages and
extended his right hand to him, with his eidi-
nary salutation OF" How are you Briggs" AT
ter shaking hands they passed each other but
shortly after MIR. Briggs approached the Post
master. General in the rOtunda aud no suppos.
ing after what had passed, that Mr. Briggs had
no other than kind intentions, Familiarity xtended
his hand, which the latter took, and to tho great
surprise of Mr.. Hubbard, went on to say that he
wished the POstmaster-General to understand
that his shaking hands with him was uninten.
tional-that it was an accident of lorpetfuiness
on his part. To which Mr.. Hubbard replied
that it was OF no consequence, or that il made
no difference; and Mr.. Briggs (still holding his
HANDY rejoined, that he thought that a man who
would issut him would persist in it. Mr.. Hub
buard replied that he had neither insuted nor
intended to insult him Mr.. Briggs again re-
joined, " You haze insrllted me, Sir aud you are
no gentleman; and ii there was nything more
that l could say to insult yOu, would say it,
10 TINS declaration Mr.. Hubbard replied that
he did not regard his opinion, aud indeed cared
nothing for it. Mr.. Briggs then dropped the
hand OF Mr.. Hubbard and with his fst struck
him with great violence in the face near the ave
saving" have now given you the blow-re-
sent It ~ With the the utmost selfp0ssession
Mr.. Hubbard replied, that he should not resent
1t, and would have no brawi with him, for that
his conduct had been suchas TO place him be.
meath his contempt Mr.. Briggs thereupon
struck several Intellectual blows at Mr. Hub
bard, when member Of the Capitol Police in.
tertered and restrained him from further yio-
lence, which he loudly threatened to ndict az
some future time
Altogether il is an extraordinary affair IL
would be difficult 10 find a more peaceeble man
than SAMUEL ID. HUBBARD. During the four
years which be served in Congress, doubt
whether he exchanged an angry word with one
OF bis colleagues. His course in tho whole
difficulty with Mr.. Briggs has been that Of d
man who has obtained great mastery over bis
passions, while it is such az men from Of all
sections OF the country commend as singulahy
right and proper under tie circumstances He
has borne, however, all that forbearance requires
and repetition Of the attack would be Ikelyto
end less fortunately for his assaant.
QCSsIPnc.