The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-31
Congressional Duels.

The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia North American says:
There have been no fatal duels among
the members Of Congress since that be-
tween Cilley and Graves, in Is 7. Iu
1912 occurred difficulty between Wise
and Stanly, which would probably have
produced a drel, but for arrest of parties,
and their being bound over to keep the
peace. The next serious difficulty was
between Yancy, Of Alabama, and Cling
man, of North Carolina. Mr.. y. gave
Mr.. G. a personal ati'ront discussion on the
annexation of Texas, and when appealed
to for explanations, made the pointed re-
ply, explanation elsewhere They were
demanded elsewhere, and not being salts
factory, meeting and exchange of shots
took place, without damage to either COM
batant.
The next affair was that between Mr..
StanIy and Mr.. Inge, of Alabama. The
latte: gave the insult, refused to retrac;,
was challenged and accepted. After AN
exchange OF shots, without execution, the
parties were satisfied"
Probably the next affair in the order of
tire, WAS the personal quarrel between
Mr.. Benton and Mr.. Butler, of South Ca
rolina, in which after the lie was given
with great acrimony Of manner in the Sc
nate, challenge was given, but the diff
fcuIty was adjusted by the usual apologies
and regrets.
During the excitement which ended
with the compromise of 1850, two person.
al affairs arose which nearly approached
duel, and produced profound sensation.
The tilst was that between Coz. Bissell, Of
Illinois, and Col. Jefferson Davis. Col.
Bisscll had made one OF the most impress
sive speeches ever heard in the House on
the sectional question, during which lie de-:
nOunccd, with much severity, certain pre-
tcntiuns advanced in behalf Of the Missis-
sipp troops in the Battle o' Buena Vista.
Col. Davis, then in the Senate, commanded ,
that regiment in the battle. III deman-
ded n retraction Of the assertion, of Col.
BisselI. A correspondence cnsued, which
ended in challenge and its Acceptance
The weapons selected were muskets, ard
the fight would certainly have taken place
had not The parties and their friends very
opportuney discovered that they were dis
putting about nothing at all.
In the spring Of 1850, Mr.. Duer, of
New York, said he believed Mr.. Meade,
of Virginia, was disunionist. 1T is false
and you are liar were Immediately ex.
changed. A challenge, its acceptance, in
tcrposition of friends, retractions and re-
conciiation naturally followed.
have omitted an occurrence between
MIR, Clay and the late Vice President King,
which produced at the time wider and
deeper sensation than any other OF the
same nature which led to no actual con-
fict. AT the extra session Of lS4l. after
the great triumph Of the Presidential elec-
tion, Mr.. Clay saw that through the defec-
ton Of Tyler, the fruits Of the triumph Of
the previous year were likely to be snatch.
ed from the hands of those who won Il,
and was somewhat less amiable than was
habitul with him. In one Of his least
complaisani moods. Mr.. King had declar.
ed, in substance, that f l.. Blair was as
much entitled to confidence and respect as
Mr.. Clay. Mr.. Clay denied il, and,
think, pronounced the assertion false. Mr..
King quietly remarked, Il have nothing
TO say and sat down. The next day
challenge was given, the challenger being
ffty-eight and the challenged party sixty
three years old. The advanced age Of
both parties should have hecn q guaFaptee
against any really hostile intehiions. but
they were entertained. and the disagree
ment was arranged only with great difi-
Guilty.
Such Is tS'ef record Of Congressional
b lligs-ency for the last thirteen years. Il
Iis obvious that while the habit of quarrsl-
ieg remains, tho practice Of fighting p