The Empire County argus., 1854-06-24

CONGRESSIONAL BELLIGERENCY.--The Washing
ton correspondent of the Philadelphia North A,ner-
can says:
There has been no fatal dues among members of
Congress since that between Mr.. Cilley and Mr..
Graves IN 1885. In l842 difficulty occurred be-
tween Mr. Wise and Mr. Stanley, which would
probably have produced duel hut for the arrest of
both parties and their being bound to keep the
peace. The next serious difficulty was between
Mr. Yancey of Ala and MIR. Clingman, of N. c.
Mr. T. gave MIR. c. a personal affront during the
discussion op the annexation of Texas and when
appealed to for explanations, made the pointed re-
ply, 'expanations elsewhere" They were deman-
ded elsewhere and not being satisfactory, meet
ing and exchange of shots took place, without dam
age to either combatant
The next affair was that between Mr. Stanley
and Mr. lnge, of Ala. The latter gave the insult
refused to rctract was challenged and excepted.
After an exchange of shots without execution the
parties were satisfied
Probably the next affair in the order Of time was
the personal quarrel between Mr. Benton aud Mr.
Butler, In which, after the lie was given with
great acrimony of manner in the Senate challenge
was gwen, but the difficulty was adjusted by apol
ogies and regrets
During the excitement which ended with the
Compromise of 1850 two personal affairs arose which
nearly approached duel and produced a profound
sensation. The first that between Col Bisscll,
of Illinois, and Col. Jefferson Davis Col Bissell
had made one of the most impressive speeches ever
heard in the House on the sectional question during
which he denounced with much severity certain
pretentions advanced in behalf of the Mississippi
troops, in the battle Of Buena Vista Col Davis,
then In the Senate had commanded that regiment
i'll the battle He demanded retrection of the as
sertion of CO.. Bissell. correspondence ensued
which ended in challenge and its acceptance. The
weapons selected were muskets, and the fight would
certainly have taken place. had not the parties and
| .bnt+
were quarrelIing about nothing at all
In the spring of 1850, Mr.. Duer, of New York.
said he believed Mr. Meade of Virginia, was dis
unionist at is ialse," and you ere liar" We're
Immediately exchanged. A challenge, its accept
ance, interposon of friends retractions and
ciliation naturally followed.
have omitted an occurrence between Mr.. Clay
and the late Vice President King, which produced
at the time n wider and deeper sensation than any
other OF the same nature which led to actual con-
fict. At the extra session of lS4l after the great
triumph Of the Presidential election. Mr. Clay saw
that through the detection Of Mr.. Tyler the fruits
ot triumph OF the previous year were likely to be
snatched from the hands of those who won it, and
was somewhat less amiable than was habitual with
him. In ono of his least compaisant moods, Mr..
King had declared, in substance, that f P. Blair
was as much entitled to confidence and respect as
Mr. Clay himself Mr.. Clay Indignantly denied it,
and, | think, pronounced the assertion false. MIR.
hlng quietly remarked, Il have nothing to say,
and sat down. The next day challenge was Civ
en-, the challenger being ffty-cight and the c6al-
cnged party sixty-threc years old. The advanced
age of both parties should have been a guarantee
against any really hostile intentions but they were
entertained and the disagreement was arranged
only with great difficulty.
Such is brief record Of Congressional beliiger-
ency for the last thirteen years 1t is obvious that
while the habit of quarreing remains the practice
of fighting is going. rather has gone out Of date.
During the whole time, but two have ended in ac-
tual resort to the field. Nobody has been killed,
nobody winged, nobody hurt In short, the custom
is antquatcd. and has become outlawed, no less in
manners OF the age than in the statute of the land
The practice belongs to age when personal PROV
ess was essential to the success in the public SER
vice, and was test of fitness for leadership The
age Of chiyary has passed. and many incidents of
the system are looked upon as ridiculous and bar
barious, which, III there day, proper and nee
essary