Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-02-08
Southern Argument.

might makes right" is the Shareholders
most effective plea; tho appeal to force Of
arms his last and strongest argument. Floor
ed in an encounter Of logic, his bowie knife
puts him on his feet again. With sush ar
guments, Atchison and Stringfellow urge the
propriety of extending slavery over free ter
ritory. So MIR. Rust, of Arkansas, unable in
any other way, to make consistent or houora-
Bile his action rs member Of the House, falls
back on his muscle, and set. himself right be-
fore the country, by knocking down the man
who has commented on his course,
Mr.. Rust has shown himself to be not only
great rufian. bu. great fool. The trans
action makes it evident that he has raw spots,
which can be reached by the quill. The Sc
quel will show, we fancy, that the editors
pen will prove heavier than this Arkansas
bully's metal headed cane If Mr.. Greeley
does not, in time to come, polish of this Rust,
as rust was never polished of before, we shall
be disappointed.
We copy Mr.. Greeley's account Of tho
affair.
Border Ruffianism in Warrington.
Editorial Correspondence Of the y. Y. Tribune.
WARRINGTON, Tuesday, Jan. 90, 1856.
have heard since | came here a good deal
OF the personal violence to which / was ex-
posed, but only one man ha. offered to attack
me TIL to-day, and he was so drunk that he
MADE a poor fist of it. In fact, do not re-
member that any man ever seriously attacked
me till now.
| was conversing with two gentlemen on.
my way down from the Capitol after the ad-
lournment of the House this afternoon, when
stranger requested word nth me. stop
ped, and my friends went on. The strangers
who appeared in the prime of life, six feet
high, and who must weigh over two hundred
II, your name Greeley"
Yes
- Are you non com batantl"
g That is according to circumstances.
The words were hardly out of my mouth
when he struck me a stunning blow on the
right side of my head, and followed it by two
or three more, as rapidly as possible My
hands were still in my great coat pockets, for
had no idea he WAS about to strike. He
staggered me against the fence of the walk
from the Capitol TO the Avenue, but did not
get me down. rallied as soon as possible
and saw him standing several feet from me
with several persons standing or rushing in
between US. asked, Who is this man
don't know him. and understood him to an
sHer, with an imprecatiOn, You il know me
soon enough or " You'll know me hereaf-
ter, when he turned, and went down to-
ward the street No one answered nv in
hnt Sol Isn
who told me that my assailant was Albert
Rust, NJ. e., from Arkansas. lie gave no
hint of any cause or pretext he may have had
. for this assault, but must infer that 1t is
to he found in my structures in Mondays TRl-
BUSE dieter Of Thursday evening last) on his
attempt to drive Mr.. Banks out of the field IS
n candidate for Speaker by passing resolu-
ton inviting oil the present candidates to
withdraw. thought that a mean trick, and
said SO most decidedly, certainly think no
| better of it, now that | have made the ac-
/ quaintance Of its author.
/ The bully turned and walked down along 4;
/ | followed, converting with two friends
/ Crossing Four-and-a- half street, they dropped
behind to speak to acquaintance, and |,
walking along toward the National Hotel
soon found myself in the midst Of huddle Of
strangers. One of these turned short upon
}
said, Do you know me now ~ | answered
- Yes you are Rust of Arkansas" lie SAID
something of what he would do if | were a
combatant and | replied that claimed no
exemption on that account He now drew a
heavy cane, which had not seen before, and
struck pretty heavy blow at my head, which
/ | caught on my left arm, with no other dam
age than q rather severe bruise. lie was try.
ing to strike again, and was endeavoring to
close with him, when several persons rushed
between and separated us. did not strike
him at all, nor lay a finger on him but it
certainly would have been pleasure to me,
had been able, to perform the public duty
Of knocking him down, ] cannot mistake the
movement Of his hand on the Avenue, and am
sure il must have been toward pistol in his
belt And the crowd which surrounded us
was nearly all Southern, as he doubtless knew
before he renewed bis attack on me.
| presume this is not the last outrage to
which | am TO be subjected ! came here
with clear understanding that it was about
an even chance whether | should or should
not be allowed to go home alive; for my bu-
slness here IL 10 unmask hypocrisy, defeat
| treachery and rebuke meanness, and these
| are not dainty empluyments, even in smoother
| times than ours. But shall stay here lust
50 long as think proper, using great plain
ness OF speech, but endeavoring TO treat all
men justly and faithfully. Imay often judge
harshly, and even be mistaken as to facts
but shall always be ready to correct my
mistakes and to amend my judgments. | shall
carry no weapons and engage in no brawls;
but II ruthans waylay and assail me, shall
certainly not run, and, so far as able, shall
defend myself, H. Il.