Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-23
Qrom the San Francisco Chronicle ,-Sept. lO.}
The Foote and Fremont Dificulty---Card
from Elk -SsBatvr Foote.

| 10 tue lOilo wing article, which, 1t won III seem
made its first appearance in Democratic new
paper published in some one of the Atlantic
States. and recently re-published in the San
Jose Tribune and other papers here; with COM
ments, as follows:
| Now, we want the Black Republicans, who
perform such hdeous wake over the case of
| Mr.. Senator Sumner, to be reasonable, Just
and consistent. Upon Brooks achievement in
beating down an antagonist pini6ned to his
seat in the Senate Chamber, and unprepared
We are perfectly agreed but wherein does
this act differ in principle from u similar as
sault, made within few feet of the same
place, upon ex-Gov. Foote-an aged and white
haired man-by Col. Fremont, then member
of the Senate from California The Cleve-
land Plaindealer reproduces from its columns
OF 1850, the following account Of an assault
by the Black Republican candidate for the
Presidency, which may justly stand side by
side with the Brooks outrage upon Sumner
Our readers will recolect that this record was
made up long before Col. Fremont was even
thought of for the high Office to which he has
! been nominated. 1t therefore must be regard
ed as fair statement of facts 1t is as fol-
| lows:
The FooTE AND FREMONT DIFFICULTY
UctNCcu CciidIOTS OUte anu
grew out of the circumstance that Foote charg-
ed Fremont, in the Senate, with seeking legis-
laton in reference to the gold mines for the
sake of his own private advantage, which FIRE.
mont pronounced false. Afterwards they met
in the ante-chamber, when Fremont struck
Foote and brought blood They were imme-
diately separated by Senator Clark. Subse-
quently, Fremont addressed a note to Foote,
dan, a Of bo lon
by him in debate, to be signed in the presence
OF witnesses, and a challenge was left if he
refused.
Mr.. Foote declined to sign the paper, but
addressed a note in reply to Fremont, disclaim-
ing any intention of giving any personal Of
fence i'll the language used by him in debate
The friends of both parties considered this
satisfactory to Fremont, but at his instance
the note of Mr. Foote was submitted to Col.
Benton, who consented to the arrangement
The following card is the result:
WASHINGTON Sept %, 1850.
A CARD.-The undersigned arc authorized
to state that the difficulty between Hon. III. S.
Foote and Hon. j. C. Fremont, growing out
of certain expressions used by the former in
relation to the California bill in the Senate
last evening, has been adjusted satisfactorily
and honorably to both these gentlemen
(Sigued,) 4. e. DODGE,
WM. Nj. GwIN,
HENRY w SIoLEY,
RoDNAN NJ PRICE.
| have been requested by several gentlemen
friendly to the election of Col c. Fremont
to the Presidency of the Union to state how
far the account given in that article of the
unfortunate difficulty between Col. Fremont
and myself, is true
| do, therefore, declare that so far as the
cause of our misunderstanding is concerned,
the difficulty referred to is sufficiently accurate
but it is not true that Col. Fremont pronoun-
ced ON the floor of the Senate anything which
had fallen from me in the course of the debate
to be false. And, although it is true that he
was dissatisfied with what had said in oppo-
sltion to his bill for the settlement of land IL
ties in California, and requested special per-
sonal interview with me on the subject, in the
progress Of which he used language which !
deemed it my duty to resent, and did resent,
yet, it is not true that Colonel Fremont inflct-
ed on that occasion the least personal indignity
on me- The only blow struck was one, for
which L am alone responsible for before he
had time to return the blow received by him.
self, Senators Mangum and Clarke interviewed
and separated us.
Colonel Fremonts note to me afterwards,
was of rather an equvocal character. His
friend, the present Governor of New Jersey,
who was the bearer of it, assured me that it
vas not designed a challenge to the field of
honor but, supposng that it was at least pos
sible that Mr.. Price was in error on his part,
| wrote to Col. Fremont, that if my note of
explanation did not prove satisfactory, should
90 without delay to the city of Baltimore, and
send him my acceptance from thence. At
this stage of the affair friends interposed, and
the difficulty was settled, as have always con-
sidered, in manner crejitable to both parties
| canuot close without the expression of my
regret that any attempt should be made, in
come, ton with this transaction, to hold Col
Fremont responsible for conduct calculated to
infringe upon the freedom of debate in the
United States Senate. However opposed as
vet am to the measure advocated by him for
the settlement of the land titles in California,
and however much am opposed to his election
to the Presidential Office feel in justice bound
to declare that | have never been disposed to
complain seriously of his conduct in the affair
referred to and that there is nothing in it
that should in the least degree lessen his claims
to the respect and confidence of his political
friends and his supporters. What is said in
the article cited above about my age, my gr0y
hairs, &c, is simply ridiculous, as | was, in
1850, only forty-six years of age, and am yet
sufficiently hale and vigorous to defend my
person and maintain my rights and honor
against any assailant.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1856. Fl. s. FoorE