Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-16
TUESDAY, JUNE IS, 1857.
The Rencounter at Fayetteville.

The difficulty which occurred at Feyette-
vile, between Messrs. HARRIS and HATToN,
originated substantially as follows: Col. HAT
TON was within five or six minutes of the con-
clusion of his rejoinder, that being the last
speech of the day. He was discussing with
some yebemence, and great force, the doctrine
that foreigners should be allowed to vote as
soon as they were landed upon our shores,
without Information, without qualifications of
any sort, without naturalization, and without
single correct notion of the theory and prin-
clples of our government; and denounced it
as a doctrine most odious and dangerous, and
with much animation exclaimed that such
'tdoctrine was most infamous and smelled TO
high heaven" At this point Gen. HARRIS rose
(ss be had,done once or twice before) and made
some remark which we did not hear; when
Mr.. HATToN turned to Gen. HARRIS and asked,
If by these interruptions, he meant or expect
ed tointimidate him (HATToN)-to which Gen.
HARRIS replied in the negative. Mr.. HArroN
then said if they were for explanation he
would hear them. Gen. HARRIS then asked
Mr.. Hetton if the words used were intended 10
apply to him personally. (Ths we learn, was
the question propounded by Gen. HARRIs.) Mr.
HATroN repeated that the doctrine was infa-
n Gus and smelled to high heaven" This was
spoken as if in an unfinished sentence, and
about this instant Gen. HARRIS gave him a
push which precipitated him off the platform
in front, and Immediately followed him to the
ground. The parties were then out of our
sight, and we did not see them again until
they were entirely separated. We may state
upon the authority of others, who saw the
struggle that, as sooD as the parties touched
the ground Mr.. HATToN turned Gen. HARRIS,
and had evidently the advantage, when they
were separated. Gen. HARRIS bore some slight
marks of the rencounter upon his face; but we
do not remember to have seen any thing of
the sort upon Mr.. HATToN. This, in brief,
is the substance of what occurred. We
were on the outskirts OF the crowd, and could
not hear distinctly what Gen. HARRIS said.
We think we heard all that Mr.. HATToN said,
as bis voice was at the speaking pitch. After
the excitement consequent upon the assault,
had somewhat subsidized, Mr.. HATToN with the
most perfect GOODNESS assembled the stand, and
concluded his speech (as We have elsewhere
stated during which be received most silent
and attentive hearing.
Our impression is clear that the purport of
Mr.. HATToN's remarks was as to the doctrine,
and had no personal reference whatever, and
that, to say the very least, Gen. HARRIS acted
very precipitately; and wholly without sufi-
cient cause. We are informed that Mr.. HAT
TON has used precisely the same ideas, and fire.
quently tie same words in his previous dis
cussiOns, and had no dream of giving personal
afront to his competitor. We know that the
attack was entirely unexpected by Mr.. HAT
TON. There were some circumstances attend
ing the discussion, not under the control of
Mr.. HATToN, however, that probably contrib
uted to excite Gen. HARRIS, to which we will
hereafter refer if it shall be necessary. What
ever may be the result of the difficulty, or
whatever other construction may be given to
the occurrence or the facts att ending it, we
feel confident no blame, whatever, can attach
TO Mr.. HArToN.