Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-02-18
The Fight i'm the Mouse.


urday February 9th saws:
Mr.. Grow went over to the Democratic
side of the Hall to talk with Mr.. Hickman,
OF Pennsylvania. As he turned to leave. Mr..
Quitman rose and asked to make an ex-
PLANTATION. Mr.. Grow objected to any
speeches which were out of order. and
then started down the aisle with view of
returning TO his own seat, when Mr.. Keitt,
of South Carolina, called out to him, ask
ing, "Why don't you 60 over to your own
side, God d-m, if you want to objects-
What business have you over on this side
any how?" or something to that effect.
Mr.. Grow replied quietly, and eoolly,
saying, "This is free hall, and / have the
right to object from any part of it, when
choose" Then in response to appeal
from Mr.. Harris, of Indiana, Mr.. Grow
withdrew his objection. in order to permit
Gen. Quisman to go on. By this time,
Keitt, who seems to have supposed that
he had only to look ferociously at a North
ern man to wilt him-and who presumed,
perhaps upon the fact that he is more
athletic man than the gentleman from
Pennsylvania-had crossed over 10 Mr..
Grow. As the latter was about to pass,
Keitt inquired in a ruAianly tone, "What
did you mean by that answer which you
gove me just now - 60 sEf
II meant precisely what l said-tha.
this is free hall, and I will object from
whatever part of it i see fit,n was Mr..
Grows reply, as he looked his asssilans
calmly in the face. The chiyalrous and
gentlemanly South Carlinian returned the
charge saying: '1'n show you, you Id
Black Republican puppy! Mr.. Grow still,
unexcited, answered, ''You may think me
what you please, Mr.. Keitt; but let me tell
you that no nigger-driver shall come up
from his plantation to crack lash abous
my earsp' SWELL see about that said
Keitt, as he caught Mr.. Grow by the throat.
Mr.. G. threw his assailant's hands off, and
Mr.. Reuben Davis, also Of Mississippi, who
had followed Mr.. Keitt, evidently with the
intention Of restraining him, interposed
at once for peace.
This ended the difficulty for an instant,
but almost Immediately Keitt broke from
Mr.. Davis and rushed upon Grow, seizing
him again by the throat, when the latter
planted blow under the left ear of the
'sgentleman from South Carolina" which
sprawled him fairly upon his face on the
floor. Mfr. K. picked himself up and after
some Intellectual and random passes left the
hall and was seen no more until after the
melee ended, except by some friend who
sponged his bruises. understand that
he is under the impression that he studied
has toe, and so fell! The mistake, certain
ly, is excusable, for the blow which he f.
nally provoked from Mr.. Grows long suf-
fering patience, was SO severe that be
would hardly be expected to have any We
ry clear recollection of the circumstances.
When the blow was struck, dozen
Southern men rushed towards the parties,
some doubtless to keep the peace, and 9TH
ers to have hand in the fight. Barks-
dale, of Mississippi, Mcqueen, of South
Carolina, Craige, of North Carolina, and
Reuben Davis, were prominent in the serim-
mage. To gentlemen on the other side
of the hall, it looked very much as though
the gentleman from Penn. was to be cut
into mince meat, and the anti-Lecompton
men rushed over in body to the rescue.
Foremost came Mr.. Potter, of Wisconsin,
a very athletic, compact man, who Bounded
into the centre Of the excited group, strik-
ing right and left with tremendous vigor.
Washburne, of Illinois, and his brother
of Wisconsin, also were very prominent,
and for minute or two. it seemed as
as though we were to have Kilkenny
fight on magnificent scale. Barksdale
had hold of Grow, when Potter struck him
a severe blow, supposing that he was hurt
ing that gentleman, Barksdale turning
around and supposing it was Elihu Wash
burne who struck him, dropped Grow, and
struck at the gentleman from Illinois,
Cadwallader Washburne perceiving the at
tack upon his brother, also made dash at
Mr.. Barksdale, and seized him by the hair,
for the purpose of drawing him
into chaucery' and pummeling him to
greater satisfaction. Horrible to relate,
Mr.. Barksdale's wig came off in c. Wash
burne's left hand-and his right fist ex-
pended itselfwi,h tremendous force against
the unresisting air. This ludicrous incl
dent unquestionably did much towards re-
storing good nature subsequently,-and its
effect was heightened not little BY the
fact that in the excitement of the occasion
Barksdale restored his wig wrong side fore
most.
There seems to have been very little
method in the struggle, and it was hard to
ell who was in earnest, and who was try
ng to restore order. The Speaker yelled
md raped for order, without effect. The
oergentat-arms stalked to the scene of
battle, mace in hand, but bis aAmerican
'aglep had no more effect than the Speak
'r's gavel. Owen, Lorejoy and Lamar, of
were paving each other at one
,oint-each probably trying to persuade
he other to be still. Mr.. Mott, the gray
haired Quaker Representative fiom Ohio,
vas seen going here and there in the crowd.
Davis, of Mississippi, got severe but ac-
,idental blow from Mr.. Grow, and various
gentlemen sustained slight bruises and
cratches. A Virginia representative, who
bought Montgomery, of Pennsylvania,
vas about to "pitch in, laid his hand upon
lis arm to restain him, and was perempto-
ily ordered to desist or be knocked down.
ir: Covode, of Pennsylvania, caught up
heavy stone-wsre spittoon, with which
o "brain' whoever might seem to deserve
|, but fortunately did not succeed in get
ing far enough into the excited crowd to
ind approprite subject for his Vengeance;
nd all over the the Hall everybody was
vcited for the fime