Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-10

In speaking Of this singular course of the
Southern secessionists on this question, the Dem.
ocrat makes the following home thrust;
The extreme South propose to lead in this act
Of despotsm in regard to a State. Have they all
forgotten that right of peaceable secession they
have been wont to magnify so much They now
propose the exercise Of it themselves, if this
stitution is not forced upon an unwilling people.
Vel, can't Ran5gs exercise it, to ? And what
then. will they have to say Suppose Kanzas,
proclaimed by Congress sovereign State Sc
cedea from the Union, ard declares indie pendence?
How will they look, about that time, at the ap
plication of their own theory
Il Alabama must go out Of the Union because
kauzas is not taken into the Union, may not the
new State, for a better reason, secede from the
Union, when that Union has forced upon them
constitution they despise When treating of
kanzas, State rights seem to be ignored altogeth-
eri and popular rights equally condemned"
THE CONGRESSIONAL AFFRAY.-The Wash
ington correspondent of the New York Tribune
has the following description of the melee in the
House, on Saturday morning;
"Mr Grow, who stood his ground firmly, was
instantly surrounded by a ling OF Southern mem
bers, all apparently and some really attacking
him. Conspicuous among them were Messrs
Davis, Barksdale, and Lamar. Surprising that
the whole group were attacking Nj. Grow Mr..
Potter of Wisconsin dashed among them, dealing
heavy blows all sides, and receiving some
very severe ones in his face and on various
parts Of his person. Washburne of Illinois at the
same moment sprang over chairs and desks to
Mr.. Grows assistance followed by his brother
of Wisconsin, by Tappan of New H ampshire,
and other Republicans. The Southern members
thus furiously assaled, of course defended them
selves, and some who entered the arena rs peace
makers left it as combatants. The battle
we're while it lasted and revealed very unexpect-
ed readiness for tight among the Northern men
Mr.. Davis, and the other Southern members
who were engaged in the fight, came over and
conyersed with their opponents in frank and
courteous manner during the rest of the night
session; and certainly if the Southern members
are content with their share of the transaction,
the Northern members have no reason to be
ashamed of theirs.
As seen from the Reporters Gallery, it present.
ed droll enough spectacle There were some
fifty mddle-aged and elderly gentlemen pitching
into each other like so many TipperBry
ges-most of them incapable, from want of wind
and muscle, of doing each other any serious hurt.
Mr.. Barksdale Of Mississippi, who waa among the
most active, encountered at one moment Mr. Pot
ter of Wisconsin, who decidedly the champi
on of the ring. Pntter grasped BarkSdale by the
hair, with the evident intention Of putting that
gentieman's head into chancery. To his unutter-
able surprise and disappointment, the hair came
Oft. The Mississippian was scalped. lie jumped
about bald-headsd, making fantic efforts to
cover his wig, which Potter had dsdanfully toss
ed among the crowd, some one OF whom kindly
restored it to its proper owner.
Everybody is praising the promptness and ygor
with which MesSrs. Potter and Washburne of
Wisconsin, aid Washburne of Illinois. dashed in
to the excited crowd Of Southerners and rushed to
Grows aid The Southern men who were in the
fight declare that they found them very ugly Gus.
toners. They all natives of Maine.
Southern senator remarked, yesterday, that
the Republicans had gained the first bettle, since
they drew the first blood (Keitt's) and got the
first scalp (BarKsdale's wig"
The correspondent Of the Courier and Enquirer
thus accounts for the rush of the 'brave allies,
and narrates the consequences:
"Of course, as the melee was sudden and gen.
eral no member could understand the intentions
of any other. In fact, the presum ption from the
beginning was that the attack upon Mr. Grow
was premeditated, like the outrage upon Mr.
Sumner, and Republicans were seized with de-
sire to punish Kett. Had the ruffian been found
after the beginning Of the disturbance, he would
have been severely handled. Mr.. Barksdale was
collaring Mr. Washburne of Illinois; seeing this,
G. c. Washburne of Wisconsin bore up to the
relief of his brother. Mr. Lamar of Georgia
ranged up by the side of Mr.. Barksdale, and Mr..
Potter opened in artistic style on the whole mis-
taking MIR Washburne of Illinois for the enemy.
Mr. Potter saluted him roughly on coming into
action but, correcting himself, charged upon
Mr.. Barksdales wig with one hand and his coun-
tenance with the other. Mr.. Barksdae received
twosevere blows but whether from Mr.. Potter or
Mr. c. c. Washburne cannot be determined. Mr.
Potter thrown off his balance by Mr. Barks-
dae's wig coming off and remaining in his hand
and his blows probably failed of their object
Mr.. Potter was slightly marked under the left eye
and Mr.. G C. Washburne had his thumb sprain
ed; Mr. Washburne of Illinois also had his
throat compressed Mr.. Lamar, it is stated, drew
his penknife, but with what purpose cannot be
known. When Mr.. Davis of Mississippi felt
himself struck in the face, he drew a weapon in
self-defence, but quickly replaced it.
Mr. Mott of Ohio, Quaker member much re
spected, and Rev. Owen Loyeioy of Illinois, were
thickly engaged, showing, holding, choking, and
crowding friends and enemies by turns, as peace
makers"