Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-02-16
From Washington.

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From Washington.
On tie 9Th inst. in the House of Rep
resen tatives, Mr.. Harris, of Illinois, intro
duced resolution to refer the Presidents
late Kansas message to committee Of
fifteen, and the consequence was, it re-
ceived the general disapprobation Of the
Administration Democrats, who immedi-
ately desired an adjournment before ac-
ton could be taken upon it, that dissent
ing Democrats might be taught their duty
to tho party, before committing themselves
against the Administration. This, how
ever, they could not be induced to do, and
they, together with the Republican
Strength, refused to adjourn till the matter
was referred to committee with instruc-
tions to inquire into the frauds, and find
out all the circumstances connected with
the creation of the Lecompton Constitution.
The session held out till FIVE O'Clock in
the morning, when, directly after the fol-
lowing disgnaceful scene, (as described by
the N. Y. "Times' correspondent they
adjourned till the following Monday, when
the thing was to be brought forward and
passed or rejected without debate:
WAsHINGToN, Feb 6.
Mr.. Grow, who is the recognized Re-
publican leader in the House, went over
IL. ~ IL g a. III to1l I.
with Mr. Hickman, of Pennsylvania
AS he turned to leave, Mr.. Quitman rose
and asked to make an explanation. 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, asking. "Why don't
you 90 over to your own side, God d-n
you, if you want to object? What busi-
ness have you over on this side, any how?"
or something to that effect.
Mr.. Grow replied quietly and coolly,
saying, This is free hall, and have
the right to object from any part of it,
when choose" Then, in response to an
appeal from Mr.. Harris, of Indiana, Mr..
Grow withdrew his objection, in order to
permit Gen. Quitman to go on. BY this
time Keitt, who seems to have supposed
that he had only to look ferociously at a
Northern man to wilt him-and who pre-
sumed, perhaps, upon the fact that he is
mo;e athletic man than the gentleman
from Pennsylvania-.had crossed over to
meet Mr.. Grow. AS the latter was about
to pass, Keitt inquired in ruffianly tone,
"What did you mean by that answer
which you gave me just now?'
81 meant precisely what said-that
this is a free hall, and l will object from
whatever part of 1t see fit" was Mr..
Crows reply. as he looked his assailant
calmly in the face. The chivalrous and
gentlemanly South Carolinian returned to
the charge, saying: "I!l 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 mo nigger-driver
shall come up from his plantation to crack
his lash about my ears!' "We'll see
about that said Keitt, as he caught Mr..
Grow by the throat. Mr.. &. threw his
assailant's hand off, and Mr. Reuben Davis,
also, ofMissis sippi, who had followed Mr.
Keitt, evidently with the intention of re-
strainiDg him, interposed at once for
peace.
This ended the difficulty for an instant,
but almost imme diately Kcitt 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
gentleman from South Carolina" which
sprawled him fairly upon his face on the
floor. Mr.. X. 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
friends who sponged his bruises. l un-
derstand he il uuder the impression that
he sWJJed Ills toe, and SO fell! The mis-
take, certainly, is excusable, for the blow
which he finally provoked from Mr.. Grows
long suffering patience, was so severe that
he would hardly be expected to have any
very clear recollection of the circumstan-
ces.
These transactions. which take so much
time to relate, were the work of n very
few minutes, and all occurred on the Dem
oca.ic side of the House. When tie
blow WAS struck, dozen Southern men
rushed toward the parties, some doubtless
to keep tl4 peace, and others to have a
hand in tl,e Fl; h. Datksdlle, of Missis