Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-02-13
The Fight in the House..-A Graphic De-
scription

was Immense applause.
The Fight in the House-.-A Graphic De-
scription.
The details Of the collision in the HOUSE of
Representatives ON Saturday morning contain
much that is amusing aud gratifying as well as
sad and disgusting. The republicans followed
Shakespeares advice, and while they did not
provoke the quarrel exhibited no hesitation in
going la" with freedom and force after it was
opened. We quote the account Of the cores
pondcnce Of the New York Times as the most
interesting We have seen -
Mr.. Grow, who IS the recognized republican
leader III the House, went over to tie democrat
ic side Of the hall To talk with Mr. Hickman of
Pennsylvania As he turned to leave, Mr.. QUIT
man rose and asked 10 make an explain Atom
Mr.. Grow objected to any spec,hes which were
out OF order, and then started down the aisle
with view Of returning to his own seat, when
MIR. keltt of South Carolina called out 10 him,
asking, Nv by don't you 20 over on your own
SIDE, God d-n you, If you want to object p
What business have you this side any
how - or something to hat effect.
Mr.. Grow replied, quie'ly and cooly, saying,
This Is a free hall, and | have the right TO OBJ
ject from any part OF 1t, when | C oo,e.' Then.
IN response TO an appeal from Mr.. Harris of In
diana, Mr. Grow Withdrew his objection, in or
der to permit Gen. QuIman to 90 on. BY this
time heitt, who seems to have supposed ia 1t he
had only to look ferOciously at a northern man
to wilt him and who presumed. perhaps, upon
the fact that he is more athletic man than the
gentleman from Pennsy lvania-had crossed oy-
or 10 meet Mr. Grow. As the latter was about
TO pass, Keill inquired in a ruff tnly tone,
"Wha did you mean by that answer which YOU
gave me Just now Z"
Al meant precisely what sail-that this is a
free hall, and | will object from whatever part
OF 1t see fit" was Mr.. Grows reply, as he look
ed his assailant calmly in the face. he chiy-
alrous and eentlemanly South Carolinlan return
ed TO the charge. saying: IN show you. you
ID black republican puppy - Mr.. Grow,
s',l unsseted answered. You may think me
what you please, Mr. kett but let me tell YOU
That no nigger-drlver shall come up from his
plantation TO crack his lash about MI ears "
we II see about that said Keilt, as he caught
Mr.. Grow by the throat Mr.. G. drew his as
sallant's hand off, and Mr.. Reuben Davis. also
OF Mississippi, who had followed Mr.. Kett evil
DENLY with the intention Of restraining him, in
terposed at once for peace
his ended the difficulty for an instant, but
almost Immediately Keitt broke from Mr. Davis
b
the throat when the latter planted blow under
the left ear of 1.-THE gentleman from South Car
DINA, which sprawled him fairly upon his face
on the floor Mr. X. picked himself up after
some Intellectual and random passes left The hail.
ana was seen no more unul after the melee eud.
ed except by some friends who sponaed his
bruises. | understand he is under the impress
ION that he SiuJJed his toe, and so fell The
mistake, certainly, is excusable, for the blow
winch he finally provoked from Mr.. Crows
iong-suiierlng patience, was so severe that he
"ouid hardly be expected to have any very clear
recullecfon OF the circumstances.
These transactions. which take so nucb ,ine
10 relate, were the work of very few minutes.
and all occurred on the democratic side of the
House. When the blow was struck. ,ioz, II
southern men rushed towards the parties, some
doubtless 10 keep the peace, and others to have
a hand IN the fight. BarksdaIe of Mississinni
Mcqueen OF South Carolina, Crage o. North
Carolina and Reuben Davis were prominent in
the scrlmmage. Barksdale specifically states,
and doubt not truly, that his only oLiec, was
TO separate the contestants. lie and other on
ponen's seized upon Grow at once as Keitt was
Already mars du combat. To gentlemen on the
Other side OF the hall, it looked very much az
though the gentlman from PENNSYLVANIA was
aoont 10 be Gu! into mince-mea and the anti
Lecompton men rushed over in a body 10 the
rescue. Foremost came Mr. Potter of Wiscon-
SIN, very athletic compact man. who bounded
INTO the center of the excited group. striking
night and left with tremendous yicor. Wash
burne of Illinois and his brother OF Wisconsin
also were prominent, and for a minute or two il
seemed as though we were to have Kilkeny
heht on magnificent scale. Barksdale had
ho'u OF 'irow, when Potter struck him a severe
blow, surprising that he was hurting that gentle
man. Barksdale turning around and supposiny
1t was Elihu Washburne who struck him drop-
ped Grow, and struck our al the gentleman from
llLois Cadwallader Washburne perceivino
the attack upon his brother also made dash At
MIR. Barksdale, and seized him by the hair. an.
parenily for the purpose of drawing him "iuto
chancery" and pummcling him to greater salts
faction Horrible 10 relate, Mr. Blrksdale's wig
came of in Cadwslladers left hand and h,s
right fist expended itself with tremendous force
against the unresisiing air. This ludicrous incl
dent unqnestionably did much towards restoripp
good nature subsequently, and its effect was
heightened not little by the fact that IN the ex
citement of the occasion Barksdale restored his
wig wrong side foremost.