New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-15

About tie most se1sb be thing done az tie recent
session Of Congress-a session, by the way, rot
yery greatly distinguished fer sensible proceedings
was the course taken for the settlement O the DIFF
fcuy which arose the ether day al the door OF the
Senate, between Senators Gwin ard Wilson. The
mutusl reference of the matter 10 dispute TO tnree
Senators, and the sgteemelt TO abide By their
award, must, We think, strike every BODY as alto
gcther more credi,sble to the parties immediately
concerned, AID mach more for the honor OF The
Senate, and the respectsblty of the county, lhah
itwcud Lave been for Me-srs. Wilson AID Gwln To
have violated tte laws aid broken the peace either
by duel or b. sreet-fght " lille the result arriV-
ed al by TIE committee has. i set ms 10 us, much
nore etectualy preserved the honor Of both parties
than would any ame1lt Of gur-powder burnt or
even OF blood shed on the occasion. Had
Senator Gwin put bullet into the bocy
of Senator Wilson, that wond MT have
tended ia the slightest degree, 30 far IS We can
perceive, to relieve Mr.. Gwin from the imputi-
ton which BY tic very act OF resenling he assumed
to himself; while bullet il biz own body, so far
f.Cm relieving, must, we imagine, have considerably
aggravated the uncomfortable sensations undsr
which be was suffering. II q gteatly to be hoped
that The example thus given Of rational settlement!
Of Congressional coll lions may not be left to s:snd
by tself, but that it may serve y precedent for
future similar occasions. The great defect
10 laws against duelng, and a principal cau'e OF
their lack Of practical efficacy is well Understood
to be ;heir failure TO provide Any remedy in the
Place of that which they take away. Objectionable
and e7en absurd es the fighting OF duel' may be,
.hey are nevertheless of the nature Of remedy for
wroDgs--a remedy once c?gnlzcd by the laws as
applicable even TO disputes winch come before
Courts of Justice though long since confined to
the settlement of meIe poi1ts Of sentiment AID
honor. It hss often been suggested to establish
& NE tribunal, in the nature Of Court of Honor
to which should be referred all questions Of afflonts
or supposed air, nts and there are certainly special
reasoEs .by Jurisdiction of this sort ought to bo
assumed By our Legislative bodies over disputes
originating among their members especially from
things sad AID done n their character as such.
The very fact that sl insults and personalities are
breaches Ct the order and decorum OF proceedings
fu1nishts special occasion for interference. and
even We may impress npon tbs House whose order
and cec0run have been thus violated, the duty OF
inteIftr ring. Such matters, however, cannot be
adysptageously dealt With ard disposed Of in the
ordinary method Of legislative procedure. COM
Dttee ike that which acted in the late in the
Senate ia altogether better adapted for gu n service
Why should it not be part Of the rules Of both
Houses Of Cengtess, that in al cases of aironts,
collisions and personal difficulties between mem
bers, the mniter should be referred to a committee
Of three, ore member TO be selected BY each of the
parties TO the controversy, the third to be selected
by the other two, the award of these referees, or
the major part of them, to be absolutely bindiog on
pain Of expulsion from the House
Tie absolute requirement Of all apology for every
Insult or aggression which would result tom this
method of procedure would not only leave no ex-
cuse for resortDg to duels or street-fghts, it
would place all the MEMBERSHIP peaceful and
the feeble, as well the pugnacious and the strong
on level of equality which they are far from
occupy ing at present. and would 60 far, we appre-
bend, toward putting stop altogether to those
in.o'erces and outbreaks of passion and violence
by which Of late years the Halls of Congress have
been SO often dseraced.