Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-24
r,, xy,,,,, Crop of piflicuIties.


The National legislature has but just I'm
isbed the second week Of its session, and the
fighting calendar has no less than six entries
of affairs more or less bellgerent. The bail
was commenced, before the opening OF Con
gress, by Mr.. Ashmore, of South Carolina
Who has been elected to fill the place of Mr..
Orr 1t appears that MIR. Ashmore was OPP
posed By an independent elector--Mr. Max
well--and after the canvass long cores
nondepce ensued. In the end Mr.. Ashmore
lost bis temper, and called Mr. Maxwell BAD
names. The whole matter was then referred
10 a "colonel"-whetber militia or regular
we cannot say--and the atflir was there lett
with strong smell Of gunpowder about It's
skirts. :,
The next rencontre was between Mr. Eng
lish, member Of Congress from Indiana, ana
Mr.. Montgomery, a member from PennsylVa-
MIA. The latter cut the former on account OF
an old luarrel about the eternal Kansas ques-
ton. The cut mem Der struck the cutter win
caae, aud he was severely Injured. lie re-
covered sufficiently, however, to throw oricK
at his opponent. So the case is one Tor pis'
tolls or police courts.
Cotem oorapeous with the English affair, we
find the lie exchanged between MEMBER
from Alabama-Mr. Shorter and member
from llliuois-Mr WashbuFne believe.
1t is cheering 70 know that the Empire
State is not without a representative IN the
Washington squabbles. Mr.. Daniel +.
Sckles, whose quarrels with Mr. Secretary
of State Tucker have already occupied good
deal of space in the journals, has been the re.
cipient OF q verbal challenge from the brother
of the Secretary. That officer, although his
name is Gideon, prefers the pen to the sword,
and sensibly confines his duels to paper pelI
ets. But the brother, thinking that Mr.
Sckles had impugned the honor OF all the
fuckers, sent to the member from New YORK
a rather curious note, which might mean an
invitation to the field of Mars or might not
The diplomatic Sick!es declined TO proceed
unless the challenge, as he termed 1t, was
withdrawn. The irate Tucker amlabiy COM
piled, at the same time asking Sickles for an
explanation Of "charge" contained IN the
first note. Now, as the first note had been
withdrawn there was no "oh6rge," as tho
Sickles party dclicately suggested Without
advancing step further, Tucker has appa-
rently retired from the field.
But it would be wrong to conine all this
sport to the lower house. Senator Slldeil
evidently thinks so, for in letter relative to
some negroes over whom Senator Douglas, as
executor, has patriarchal care, he (Slidelll
uses the following sharp expression: -"Mr.
Douglas has, by authorizing aud c0untenanc-
| ing anonymous attacks on me, through GER
son officiating as his private secretary, lest
all claim to tie explanations that | would
otherwise have promptly volunteered to give
him." Here is a direct charge against Mr..
Dauglas, ard, as a matter of course, he will
cali on Mr.. Slidell for an explanation. The
end is not yet.
Now, wEo, after reading the record of this
plentiful fortnight's crop Of duels, can say
that the days of chivalry are over? To be
sure, the parties do not exchange carte!s with
the puuctilious courtesy Of Bayayds or By
rous, and the issues of the due!s Do not car
ry distress into the households Of the opPon'
cnts, or make widows weep and orphans howl;
but is not the P;ckwickian philosophy alter
all, The besl?--N. y Herald.