Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-18
a SENATORIAL FIGHT!

short account of most disgraceful fight between
Senator's Heffren and Gooding, members of the
Indiana Senate. The Cincinnati Commercial of
yesterday, furnishes the following particulars:
INpIANAPoLls, Feb 16th-7 P. N.
Eds Com. One of the disgraceful scenes
thatibid fair to become stereotype feature in
our legislative bodies, was enacted in the SEN
ate Chamber this morning. A regular ATkan-
sas fight took place on its floor. From the
most reliable sources, gather the following
particulars:
ness has existed, ever since the organization OF
the Legislature, between Senators Hetfren and
Gooding. The antagonism of Lecomptonism
and anti-Lecomptonism eliminated in the two
champions Gooding improved every possible
opportunity to dress up Heffren, and rice rersa
The Senate Chamber, indeed, resounded daily
with their bitter alterations, and the war-cry
was constantly on their lips. The discussion
ensuing in the Legislature in consequence of the
attempt to repeal the charter of the new State
Bank, brought this mutual animosity TO pitch.
Mr.. Gooding, some time ago, in advocating the
repeal, reflected rather severely upon the mo-
tives ofthe original projectors of that charter
Heffren rejoined in an equally severe manner.
Gooding, in commenting upon the account of
Heffren's rejoinder, as published in the Daily
Sentinel, charged that Heffren had caused the
original language he had used in the Senate, to
be changed in the published statement Upon
this, the following colloquy took place, few
days since, between the belligerent spirits:
| Mr. Gooding-Mr. President, / was not in my
seat when the Senator from Washington made
the remarks as published in the Sentinel ofthis
morning. 1 did not hear him.
| Mr.. Notwithstanding. 1.-The Senator
was in his seat when made the charges against
him, which are now published in the Sentinel.
Then was the time to have answered my accu-
sations, and not have awaited SO long to get
ready. He heard it all, and he well knows it.
Mr.. Gooding-I was not present. and the
Senator did not make the charges in my hearing.
Mr.. Gnterrupting 1.-The Senator
from Hancock says he was not in his seat in this
Senate when made the charges did against
him, aud that he did not hear them. say, sir,
that it is a base lie, and the Senator IA infamous
liar. (Cries of "order.")
Mr. Gooding-Mr. President, never answer
such things here; they have no effect upon me:
He then proceeded to speak Of "courtesies and
proprieties" of Senators upon the floor of the
Senate, and when he named ''the Senator from
Washington
Mr.. Hefiren Gnterrupting) said will not
allow that Senator to read me lectures upon
courtesy and propriety. He shall not attempt
to dictate to me my course of conduct on this
floor He isStoo loto.6rcd and contemptibLe.
Mr.. Gooding-Can proceed, Mr.. President?
The Presidential the Senator desires to ex-
plain he must read the Objectionable language
of the Senator from Washington, and then
proceed.
Mr.. Gooding-T will read then, sir-he says:
81 am bankrupt in politics well as morals,
the Senate to reply in proper terms to such Ian
guage. Sir, the Senator's remarks, as far as
they relate to me personally, untrue.
Mr. Hefren (interrupting)-M President, l
have heretofore time aud again branded that
Senator as Liar and eOtoard. have de-
I - L. ~ all,
lying, croaLing UiILain, and he has not had man
illness ['order," 'order,'1 enough to resist it
He cannot now force me to be the assailant by
any such language as be is now using, or can
use. will not notice one SO lost to all honor
as to cody and calmly and cOl0drdly pocket IN
suits in the manner he does. He is a c0udrdty
dog. [Cries of ''order, "order,'1
Mr.. Gooding resumed, and proceeded to read
| from a manuscript he had in his hand. The
language was somewhat Objectionable and per-
sonal. When he had done,
Mr.. Heffren said: Mr.. President, in common
with others, often say things when excited that
| | regret perhaps have used language not be-
coming this body. To the Senate / make an
apology, but to the Senator from Hancock |
make none. repeat every word toward him
uttered both to day and heretofore, and say that
the man, be he whom he may, that will deliber-
ately take the insults which have crammed
down his lying throat, is a miserable, (order,
" ~ "
ar3ly dog, (cries of order, order,) and nothing
that he has read from that paper can get me to
notice him after so completely SWALLOWING every
epithet have applied to him. He is unworthy
an honorable mans further notice until (order,
1 order,) he properly resents the insults heaped
upon his coward head, and until he does it, as
gentleman, l cannot further notice the vile
wretch.
This pleasant exchange of piquant language
was first published in to-dny's Sentinel, and
! Heffren's alleged remarks are, as l am credit
ably informed, derived to great extent from
! imaginary sources.
| Gooding having noticed it, rose shortly after
the meeting of the Senate TO personal explain
alton. Permission having been granted to
make it, he read the foregoing extract from the
Sentinel, and having finished, directed himself
TO HefTren, who had placed himself Immediately
before Gooding, as soon as the latter had com
menced reading, and asked him whether he had
actually used this language, it being his inten-
ton to deny it. Heffren replied that he had,
and that lie would not retract one syllable,
but was on the contrury, ready to repeat it.
rhereupon Gooding cried out that he hurled
pack the same epithets. AS soon as he had
uttered it, Heffren struck him blow. Gooding
eDdeavored to strike back and pushed Heffren
towards the desk of the clerk, and they fistica-
ted for some time, but were finally separated
by other Senators. While they were struggling,