Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-23
rhe nnnrln. and FITCH Difficulty.


The difficulty between Douglas and Fitch
says st. Louis correspondent of the Alta Ii
in fuir train for adjustment, and no fight
will gra.i,y The sanguinaFy appetites OF those
who who were looking on in anticipation OF
seeing the fur fly.
As Won may not receive particulars of this
extraordinary Congressional proceeding by
any other channel, forward them: Pending
the nomination of Potter, as Collector at To-
ledo. Ohio, which the President had sent into
the Senate for confirmation, Mr.. Pugh arose
and stated, with a good deal of feeling, that
he should oppose the confirmation. lie SAID
the person who had been removed was his
friend. and was removed for no other reason
than that he was so. Declaring at the same
time. that if the President desired to make a
personal onslaught upon him. the sooner ne
did it the better, and appealed to his friends
in the Senate to vote with him. This brought
up Douglas, who told Pugh he should have
his vote He then denounced the appoint
ment5 in Illinois All his friends had been
removed from place, solely because they
were his friends; those newly appointed
were his enemies they were scoundrels,
thieves" DIR. Fitch, of Indiana, fired up. His
son is the District Attorney of Illinois Fitch
was very much excited, and with menacing
attitude, he said "the Senator from Illinois
states what is untrue" The excitement at
this point was intense, and the President
called to order Mr. Douglas modified his
remarks somewhat, and said there were ex-
ceptons, referring to Fitch's son particularly.
He then "pitched into" the Postmasters of
Illinois, and particularly Isaac Cook of Chi
cago. Whenever mail robberies were com
mtted in that State. they never dreamed of
going outside the Post Offices to discover the
robbers. Several Senators here called to
order, which was echoed by the chair, calling
the speaker to order Mr. Fitch, who had
remained standing, as soon as confusion had
subsided, stated that what Douglas had SAID
was untrue, that it was "a positive false
hood" and he knew it. Senators approach
ed the seats of the two belligerents, and con
fusion reigued The President again called
to order, and an adjournment was moved.
Some appealed that Douglas might be allow
ed to 20 on, in order. AS temporary quiet
was restored, Douglas again as:ailed the
Postmasters Of Illinois They had stolen and
destroyed five thousand copies of his speech
es sent to his constituents under his frank
lie would give one hundred dollars if a sim
gle copy Of one of them could be produced.
They had broken open and read, and destroy
ed his private letters. Here several Senators
endeavored to obtain the floor. Motions
were made that Douglas be allowed to pro
ceed again.
Here, jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, being
but few feet from Douglas, in a menacing
manner, pointing his finger at him, said q"
have sat in my place and listened with feel
ings of indignation to the language from the
Senator from Illinois, which would disgrace
e highwayman and the bravado." The
Presidents hammer again fell. accompanied
by the emphatic remark that the Senator
from Mississippi was out of order.
AT this point it was expected that " The
Douglas would strike the Mississippan to
the floor Confusion and chaos came again,
and it was some moments before orCer was
restored Davis had meantime taken his
seat. Before the adiournmnnt he apologised
to the Senate, being satisfied he had violated
the rules; and to Douglas for the language he
had used in the heat of debate. DR.. Fitch
also apologised to the Senate but turning to
Douglas, said he "had none further to make. !"
He had been very bitter and personal toward
him in his remarks. 1t is stated that while
speaking OF his persecution by the President,
Douglas exclaimed: 81 AM AS MUCH THE
UNCONQUERED REBEL AS EVER !"
clip from the Washington correspondent
of the New York Times, statement relative
to the anticipated difficulties which might
arise from the above;
"The city to day has been full of rumors
pending hostilities between Douglas and Da-
Wis. This is erroneous There is no ground
for personal issue etween these parties.
Notes have passed. however, between Doug
las and Fitch, with view to explanations
and retractions or a hostile meeting, but the
whole matter is in the hands of mutual
friends, and in fair way of smicable ad
justment
THE fir st note was from Douglas to Fitch.
demanding a retraction Of Fitch's charges of
falsehood.
'The second note is from Fitch. which spe
cities the charges, and inquiries if he refers to
these If SO, Fitch Ieiterates them.
douglas replies with detailed letter, ex
planning and modifying his language, giving
it construction much less offensive than as
originally understood.
Fitch rejoins aniicably, and his note will
probably settle the affair.
The correspondence makes no allusion
whatever to Fitch's declaration that Douglas
had failed to prove the charges against Cook,
to which he had pledged his honor
"The transaction is looked upon by Doug
las wisest friends, as indicative of the fixed
purpose of the Administration men to force
him TO take back seat if he comes into the
Democratic organization ut all, and that they
prefer to push him off altogether. 1t is sta.
ted that an early opportunity will be taken
in open session to make an issue with Doug
las in reference to his statements about indi-
vidual Illinois appointments, and 10 present
proofs of their inaccuracy. The war of the
roses is evidently just beginning In this
connection, it may be as well to state, that it
is denied that Mr., Broderick used the ex
preston attributed to him-that the late
caucus at Washington was like a den of
burglars"
Messrs Pryor and Hawkins, of Kentucky
were the friends of Mr.. Douglas, and Sena-
tor Benjamin the friend of Mr.. Fitch.
Mr. Douglas friends assert that he will
fight through his present difficulties if neces-
sary.
Senator Davis is understood to have volun-
tarily apologized to both Mr.. ID. and Mr. F
for the harsh remarks he made shortly after
the occurrence on Friday.
The Chinese.