The Shasta courier., 1859-10-08
A Duel story.-Th. Coos. and the E.sl..

A Duel story--The Goose and the Eagle.
Says correspondent of the San Francisco
Bulletin, Forney, in late number of his Press
undertakes to give an account Of challenge
that passed between a Mr.. Blount, of North Car
olina, and Judge Thatcher, of Massachusetts,
me ibers of Congress from their respective
States, in the infantile days of this Republic -
Forney does not tell half of the occurrence, or
tradition is much more expansive in Yaukeedom
than Quakerdom. Tradition informs me that
the cause, the challenge, and the termination
were as f llows:
When the question of what the device, or Wig
nette TO be stamped upon the Federal currency
should be, was debating in Congress- Mr. Blount
proposed the Eagle, and supported his PROPOSE
ton with h'gh-fying description OF the high
toned qualities Of his favorite bird The Judge
possessing temperament resembling good old
wine, and knowing that Blount's resembled vim
egar, offered an amendment to Blount's propo-
sition. substituting the Goose for the Eagle. ln
supporting his Amendments, he denounced the
eagle as rapacious, thieving bird, who plum
dered the greater part of his living from the
humble, industrious fsh-hawk and in glow
iiR tcliHS piStuTtu tHt ROpu anu uStlul QtIall-
ties of the goose, describing, in turn, the savory
and liie-suslaining qualities of her flesh, when
well stuffed, seasoned and cooked, if not, like
himself, frosted with too many winters; the
Importance OF her quilts in the writing Of the
Declaration of our independence the great val
ue of her feathers for beds and her silky down
tor pillows, which last were very ser,iceabe
during the night TO give to his brothers
! (Blounts) well moulded head, and during the
! / 4
urged that the fnll-hedged goose should be
stamped on the dollar. and the gosings the
halves and quartz RS, always paying proper re-
gard to the age and size of the goslings when
selected for the halves and quarters. He was of
the opinion that the added eggs would answer
for the copper cents.
Before the old Judge had closed his remarks,
Blounts ewes flashed fire and his hair stood
erect" The next morning, the Judge received
an honor-healing' message from Blount. The
Judge, on reading the hig igh-toned message, after
adjnsti 'g and powdering his wig and brushing
his well-worn beaver chapeau, said to the mes
sage-bearer: "Give my compliments to Mr.
Blount and tell him he cannot have definite
answer to his note to-day. Let him be patient
shcrt time, till can write to Massachusetts
and receive an answer. | always consult my
1rfe on domestic matters of importance, well
knowing that she is a better judge of delicate
family affairs than myself Ii she consents TO
become a widOw-to have her children become
orphans, and to see her husband hanged for
murder. certainly will fight Mr.. Blount Tell
him not to be in hurry it will take more than
three weeks to receive her election" When the
messenger was passing over the threshold of the
door the Judge called him back and said ITO
save delay. tell your friend that he may mark
my full size the side OF the capitol, select his
weapon, take his distance and fire it, and if
he hits inside the mark, will admit that if
had been there he would have hit me- and will
also admit that his eagle can soar higher and fly
faster than my goose"
The Judge having been reared in " times that
tried mems souls" and fearing not the crocodile
nature of knaves. or the SCOTS of fools, and an
ticpatlng that Blount would post him as y
poltroon and coward, engaged printing ''cuss"
TO furnish him quantity of slips with these
words printed upon them :" Yes and you know
it. OF you would never have challenged me-
THATCHER" The printing "cuss" employed by
Thatcher followed in the footsteps of Blount's
poster, and fast as one of the poltrvon posters
pasted up. pasted one of Thatcher's slips on
the bottom of it. The poltroon posters and
slips read follows, after being pasted together,
-omitting date:
Having. by the usual mode between gentle
men, called upon the Hon. Judge Thatcher to
give me the satisf ction due from one gentleman
to another, and he having evaded the issue,
pronounce him poltroon and a coward,
BLoUST.