Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-27

The Duei that wd0 not
The talk Of the week and the excitement Of
the week have been divided between the duel /
aud the Presidential prospect at Charleston.
The duel was certainly the Pryor question.
do not intend to add word Of detail or
comment on the affair itsolf-tho newspapers
have had enough Of it,--but simply to say
that Pryor had no good reason for calling
Potter to mortal combat. that could possibly
discover at the time Of the two affairs in the
House, or even learn from persons somewhat
familiar with the "codo.' At the Interrupt
ton Of Loveioy's speech, Potter used no Lam
guage and exhibited no temper one half so
violent as that from the Democratic side and .
on the occasion Of the subsequent cxplana-
tions, Potter simply gave true version Of
the matter in question, in parliamentary Ian
guage, in his usual moderate tone, and with
out the slightest sign Of ill-tempcr When
called to account by an invitation to step out
of the District, even his familiar friends could
observe no change of temper or demcanor
and when he returned to the House, after the
"afair,' and was greeted by troops Of friends,
he withdrew from the gaze Of the House and
the galleries to a side room. As the commit
tees were called for reports, Potter appeared
in his turn and submitted his reports to the
House, closing with a special request for
clerk to his committee. Every word be ut
tered was heard, and the opponents Of his
measure on the Democratic side replied, not
only with respect, but with compliments rare
ly offered from that quarter. Pryor has re-
sumed his place. There has been ono com
mcnt, very remarkable on account of its
source. Tho Statcs newspaper, formerly cd
tied by Mr.. Pryor, pronounccs ii "a much to
be regretted affair" Certainly this is true
yet would it have been any better had either
been killed according to the "codo;'
THE Ducts in the Scnatr
On the 18th, Senator Wilson Of Mass. was
SO extremely old-fashioned and Now England
i-h as to make a speech in favor Of giving the
benefit of common school education to colorcd
children in the District of Columbia. lie
even referred to the doctrine Of the equality
of man, as taught in an antquatcd article
commonly known as the Declaration of Amer
lean Independence. Thereupon colloquy
ensucd between Senators Wilson and Davis |
on that topic Pretty soon the discussion .
involved the equality and personal RESPONSE |
bility of gentlemen. Senator Collamcr there
upon intcrfercd very handsomely and success
fully, eNtorting from Senator Davis a confess
sion that no gentleman will ever give an in
suit: ergo, he who gives an insult is no gen
tleman. Senator Davis nevertheless stood by
1.-THE code" Senator Wilson did not, but did
stand firmly for seGdcfence: in fact he init
mated that, whenever the necessity occurs, he
will fight with a will. Thercupon Senator
Davis was not disposed to fight In short,
Wilson did not mean to insult anybody; Da-
Wis did not mean to insult any body; and it
was impossible to get either a duel or oven
quarrel ont Of the discussion. 1t was a good
commentary on the Pryor affair
The Charleston Conreation.
The city has been and is crowded with del
cgatcs TO the Democratic National Convcn-
ton. Betting, Dragging, begging and boiling
Il suspect with great deal of bad blood and
bad brandy these have been prevalent at the
hotels. Apparently the contest is between
Hunter and Douglas. Northern and West
orn delegates constitute the crowd mainly
so here it looks though Douglas will come
out ahead Still keen politicians reckon up
on his defeat rather, suspect, from theo-
ry than from a count Of noses. The theory is
that all the old politicians, embracing the
leading men of the Democratic party, are OPP
posed TO Douglas, because his success will
consign them to subordinate positions, and
elevate Others whom they affect to despise
Thus nearly all the Democratic Senators are
opposed to Douglas ergo, they icW not per-
nat his nomination. How very Democratic
Now, in that point Of view, The question is
whether the representatives Of the party are
mon or slaves. If they are not slaves they
may be strong enough to nominate Douglas.
have even heard it suggested by Southern
Democrat that the hostility Of the Democrat
ic factions runs SO high that whichever side
wins the nomination, the other will defeat the
election. There was an interesting demon
stration in the House on the question Of adj
journing over TO accommodate the Charleston
Convention. At first, Southern Democrats
whispered around the Republican side de-
sire to go to Charleston and defeat Douglas,
and having an eye to that contingency, the
Douglas men, at the first vote on Tuesday
voted against adjournlng over, and the reso-
luton was rejected Soon, however, Senator
Douglas came in and tipped them wink, as
much as to say-"it won't do to show the
white feather; brag high yote to adjourn,
and go down to Charlestown yourselves e"
SO it happened, in several preliminary votes
on Tuesday afternoon, that the majority was
for adjourning. On Wednesday morning,
however, there was another change. Several
Southern Democrats became alarmed at the
Douglas and Republican votes for adjourn
ment on the previous evening, and then voted
no. Several Republicans changed, and the
resolution was again defeated. Douglas play
cd that little game wel--yery we'll.
Is he Count Kipqg
D. tas