Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-04-20
LoYeioY's Speech.
NVFuJVJ "PNS
potrrn .xn pRyos. A CHALLENGE.


rs.cnta,i,c. on the 10th inst. caused by tho
speech Of Mr. Lovejoy Of Ill.,, was the most
exciting and vohemen, Of anything 'hate'er
occurred in that inaamablc body. Mr..
Lo,ejoy. In committee Of ,hs whole. was do
llvsring n terrible speech on the slavery
question. The awful denunciation' against
slavery and its practice. pronounced by all
the abOlitioni.ts In this country or Earops.
was milk and water compared with this.
lie declared II the SUN Of all ,illainics--,he
crime Of erimes--,he most de,estable Of all
robberic.. lie wa. strictly parliamentary.
but most bitterly severe and sca,hing.
The fro caters could not quietly sit and
hear this. They could not keep their seats
rs the Republicans had done tho fret four
weeks Of the session. and hear the darling
pc, OF democracy undergo such dissection.
Several Of them approached Mr.. Lovejoy,
while speaking. Mr.. Pryor Of Virginia being
first. and gc.,ieulating, declared Ss (LO'c.
joy) should not speak IN 'ha, way and
shake his fists at them. Mr.. l.. declared
tina, slavery had murdered his brother. and
he was there 20 free bis mind. an d he would
DO IL. Pryor reiterated that 10 should not.
and demanded that L. should speak in hi.
seat. A grca, number Of members on both
sides len their seats. and closed around
Lorcjoy to see fair play. Tho Chairman
called TO order bat order could not be TO.
stored. The Speaker WAS called to the
Chair. who demanded the assistance OF the
Scrgcan, a, Arms to preserve order. Al,
length order was restored. and the members
took their seats. Mr.. Lovejoy wa. then al.
lowed to speak from tho are. in from, Of tho
Speakers desk. where he completed his
speech.
Th. scene passed wilhou, any bad con.e-
qucucr-. hut tho rcpor, Of !, has given
ri-a to a challenge for duel. The next
day Mr.. Pryor rose TO question Of privilege.
lie complained Of III. report in the GLIB.
c ,nccrniug tho scene Of the day before. lie
charged Mr.. Potter Of Wisconsin, (iormer.
ly from Ma,ne.) that he had 'inisrpolated'
the word. /" Let tho consequence. b what
they may" and "you hro doing tho same
thing :" III do not think that side OF the
House has right TO siy when gentleman
hall speak" and - no shall not" Mr..
Potter in reply, aid he lad corrected the
report OF tho reporters according TO his
right. and that when he saw Mr.. Pryor
shaking hi. Est, a, Mr. Lovcjoy, whom Mr..
Lovely was shaking hi. G',s at that side Of
the louse.-,he former declaring it WAS
rufhanly Potter remarked to Pryor tina,
" ho wa. doing the same Ihing."
Mr.. Pryor then acknowledged tina, he
had altered tho repor, OF Mr.. Potter alter
he had corrected IL, in 1.-TWO instances -
and then asked "if he was to understand
iha, Mr. Potter meant any oGsnsc Or men,
ace when no potter declared you are
doing the .ame thingr"
Potter replied. that no stood by what he
had .aid.-" ,ha, when Lo'ejoy was shak.
ing his f,,.. Mr.. Pryor was doing the same
thing" lie then asked Mr.. Pryor why he
changed the report in the Globe as correct
cd ny himself lie added tina, !, was lib
.rty no gentleman should take with anoth-
er. and =" he would .uher hi. right arm 10
TALL OF before he would DO IT,"
Mr.. Pryor then said, " I understand tho
gentleman stands by his language. -
" Whether or no, no will stand by it. the
sequel will prove"
Immediately after the occurrence in
the House, Mr.. Pryor despatched, through
Mr.. llindman. OF Arkansas. note to Mr.
Potter. asking him TO leave the District, to
receive u written communication.
"Mr. Potter replied, that rs Mr.. Pryor''
note contemplated avoiding tho an,i.duel.
ling psnAltie, in the District, and tina, as
hi. (Po,ter's) disqualification was contain
ed in the constitution OF Wisconsin, he
could not leave the District.
ION tho. Mr.. Chisman. a substitute for
Mr.. uipdman, who was Obliged to leave Tor
Arkansas. handed Mr.. Potter pcrsmptory
challenge from Mr. Pryor, dating his note
Virginia.
+" Colonsl Lander. who had been designa-
ted BY Mr.. Potter as hi. friend, handed, NJ.
ter lapse OF twelve hours. 4 note to Mr.
Chi.man. accepting the challenge. and
naming common bowie knives as the weap.
on.. and to hsh, in open air, with two
friends. each armed with Colts pistols.
MIR. Chisman protests agAins, this form
" weapon as absurd, barbarous and vulgar,
aud er,rs to con.uue the code in the mos,
li5eral way, provided other arms are 'us-
gc.,ed.
"Mr. Potter authorized Mr.. Lander TO
decline any other terms, and Mr.. Lander
offer. to substitute himself for Mr.. Potter.
with other weapons, to both Of which prop
O.i,ions. without consulting Mr.. Pryor,
Mr.. Chi,man replies tina, the fret Is vulgar
and inadmi.'iblc, and that, whilsappreciat-
ing Mr.. Lauder's zeal for his friend, they
have no cause OF quarrel with him. con.e-
quen,ly no demand to make on him.
"Mr. Pryor Is still in Virginia, and has
no, ye, heard OF tho action OF his second IN
the matter. The latter Is believed to have
acted after consultation with Messrs. Miles.
Keitt. Mason and Hammond.
MIR. Potter came into the House at
halfpa., one, and was greeted by number
Of his friends. with whom he retired TO a
cloak room"