The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-14

population of these States and that they no "
look upon the black republicans as the worst
enemies that the commercial interests of the
North can have.
THE PREsmEHT's PRorEsr MEsssor--THE
MINORITY REPoRr.-We publish elsewhere in
full the report Of the minority of the Judiciary
Committee upon the recent protest message of
Mr.. Buchanan The report, like the message
which called il out, is On able and statesman
like document, and one that should command
the gravest attention Of the country.
The President has been most grossly sssailed
by his political enemies, who were set on by
the Forney Haskin clique; so that the black
republicans have now in their own ranks the
very persons who were guilty Of the bribery
and corruption which they endeavor to charge
upon the President The report says very
truly that the resolution throwing suspicion
upon the President was adopted when there
was not the slightest particle of evidence to
sustain it, and that therefore the action of
the House was ga breach of all those rules Of
decency and decorum which should obtain be-
tween different departments of the same go
vernment for the preservation of that harmony
and kind feeling between them which are
essential to the easy and proper trans
action Of the public business" The
report then goes on to show TIT the proceed
ing against the President was not instituted in
good faith, and that it was not based on any
ground, real or pretended, which could afford
the color of an excuse for doing it. This point
is clearly put and irresistibly made out, and is
the main one of the document. Nothing more
was required.
This attack upon the President, then, has re-
coiled upon the heads Of those who engineered
it, exactly as the assaults upon Old Hickory
always turned out. Because Mr.. Buchanan is
the recognized head of his party, the opposi-
ton assails him-to make political capital is
their only object. They are aided and abetted
by some fishy democrats of the Forney school,
who did not get all the spoils they wanted, and
so deserted to the enemy. That was precisely
the case in Jackson's time, and the black re-
publicars would do well to take page or two
out Of history. As for Mr.. Buchanan, his repu-
tation has stood the test Of forty years of pub.
lie life without a stain, and nothing his enemies
can say will shake the public confidence in
their tried and trusty servant
Pryor Shows THE WHITE FEArHER-We
publish elsewhere the particulars of the last
Pickwickian duel at Washington. The parties
were Pryor, of Virginia; and Potter, of Wis
consin, both members of the House. The affair
is quite fresh in the minds Of the public. On
last Wednesday Pryor attempted to pully Pot
ter, but without success. Potter refused to eat
his words, whereupon the truculent member
from Virginia made use Of the most portentous
language, speaking thus:-"The gentleman
stands by his language. I understand him to
give me the privilege of constituting his re-
marks as choose. Whether or no he ,ciH stand
by 1t The sequel aciH demonstrate"
What is the sequel? How has the mountain
labored, and what has it brought forth? Pryor
challenges Potter in Bobadil fashion, expect
ing that, as duelling is especially repugnant to
Potters constituents, he will back down
Not bit of it. Potter is not to be 80 easily
moulded. Potter will be charmed to fight
Potter will select bowie knives, a favorite wea-
pom with Southern political niger drivers
Pryor objects to the pet weapon of his class as
vulgar and inadmissible." Potter adheres to
the humane and civilizing invention of Colonel
Bowie, and Pryor and his friends say that
they really cannot have anything to do with
a person who plays with such nasty edged
tools. Whereupon Colonel Lander, the friend
of Potter, declares that he will take the
place of the bloodthirsty Wolverine, and &C
commodate Pryor with hair-triggers, or any
"gentlemanly," elegant or refined weapons
suited to the taste of the F. F. VS., some of
whom, by the way, have fought with bowie
knives, and that not long ago. But Pryor
has no quarrel with the Colonel OF Wagon
Road fame, and so the whole matter drops.
Potter goes back to the House, and the repub-
hcans chuckle. Pryor sinks about like dog
with his tail between his legs and all the decent
persons on the democratic side of the House
are thoroughly ashamed Of him.
We hope this ridiculous affair will not be
without its moral lesson for those members OF
Congress- on either side of the House, who have
attempted to cover up their ignorance of the
real duties and responsibilities of statesmen by
assuming the manner, while they have not the
pluck, of blackguards and shoulder-hitters. II
lis all very well for fellows like Pryor, who
abuse women and non-combatants, until some
fine day when they wake up the wrong passen-
ger and have to eat dirt. The lesson is whole
some one, and we hope that it will have good
effect upon Congress, and keep the DULLES
straight, for the remainder of this session al
least They can get of all their supsrauous
trash during the Presidential canvass The
stump, not the floor Of the House, is the proper
place for it. As for the mock duel, it is quite
time it was abolished. There has not been a
serious encounter, according to the code, be-