Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-04-20

By the universal custom of the House,
Zach member corrects the reporters notes
of his observations. and they are always
handed to him by the reporter for that pur-
pose. He makes them conform to what ne
actually said, upon his own responsibility
as Il gentleman and man of honor. No
one has ever before attempted to correct
the remarks of nm opponent. But Pryor
had the eifrontery, in defiance of all gen
tlemanly proprietv, to erase sentence IN
Potter's revised remarks! Potter, on this
coming to his knowledge, contented HIM
self with restoring it, and it so appeared
in the Globe. Pryor's anxiety to get 1t out
was to Justify himself for not resentIng the
language on the spot, and he felt safer IN
committing the forgery, and trying to JUS
tify it by SAYING that he did not see Potter
or hear the remark, than in assaultlng Pot
ter at the time As he failed in his fraud
ulent concealment of the facts, and was
forced to face the truth, he next Tesorted
to bullying, upon the suppositIon that
northern man would decline challenge
Accordingly he got up the scene OF Wed
nes,lay last. His closing language then
contained a threat, and at the same time
he expressed his conviction of his own
safety IN saving that "the sequel will dem
onstratc" whether or not Potter would
stand by his words. He doubtless sup
posed that he could bolster his doubtful
reputation for courage without risk OF per-
sonal danger by challenging northern
man, whom scruples of conscience, the
sentiments of his constituency and the dis
abilities imposed by his state constitution
would unite to prevent from accepting Il
challenge. 1t is said, too, that before pro-
cccding to extremities, he asked Potter's
democratic colleague whether he would
fight, and was told that he would not ac-
ccpt challenge.
1t is universally conceded that PrSor had
no casns EelH under the Code. That his
threat to pnt his own construction on the
language and let the sequel demonstrate,
excluded any cxpInnation-that his second
note was impertincnt, and his sending a
peremptory challenge without asking any
explanation of the language he conceived
to be offensive, was bullying and coward!y.
The whole proceeding was evidently foun-
ded on the presumption that his antagO-
mist was II non-combHtant and would retreat
| in the end The pretence that his second
refused the terms of the fight without con-
sulting Pryor. is of Al piece with the whole
of it--an attempt to save Pryor reputa-
ton for courage by subterfuge. 1t Is well
| known he WAS consulted thrOughOut-waS
within reach, and was sneaking about the
city Immediately after the matter was
closed. The idea that the proposed con
test was barbarous and inhnman. after his
course to provoke a fight and exclude an
opportunity for explanation, is rich joke
The weapons were rwLgGr-not suited to
an nristocratic and chivalric stomach. 1t
would not have been vulgar to put up
Potter to he shot at by practiced
duellist, when he would have the same
| 4
gambler holdRS ,ssSfd damSSng SaE'fwtthla! fswehtthlaa!!
mcn"-but to meet 81 determined, rcsolute
man with equal weapons, when real pluck
| formed an clement in the result, was put
ting a face on the matter calculated &c
make poor Pryor's nerves unsteady, and SO
he concluded that discretion was the better
part of valor. 1t is a question whether he
will retire now and leave the House, OF
whether he will come back and swell like
honest Jack after the exploit at Gadshilli
but, in either event, it is conceded that no
man whom he attempts to insult will need
to pay the least attention to the fellow.