The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-13
The Branch.GrOw Difficulty.
Corresp Ondence OF N. Y. Herald.

From Corresp Ondence OF N. Y. Herald.
WAsHINGTON, December 81, 1859
The difficulty between Messrs. Grow and
Branch was clothed in so much mystery
last night, that it was utterly impossible to
arrive at all the facts. They are substan-
TALLY as follows About II o'clock on
Friday, the 3Otb, Mr.. Grow received a note
from Mr.. Branch, by the hands of Gov
Winslow, of North Carolina. 1t was dated
the 29th and requested MIR. Grow to inform
Mr.. Branch where a communication in
writing would reach him outside the District
of Columbia. Mr.. Grow, upon consulta.
ton with his friends, on whose judgment he
announced his intsntion to rely, no matter
what their decision might beat seven o'clock
in the evening replied to the note of Mr..
Branch, justifying his own course in the
House. and announcing,in plan Anglo-Saxon
language, that the practice of the code being
a violation of the principles of Christianity:
and considered crime under the laws of
his own State, and by the national Legis-
lature, of which be and Mr.. Branch were
members, he could not recognize it, but
would defend his personal rights, and the
right OF the freedom of debate under the
constitution, whenever assailed. This note
was handed to Hon. Reuben E. Fenton at
about eight o'clock, to be delivered to Mr..
Branch. Two hours after the rep was
forwarded, a friend of Mr.. Grow received
note, through Democratic source, that the
police had obtained information that there
was to be a mortal combat, and were in
search of the principals and not wishing
to evade any responsibility that might fol-
low, MIR. Grow evaded the police.
Between ten and twelve o'clock last even
ing Mr. Branch was arrested, and required
to give bonds in the sum of five thousand
dollars to keep the peace. Mr.. Grow was
not arrested until to-day, at half past twelve,
when he was required to give bonds in the
same amount, though he had declined the
invitation to disturb the peace.
No evidence was adduced to show that
Mr.. Grow had violated the peace before the
Justice. The charge was made by Mr..
Thomas, upon what authority or evidence
nobody knows-certainly not of the facts.
All sorts of absurd rumors have been in
circulation to-day in the metropolis about
the affair which have no foundation in truth.
1t has been intimated that Mr.. Branch
would assault Mr.. Grow upon the street.
Nothing has happened to-day to indicate
such intention, and it is to be hoped that
the good sense of Mr.. Branch will induce
him to refrain from any further demonstra-
ton. Mr.. Grow has promenaded Pennsyl-
vania avenue without molestation.
The friends of both parties regret the
occurrence. l have heard rumor to-day
that the friends of the parties-Senator
Wade and r. E. Fenton, on the part of Mr..
Grow, and Gov. Winslow, Mr.. Mcqueen
and Mr.. Moore, on the part of Mr.. Branch
would make another effort to arrange the
difficulty. The community generally seem
to condemn the course pursued by Mr..
Branch in sending challenge, on the ground
that there was no just cause for it, because
he was the first aggressor in impugning the
motives of Mr.. Grow. The relations here
tofore existing between Mr.. Grow and Mr..
Branch have been of friendly character,
and but for the excitement consequent upon
heated debate on nice point at this
peculiar time, there would not have been
any misunderstanding between them.