Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-04-27

He felt that in this case, deliberate effort was
being made to sacrifice freedom of speech on
the floor of The House of Representatives, and
to dishonor and disgrace the Republican po.-
ton of the chamber; aud that each Of these in
terests was, for the time, committed TO bis keep
ing, and was sought to be imperiled in his per-
son. he thereupon determined to meet the
exigeney, and defend, at every hazard bis own
rights, and the rights of his constituents, and
also. and more especially, the freedom of de-
bate on the Republican side of the hall, which
this pestilent Pryor and his brawling hackers
had for four months been trying to strike
down.
The explanatory debate on Wednesday be-
tween Pryor and Potter, respecting what oc-
Cured on the day Loyejoy spoke, was culmi-
mating point in the series of outrages heaped
by the Cbivalry upon the Republicans from the
commencement of the session. ssThieyes,'
"tTaitors,D murders sinceudiaries," we're
the common current of epithets which had been
poured upon them for weeks. Lovejey was re-
pelliug these assaults, with glowing words and
emphatic gestures. Pryor, advancing toward
him IN the most insolent manner, told him be
should not stand in the area, in front of the
Chair and shake bis fists IN q ruffianly manner
at members. Potter simply responded, ssYou
are doing the same thing" That Potter thus
said, and that it was faithful statement of
what Pryor was then doing, is unquestionable
And for these words Pryor challenged him. Lit
is alleged at Washington that the challenge
was sebt after conference between some ten
or dozen Democratic members, of whom Pot~
ter's colleague was one, at which the opinion
was expressed that Potter would not accept
challenge. If this be so, then it is striking
proof Of the oft t-asserted fact that 10 Southern
man will sscall out'' a Northerner whom he un-
doubtingly believes viii respond to bis CALL
Ii also presents 10 Its true light the valor of
Roger A. Pryor. But, at all events, aud
whether the off spring of Democratic CON
spiracy, or the mere impulse of the disgraced
braggart who sent the hostile missive, il was
an attempt TO bully aud h-owbeat, and, If
possible, disgrace, every Republican who main
tanned aud was determined TO practice freedom
of debate in the House. Aud most effectualIy
has this attempt been crushed by the undsunt-
ed conduct of Jchn T. Potter.
Of Roger A. Pryor there can be but one
opinion among sensible men. he has been
seeking fight with somebody all Winter
Haa has bad aR aPFortlnitF To- rain4le In one On
equal terms, and under the rules of his much
cherished 'code," and be has shown the white
feather. By one Of the recognized canons of
that code, every ybody is authorized to post him
as va poltroon and coward" II is in vain
for Pryor and his patrons to attempt to creep,
out of this dilemma through the small creyice
of the alleged unusual character of the weap-
ons, proposed by the second of Potter. Knives
are recognized, and not an unusual dueline
weapon, in all the States along the Mississippi
Valley. We care nothing about the custom in
Virginia. Potter lives in Wisconsin, near the
Mississippi River, and is not amenable to the
code as construed in Virginia, but rather on the
banks of that river.
But we care nothing about the weapons, ex-
cept that they give Hn equal chance to both
parties. This latter point being secured,
really courageous man, yea, anybody bnt the
verest poltroon, would, after doing and saving
what Pryor had done and said, have fought
Potter With any weapon. He had, in the pres
ence of the House of Representatives, impliedly
charged Potter with cowardice, in telling him
IN substance that the sequel would demonstrate
that be would not stand by his words; that he
(PryoTl would make him eat them, rather
Pryor, too, was told by practiced dueIists, that
there was no sufficient ground for challenge.
And, yet, without first demanding an explana-
ION of the words claimed to be offensive. he
sends Potter peremptory summons to the field
Potter avows his readiness to 90, and promptly
proceeds to exercise his undoubted privilege Of
choosing the weapons. Now, any creature,
after proceeding by such path, to such pos
sition, and with such flourish of taunts and
innuendoes, would, if be had the courage of a
louise, fight his foe with any death-dealing in-
strument that could be brought upon the field.
No the defeat is not in tho canons of the
code, but in the pluck of Pryor. He Is dainty
assassin, who affects hair-triggers, because his
fingers have been trained to their use but he
has NO stomach for a fair fight, which might
result in his being carved up for worms.
But. we are forgetting that Col Lander, the
second OF MIR. Potter, acting strictly within the
code, took ofense at the suggestion that tho
kind of weapon which his principal had, through
him, selected, was barbarious; aud thereupon,
proceeding upon the celebrated precedent of
the Graves and Cilley duel, he proposed to ieht
Pryor with any weapon which that fastidicus
gentleman might select. Whereupon this
stickler for the tenets of the code, this punc-
tilious Pryor, not relishing the whistling of
bullets ans more than the cleaning of knives,
conceived sudden prejudice against pistols,
and informed Col. Lander that he had 10 con-
troversy with him And so, Roger A. Pryor,
not TO put too fine point upon il, who had
gone staggering into this quarrel, skulked out
Of II doubly disgraced man.-.N Y. Tib-
une.
BARNUM EREoT.-We see by the New York
papers, that the great Snowman has disposed of
the great clock debt, and come to "lime.'' The
Museum is to be once more under his eontrol,
and the world is to sit down to its ancient feast
of astonishment every morning While the
Pharisees were abusing him, Barnum was in Eu-
rope lecturing, and applying his earnings to the
eXfln ruiahnenf of his indahfadnass That was