The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-04-16
Rietmu,ln 9ispatrt.
MONDAY MORNING :. APRIL 10. 1890
rnE WASHINGTON AFFAIR OF HONOR.
THE ORIGIN or 1T.


THE ORIGIN or 1T.
The telegraph announces that Mr.. Potter, OF
Wisconsin, was arrested in Washington ON
Saturday, and held to bail in the sum OF IS, CO.
The Washington Star, of Saturday Afternoon,
speaking of the contemplated duel, says:
AZ far rs we can learn--and we have had to
depend on street accounts of the afIair-after
MI. Pryor's friend, Mr Chisman, had rejected
the proposition to fight with bowie. knives oi
equal weight, Tin the open air, or in room
with two seconds present ON either side, the
distance to be four ieet ana the word 70 be
behalf, stated that his friend was wholly un-
accustomed to dueling, or the use of the i'm :
plemenis used in II under the code; but that
AS he WAS at all times ready to defend his per-
sonal honor, il Mr.. Pryor chose TO attack him
in the street or elsewhere, he would attend then
aud there, on receiving due notice, to defend
himself, each party to be armed - he might
think best.
This being also barbarous alternative, was
Of course not aceeded TO by Mr.. Pryor's Sc.
cond. At that point, 1t is said. MIR. Lander
declared that fully comprehending his duty
under the code To be to take his principals
place in the affair, (the latter declining the
weapons Of the code,) he was himself ready 10
meet Mr.. Pryor with any weapons and ON any
terms the latter might select. That PROPOSE
ton was not acceded 10, for there had been no
Mr. Pryor.
There the affair is understood to have ter.
minated. Col. L. is understood to have con-
suited with no one in conducting the negOtia.
lions on Mr.. POtters behalf; and Mr.. Pryor
is unders TODD to have been in Alexandria, and
not personally in any way participant or
adviser in the negotiations on his side
As the parties to the affair have as yet made
no explanations concerning it that We can hear
OF, We give this explanation for what it is
Nrth kHotn n a hn mat
liable version of the dozen conflicting state
ments af1oat to-day on Pennsylvania avenue.
Col. Lander is a native and citizen OF Massa-
chusstts, bnt has spent some years on the ex-
IRENE western frontier, where he has been
professionally engaged as a civil engineer
Politically, he is IA very emphatic prO.slavery
democrat, and the fact that he is the cousin vi
Mr.. Potters wife, we take it for granted, is
the reason why he was found acting in the
matter in Mr.. P.'s behalf.
The following is report Of the colloquJ in
the House of Representatives, out Of which
the difficulty grew:
Mr.. Pryor.-I rise to a question of privilege
ask the gentleman from Virginia to yield to
me.
Mr.. Smith, of Va.-Certainly.
MIR. Pryor. would like the at ten ton of an
honorable mem Der Of this House from Wiscon
sin, fMr. Pottery In the Globe Of this morn
ing l find the following report of u scene which
occurred upon this floor some few days since
[Mr. 2. here read the report of that portion
of the Lovejoy disturbance Thursday, in which
Potter figured
1t is due to myself to say that, although he
may have been near me, l did not recognize
the presence OF the honorable member from
Wisconsin, nor did hear one word from his
lips. Now, sir. am peculiar or singular in
failing TO observe his presence for, by refer
ence to leading papers in New York, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore all of which give sepa-
rate and distinct accounts Of the proceedings
Of that day, l find that no allusion is made to
his presence, and not one word is he reported
to have uttered. However, / find this Ian
guage reported in the Globe, and presume
must cOncede that he did appear, and that he
did speak on that occasion. But, on recurring
to the manuscript of the reporters, find that
he has interpolated the record Of our proseed.
ings, in a matter touching personal relations,
ting that record in a most material re-
gard
I'VE listened to them quietly, and heard them
through. And now, sir, this side shall be
heard
There stopped the manuscript of the report
er. The member from Wisconsin :hen ADDED,
in his own handwriting, "let the consequences
be what they may" Again, am reported as
having said: "YOu shall not come here ges-
ticulating in 4 menacing and rufiianly man
ner." Mr.. Potter was reported 10 have made
no response. The reporter heard no res ronse,
aud accordingly reported none. The member
from Wisconsin here interpolated in his own
handwriting, "you are doing the same thing. -
Again, following remark made by MIR. John
Cochrane, the mem Der from Wisconsin is made
by the reporter to say:
81 do not believe that side Of the House can
say where a member shall speak"
There the official report terminated; but the
member from Wisconsin has added: and
they shall not say it.' With this statement
of facts, repeating that the newspapers Of the
country have not reported his presence in the
House at all on that occasion, and that the
official report of our proceedings exhibits the
fact thathe did not say that which he repre-
sents himself to have SAID, resume my seat.
Mr.. POtter.-1 am very much surprised
that the member from Virginia should say
that he did not see me upon the occasion al
luded to but, sir, have no right to say, and
l shall not say, that he did see me, because l,
of course, canrOt say that he saw me but l
stood within a few feet Of the gentleman, and
when he made the remarks he has just read in
the area, gesticulating and shaking his fists, I
said, b" You are doing the same thinE,' said
it, as supposed, distinctly, and l was sur
prised when, on looking at the notes Of the re-
porter. found that it was not so reported.
did what supposed every member had a right
to do under the circumstances. When L was
conscious, when knew that made the re-
mark and when other members On this side OF
the House heard me make it, put the remark
in its proper place. l also claimed the right,
and exercised the right, in looking over the
notes Of the reporter, 10 correct them. he
lieve the member from Virginia did the same
thing. At any rate, his remarks had been cor.
rected, Judging firm the appearance Of the
manuscript. did no more than the member
from Virginia did. / corrected my remarks
II is perfectly natural to suppose that, under
the circumstances, in the confusion which
took place when so many were speaking at the
same time. the reporters did not hear distinct.
ly but there are gentlemen on this side Of the
House who did hear me make the remarks ~
they appear in the Globe. This is all / have
to say upon the subject.
MI Prvor One word more Az to NV see.
ing the gentleman from Wisconsin, it is pro-
per for me to say that although l did not see
or recognize him, he may have been there
without my seeing him. As to the other poin,
the gen tleman makes, that also altered the
report OF my remarks, have this to say, thar
did in two ins tances, / think, which / have
here, substitute one word for another, not In
any respect changing the sense or meaning
or putting me in any more heroic attitude. l
understand the gentleman, then, to remark
that he did say, on that occasion, that had,
IN ruftianly and violent manner. approached
and gesiiculated towards the gentleman from
Illinois. I understand him To say that. Now,
sir, wish to know IT am 10 understand
further that he in tends by that any menace or
offence to myself individually I Laughter
from Republicans.)
Mr.. Potter.-What meant to say was this,
that when the member from Virginia had left
his own seat and come down in u the area and
was shaking his fist at Mr.. Lovejoy. ana was
charging, 80 that it might ~ to the country,
the same offence, If it be an offence, upon
the gen tieman from Illinois, said what was
very natural that Should say under the cir.
cumr tances. that "YOu are doing the came
thing. deprecated the shak ing OF lists on one
side as much ns upon the other; but meant
what then said, aud stand by what said.
Aud, sir, said before that consider that q
member has the right, not only TO correct his
remarks ~ taken by the reporters, but ii re-
marx has, in The excitement and confusion o1
Tie occasion been left out, he has perfect
riehf To mt it in. j did put in this remark,