Litchfield enquirer., 1860-04-19
RittR6el6 Gn9uuet.
THURSDAY, APRIL l9th, 1860.
A ally BlslRed.

A S 16AuAASus
 The whole Union has been in broad grin
 over the amusing end of an expected duel pe-
 tween Mir. Pryor of Virginia and Mr. fotter oi
 Wisconsin. Some words passed between these gentlemen, during the delivery oi speech by
 ir. Loveioy of Illinois and on the succeeding day, in reference to all impudent attempt on the rart of Pryor, to alter the report of the debate in the Globe, an animated altercation took place, which was followed by letter to Mr Potter asking him if he would receive any com lnunication that he might send him in the Dis jrict; to which Mr. Potter replied, that he would inform him whenever challenge reached him -ssr. Pryor then sent him a challenge, to which .,fr. Potter replied, referring him to Col. Lander Of Washington territory to make the necessary arrangements. Col. Lander thereupon amour eed that Mr. Potter, though discaiming alegi- ance to the |" code" would fight MT. Pryor ln any place, in doors or out, in the district, with !,owie knives! This was declined on the ground that the weapons were barbarous and n- human. and not usual among gentlemen. 70 this Col Lander replied that Mir. Potter de- tested the whole system of duelng as barbarous sud inhuman, but being called to account for the exercise of free speech on the floor of the House, he consented, not being accustomed to GIle usual weapons of the duellist, to meet him ia way that would place them on equal terms, and to name the time, place and weapons, as vas the privilege of the challenged party. But is the weapons named by Mr. Potter were ob- :ected to. Col Lander, without Mr. Potter's knowledge but as his representative, tendered
 himself to Mir. Pryor without restrictions, which was also declined on the ground that he had no quarrel with Col. Lander.
 Among the many comments upon this dra- natic affair, we copy that of the Springfield Re- publican:
 TIE ?. P. DuEL-The duel that Pryor and Potter did not fight is instructive and amusing It has given the country the benefit of a hearty sutfaw at the expense Of the Virginia Hotspur, and 1t will prove a more etfectual blow to the @hoie system of dueng than any number ot solemn moral discourses. Pryor and his friends cry out that Potters proposition to fight with .jowie knives was barbarous and not to be enter- tained by gentlemen. But the duel in itself is
 ailaryus, without qualification Potter pre- 'alred bowie-knives as he had a right to. Pryor inclined to pistols, because he knows them bet .er, and he also knew probably, that Potter had ao familiarity with the tavorite duelists weapon, nd like other green hands, would not stand one chance in a thousand to hit. With pistols, Pry yr would have had every advantage. With bowie Knives they would have been equal, neither hay- l ;ng plactlsed with this beautifully effective south arl weapon And why not bowieknives? i? If the object of the duel is to kill in good earnest, t is more sure and therefore preferable. Ii the object is to make believe kill then why use ps- tols, where there is some small chance at least that either one of the parties CT some of the spectators may be fatally hit? For a make be- .iava fight cornstalks would be the safest weap- onS.
 But Mr. Potter was right in choosing bowie knives whether we look at the matter seriously Jr ;n the light of a capital joke. Duelng is d :ystom of bullying: After the lie, the clenched list, or the eApcctoration into all opponent face, pistols usually come next. Potter went little rurthar than Pryor liked to follow. Pryor went ,a extent of his pile, but Potter did ten better, ;:nl ended the game. He did the right thing. lie showed both his spunk and his sagacity. the affair recalls the way in which old Gen. Putnam, of revolutionary memory, met the | 2h t.l nge of the British offi:er. He propo ed ..!lt they should show their courage ny sitting town hy barrel of powder, to which a lighted low match was attached and awaited the result. = he British officer declared the proposition
 halbar0us' and took to his heels, leaving Old i;'ut" smoking his pipe calmly over barrel of ': onion seea'
 This is the way to meet the challenge to a luel Duelling in earnest is deliberate murder, md murder is not honorable or gsntlcmanly in any respect. Sham tlue|ling is childish and con tcmptibla, aud of course is neither honorable ROT gentlemany. Potter, by choosing bowie knives and Pryor by declining to fight with them, have illustrated these characteristics of (luelling most admirably, and brought the code of honor into just contempt. Pryor has indeed made himself ridiculous by setting himself up as q living illustration of the folly of the system but he may find consolation under the storm 0! public r;1icnle. in the good moral lesson he stands lol--like the 'hard case' who travelled with the temperance lecturer to illustrate the evils of drinking.