The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-04-14

! WAsHlNGToN, April l3, M.-Immediatelv Y
/ after the occurrence in the House, Mr.. Pryor
| despa tched, through Mr. Hindman of Ar
kansas, a note to Mr.. Potter, asking him to
leave the District of CoIum bia to receive a
written communication, and he replied that
as Mr.. Pryor's note contemplated avoiding
the anti-dueling penalties in. the District,
and that as his (Potter's) disqualification
was contained in the Constitution of Wis
consin, he could not leave the District. On
this Mr.. Chistam, substitute of Mr.. Hind
man who was obliged to leave for Arkansas,
handed Mr.. Potter peremptory challenge
from Mr.. Pryor, dating his note Virginia.
Col. Lander, who had been designated by
Mr.. Potter as his friend, handed after a
lapse of II hours note to Mr.. Chistam,
accepting the challenge, and naming
Bowie knives as the weapons, and to fight
in open air, with two friends each, armed
with Colts pistols.
Mr.. Chistam protested against this form
of weapons, as absurd, barharous, and val
gar, and offered to construe tie code in the
most liberal way, provided other arms were
suggested. Mr.. Potter authorized Mr.. Lam
der to decline any other terms, and Mr..
Lander offered to substitute himself for Mr.
Potter with other weapons; both of which
propositions, without consulting Mr.. Pryor,
were refused. Mr.. Pryor replies that the
first is vulgar and inadmissibe, and while
appreciating Mr.. Lander's zeal for his friend,
they have no cause of quarrel with him,
and consequently no demand to make of
him.
Mr.. Pryor is still in Virginia, and has not
yet heard of the action of his friend in the
matter. The latter is believed to have act
ed after consultation with Messrs. Miles,
Keitt, Mason, and Hammond.
The above is based on information OBJ
tanned in Democratic circles.
The following in relation to the same
correspondence is the version in Republican
quarters. #
1t is understood that Mr.. Potter replied to
Mr.. Pryor's first note, that he would receive
any message that might be sent him in the
District. Mr.. Pryor asked him if he would
accept of challenge, to which Mr.. Potter
replied that he would inform him whenever
challenge reached him.
Mr.. Pryor sent him challenge, to which
Mr.. Potter replied, referring him to Col.
Lander to make the necessary arrange
ments. The terms, as proposed by Col.
Lander, were that Mr.. Potter, though dis
claiming allegiance to the Code, would fight
Mr. Pryor in any place, in doors or out, in
declined, on the ground that the weapons
were barbarous and inhuman, and not
usual among gentlemen.
To this Col. Lander replied, that Mr.. Pot
ter detested the whole system of dueling as
barbarous and inhuman, but being called to
account for the exercise of free speech on
the floor of the House, he consented-not
being accustomed to the usual weapons of
the duelist-to meet him in a way that
would place them on equal terms, and to
name the time, place, and weapon. But as
the weapons named by Mr.. Potter were OBJ
jected to, Col, Lander, without Mr.. Potter's
knowledge rendered himself to Mr.. Pryor
without restrictions; which was, also, de-
clined, on the ground that he had no quar-
rel with the latter.
The correspondence between the friends
of Messrs. Potter and Pryor did not close
till this morning. The correspondence can
not be published until Mr.. Chisman, who
was Mr.. Pryors principal friend, can be
seen and his consent obtained.