Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-20

take place, and the reason why, have varied
somewhat, and have not been very COM
pleto. Tho fire-ealing Virginian seems toI
have shown the white feather twice. Col.
Lauder, who proposed TO give Mr.. Pryor a
chance for shot in accordance with the
Southern code, is a Massachusetts man, who
has boen 10 Western government employ,
and understands hair-triggers. Of course
the chivalry begged to be excused. The
Hotspur had no stomach for deadly hand
to hand slashing with Southern bowie
knives, nor face to face shooting with South
ern pistols.
The Washington correspondent Of the
Times gives the following interesting de-
tails ofthe exciting difficulty, which he says
may be relied on as entirely correct:
Mr.. Pryor's first note was handed 70 Mr..
Potter by Mr.. Hindman, in the presence of
Mr.. Case, of Indiana. Mr.. Potter folded
the note, and after the vote on the question
pending, left the Hail. Meeting his wife,
he requested her to return home, as he would
dine out. She remarked that she under
stood him, and entering her carriage drove
Oft He took another aud proceeded to the
room Of the Hon. Mr.. Washburn. This
was about four o'clock on Wednesday after
noon. He did not see his wife again until
this afternoon, but did not leave the Dis
trict. Mr.. Hindman having to leave for
Arkansas on account of sickness in his fami-
", Messrs. Keitt and Miles we're called in
as Mr.. Pryor's advisers. Messrs. Grow, G.
G. Washburn, Israel Washburn and Hick-
man, and Senators Chandler and Wade
were Mr.. Potter's advisers. Col. F. w.
Lander was agreed on as Mr.. Potter's friend I;
Mr.. Chisman was Mr.. Pryor's.
Potter reduced his advisers to Senator
Wade and Hon. G. G. Washburn, and then
referred Mr.. Ohisman to Col. Lander. The
latter informed Mr.. Chisman that he had
verbal instructions to say in reply to Mr..
Pryor's note that MIR. Potter declined leav-
ing the District, as the Constitution of Wis
-consin visited him with the penalties of the
anti-dueling law wherever be might 90, and
it was but fair Mr. Pryor should encounter
the same, according to the law of this Dis
'trict. Mr. Chisman inquired if Mr.. Potter
would accept a challenge in the District
which was promptly answered in the affirm
ative, and the challenge as promptly deliv-
cred demanding the satisfaction usual among
gentlemen. Mr.. B. +. Beale being chosen
by Mr.. Lander as his associate in the mat
ter, visited Mr.. Potter To learn his wishes
and receive instructions. Mr.. Potter repli-
ed in writing to Col. Lander through Mr..
Beale, that he did not acknowledge the
code, and considered it barbarous and inhu-
man, but inasmueb as his life was sought
aud as the liberty of speech was involved,
ho was willing to risk his person in order to
prevent bloody afray upon the floor of the
House, which otherwise seemed inevitable.
His choice of weapons would be bowie
knives, leaving other matters to his friends.
Mr.. Chisman returning for a reply to Mr..
Pryor's note, received note from Col. Lam
der, stating that they would meet them with
bowie-kniyes of equal size and weight and
length of blade, either in room or in the
open air, all parties to be excluded except
two seconds an either side; the seconds to
be armed each with one navy revolver; the
distance between principals four feet, and
the word to be given by the second winning
it on the top of piece of money, and the
fight to take place at some time within
twelve hours. The challenge was received
at 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and the re-
ply was delivered to Chisman at o'clock
last night. After advising with Senator
Hunter and other friends of Mr.. Pryor, the
latter having in the meantime taken post in
Alexandria, replied that the terms proposed
III Il L
knowledged no such mode of settling diff
culties between gentlemen, as they were vul-
gar, barbarous and inhuman, and suggested
that Mr.. Lander's principal should offer 9TH
er terms. Mr.. Lander rejoined that the in
struetions from Mr. Potter had been follow
ed, but that Mr. Chisman's letter conveyed
reflections upon his principal, who had dis
tinctly announced that be did not recognise
the code, who had not placed himself behind
the last resort Of the non-duelist, viz: A
simple defence if attacked on the streets,
and reiterated the terms Of the meeting.
Mr. Chisman again replied, that inasmuch
as he had acknowledged that Mr.. Potter
would not defend himself upon the street,
and their terms we're such as could not be
accepted, they thanked him and Mr. Beale
for their courtesy in the affair and dropped
the correspondence. Mr.. Lander, however,
answered that his statement had been mis-
constructed, and that Mr.. Potter would de-
fend himself everywhere, and further, mas
much as the terms proposed had been stig-
matized as barbarous, vulgar and inhuman,
thereby rejecting upon himself and his prin-
cipal, without consulting and without the
knowledge of Mr.. Potter, he placed himself
in Mr.. Potter's position, and having no scru-
Piles in regard TO the code, would meet
them on their own terms. This was about
three o'clock this morning. At Z, a reply
was sent to Col. Lander that Mr.. Pryor had
no quarrel with him, and that they intend
ed no reflection by the terms of their note,
and therefore declined tho offer of Mr.. Ian
der. 1t must be borne in mind that this
correspondence was carried on without any
direct knowledge on the part of the princi-
pals. Copies Of the letters have since been
placed in their hands, and some apprehen-
sions are still felt as TO the course they may
pursue. The whole affair has thus far been
conducted with the greatest prudence and
secrecy, and the above is as reliable as any
information can be outside Of publication
Of the correspondence itself
Mr. Potter IL warmly cOnurafulatad nv