New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-17
wh,kver that second shaIl DO Il aftsrward uuuues.

toned BY the principal, the principal is as respon.
sible for as if done by himself Mr.. Chisman de-
clincs on the part Of Mr.. Pyor p eight Mr.. Potter
Mr.. PDors; aud, as If that question should be left
beyond peradventure Dir. Pryor himself is careful
to protest against The terms of the combat for, as
he says, three reasons, but which really are only
two OF these, one is that the terms are sin
human, atrocious, and repugnant to all
"the sentiments of a civilized community" and
therefore "do not afford the satisfaction usual
"among gentlemen;" but the other reason is " be-
"csuse by reason Of your greatly superior size and
" strength, they deny nee every condition of equal
encounter" In logical sequence, the proposition
is simply this: As you are ny superior in size and
strength you will kill or conquer me; therefore,
"the combat you propose is atrocious and rePug-
"naIt, and one in which decline to meet you" Ii
is no answer to this TO say that Mr.. Pryor meant to
fight nevertheless, and intended to repudiate thepo-
sition taken by his second. ThetwO notesin whchhe
consented to meet Mr.. Potter never reached that
gentleman. The first Mr.. Chsman suppressed BY
the advice of friends convenient friends), and the
second. which he shOud have declined to take for
the sane reasons that influenced him in regard 70
tie fist, was also suppressed, because the olhef
party had been bound over to keep the peace IL
was clear there was no stomach for fight. Had
net Mr. Pryor felt that he would have been as clay
in the hands of that potter he and his friend would
have taken care that the gentleman challenged
should have the alternative Of saying whether no
would forfeit his bail or not.
So much being clear, another point is worthy OF
consideration, and is exciting some discussions was
the mode of fighting proposed by Mr.. Potter In
human AZ balbarousl That depends upon cir
cumstances. Between two men at the North ack-
nogle6ging the code, it would probably be so con-
sjderej as the right Of choice of weapons is pre-
| ,umed TO have its limits Here and in England
the pistol is the universal weapon, and In France
the pistol or raper beyond these there is little
freedom Of choice in either country. AT the South
| however, the law is not 30 limited, and Western
man, challenged by one from Virginia, has right
to some latitude. But the important point is, that
| Mr. Potter is not a dueIst This Mr.. Pryor, no
| doubt, knew; and he also knew that calling Dir.
| Potter 10 the field would haze been, if he were
duelist to force upon him the alternative OF dis
honor in refusing, or the loss of bis seat in Con-
| pIess and Acknowledgement at home for the
rest of his life if he accepted. But Mr..
Potter felt that the circumstances of the case-the
assumed attitude Of this particular man Pryor. the
incidence of his associates the right Of free speech,
| and the relations generally in Congress between
the North and the South-were such that no was
justified in laying aside his scrupes, and accepting
the call TO mortal combat, even at such personal
sacrifice as he was called upon to make. But be
meant il should be mortal. He was in earnest,
and was not afraid. He did not propose to set up
his six feet of stalwart form to be fired at BY
practced marksmaD for the privilege, in return, oil
shooting at the edge of a 18th. He meant fight
| not boys play, and chose, therefore, weapon IN
which probably neither lad skill, and which, II
either had any advantage, it was that only which
nature gave him. Mr.. Potter was placed in
the position of a man assaulted who de-
Tended himself to the best Of his abl.
| ity. The barbarity ard the inhumanity were on
the other side where disgrace, on the one hand, or
the penalty of the law on the other, were 10 be fas
tened upon the challenged party, who was expected
to accept as a weapon that with which his antago-
mist acknowledges himself to be his SUPERIOR and
by accepting which he voluntarily gave up all his
natural advantages in sfsht which was forced upon
him. The mistake is in judging this by tie laws o.
the code, which manifestly cannot apply where one
party only acknowledges their binding force. Da.
cling unquestionably is a relic Of barbarism--Mr.
Loyejoy may make his relics tripet in his next
speech-and fighting Of any sort is not thing
Christian or u gentleman ever engages in except
upon extreme provocation. But for our part we
cannot regret that it has been given to Northern
man, by sacrifice Of personal considerations to
put an end at last to the game of bluff and brag
the floor of Congress