The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-18
DtsgracefuI scene mt w ashington.

The telegraph a few days since brought
the announcement that the House OF Repre-
sentatives at Washington, was turned into
"bear garden" by Messrs. Pryor of Virginia'
and Potter of Wisconsin, and the difficulty
has become as important matter before the
public as an expected prize fight. brief
history of the matter is this: The other
day during o general row in the House of
Representatives, in which Mr.. Lovejoy was
the chief blackguard, some words passed be.
tween members, which at the time went for
nothing, like the gasconade of q street fight
or bar room brawl. Ia the official report
for the Globe, Mr.. Potter interpolated such
OF his own expressions as the reporter had
omitted and Mr.. Pryor erased them. Mr..
Potter explained the affair to the House and
said, "that he had no right, whatever, to alter
a single word or comma in those remarks;"
f "that he would have cut off his right hand
, before he would have done it," that Mr..
, Pryor was "tAking liberty which he had no
, right to take" and which "no gentleman had
f a right to take" Mr.. Potter said "he would
: stand by his language" to which Mr.. Pryor
! reioined, that he understood him to give the
liberty of constituting his remarks as he
h pleased" He said he would do SO. "and
whether or not he stands by it, the sequel
: will demonstrate" MIR. Potter said, "let it
A; demonstrate" At Mr.. Pryor's remarks,
A.. there came "derisive laughter from the Re-
; publican benches"
; The gentlemen after this were missing
/, from their seats in the House. and the natu.
raj supposition was, that sanguinary horror
was about to take place.
Mr.. Pryor, through Mr.. Hindman, of Ar
kansas, sent note to Mr.. Potter, asking
- him to leave the District to receive writer
communication. The telegraph yesterda!
10 informed US that:
NJ To this Mr.. Potter replied that as MI
Pryor's note contemplated avoiding the anti
20 dueliDg penalties in the District, and tha
le as his, MIR. Potter's disqualification was con
~ tanned in the constitution OF Wisconsin,
f. he entertained the proposal therefor, h
y could not leave the District. On whicl
~ Mr.. Chssman, substitute for Mr.. Hind
man, who was obliged to leave for Arkansas
:, handed Mr.. Potter peremptory challeng
ir from Mr.. Prior, who dated his note from Vr
gina Col. Lander, who had been designa
ted by Mr.. Potter as his friend, handed, ate
9 lapse Of twelve hours, note to Dir. Chiss
e man accepting the challenge and naming
common bowie knives ns the weapons; tn
n, fight to take place in the open air, and tn
-. parties to be accompanied by two friend
= each armed with Colts revolvers. Ml
Chissman protested against this form c
ll, weapon as absurd, barbarous, vulgar, an
# offered 10 construe the code in the most lib
-. eral terms, provided other arms are sugges
ted. Mr.. Potter authorized Col. Lander t
10 decline any other terms, urging the bowie
- knife as the only weapon. Whereupo
Col. Lander offered to substitute himself TO
Mr. Potter with other weapons. 10 bot
OF which propositions Mr.. Chssman, with
out consulting Mr. Pryor, replied that tn
re first as to the weapons is vulgar and mad
do missible, and that while appreci1ting Col
= lenders zeal for his friend they no caus
. OF the quarrel with him, and consequently
D. no demand to make on him.
" Mr.. PryOr's second is said to have acte
S, in this matter, after consu.,ation with Sen
lie a,ors Mason and Hammond, and Messrs
i. Miles and Keitt, Of the H0use-his princi
lie pal is still waiting in Virginia for an unswe
al to the halienge.
r, Mr. Potter re appeared in the House e
j. half past one on Friday. On Saturday hi
a was arrested and gave bail in $1,000, It
: keep the peace, and especially not to fsh
e q duel.
: EIr. Pryor wGs still absent, but the officer
d were searching for him, and similar boun
Ir was to be required from him.
% THUS stands the fight at .lates, telegraph
intelligence.