The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-17
Our Bullies in Congress.

In another column will be found some add.
tional correspondence connected with the
Pryor and Potter difficulty, the aim Of which
seems to be to enable the original aggressor to
retrieve the degradation into which his pol
troonery has betrayed him. Notwithstanding
the efforts made by his friends to cover his
humiliation, there is no Disgusting the damning
fact that after putting his quarrel with Mr..
Potter to q mortal issue, he shrank from the
alternative of fight with weapons which
placed his opponent on fairer level with him
than that afforded by duel with firearms.
With the latter he was confident Of his superior
skill and chances; of the weapons proposed by
Mr.. Potter he was less assured; and, therefore,
like gambler reduced to play with fair cards,
declined them. The suggestion that size and
weight would give the preponderance to Potter
in contest with knives, every frontiers
man knows to be untrue. A light, active
man thus armed, has, if he has got
nerve and pluck, decided advantage
over mere bulk. In pugilistic contests, for ex-
ample the most successful champions Of the
prize ring are men of medium proportions.
twill not do for Mr.. Pryor, after the world
has pronounced its verdict upon the unmistake-
able cowardice of his course, to take up the
quarrel again at the point where his refusal to
accept Mr.. Potter's conditions had left it. He
probably did not expect that the press Of his
own party would be 80 unanimous in it's con-
domination of his conduct, and now that he is
disgraced in the eyes of all brave men, there is
no doubt he would be glad to replace himself
again in the position, equivocal as 1t was, tnat
he occupied previous to this difficulty. No
such chance, however, can be afforded to the
professional bully. If Mr.. Potter or any Of his
friends were to meet him after the cowardly
manner in which he has shirked out of an en-
counter in which he is himself the challenger,
they would be lowering themselves to the de.
graded level Of this unhappy man.
Mr.. Pryor belongs to q class of public nui-
sances which it simportant to the decent name
and credit of the country should be wiped out
as soon as possible. This can only be done by
using against them all the technical advantages
which the miscalled code Of honor offers to
those whom they seek to intimidate. Let the
professed duelist be taken by the challenged
party, as is his right, out of the range Of
weapons to which he is accustomed, and let
the distance be such as will render escape from
fatal result impossible, and we will guaran
tee that in ninety. nine cases out of hundred
he will stink out Of the quarrel like whipped
cur, as this man Pryor has DONE The CORES
pondence in this quarrel will prove valuable
guide for the future conduct of those who may
be forced into difficulty with these profess
sional Bobadils. AS useful pendant to it, we
republish the letters exchanged in the Ashmore
and Maxwell affair which, it will be recollected,
offer some striking points of analogy to the
present case.
Notwithstanding the strong and unequivocal
sentiments Of condemnation which the vapor-
ing of Mr.. Pryor has elected from the press of
all parties, and some indignant evidences Of
which we copy into our columns to-day, we
fear that his being compelled to eat the leek
will not put an extinguisher upon the trouble
excited by his contemplate hectoring. Pas
sions have been aroused in the course of this
quarrel which, though the chief actors have
played out their parts, will, in all probability,
seek opportunities for indulgence. There
are many such men in Congress as Mr.. Pryor,
in whose minds the responsibility Of their posi-,
tions and the credit Of the country are mat
tiers Of less consideration than the qualification
of their violent and brutal instincts. 1t would
not be surprising if out of the miserable feud
which has created such indignant comment
throughout the country, some bloody drama
were yet to be the result. We tremble lest
the halls of the national Legislature should
be made the theatre of such a scene, and az
gravate the disgrace which the misconduct OF
these professional fre-eaters has already
brought upon us in the eyes Of the world. Let
all good and true men in both houses there.