Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-04-30
The Sprague-AbbOtt Feud.
THE INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR sPRAGUE.
Despatch to the N. Y. World.
WASHINGTON, April 70, 1869.

\.
WASHINGTON, April %, 1869.
In regard to the difficulty between him
self and Mr.. Abbott, Mr.. Sprague said, to.
day: 81 merely drew an illustration of two
dogs, which I actually met, and which &C
tually treated me and them as [ stated
in my speech. [ made the illustration be-
cause it saved a long argument and made
my speech shorter. made no application
to any Senator by word, look, tone, Or
gesture. Only one Senator has taken it
up, and he, MIR. Abbott, has chosen to ap-
ply it by implication to himself, and has,
by process which care not to analyze,
actually chosen the meanest dog of the
two. Nye didn't assume the other dog
He was two sharp for that. No other SEN
ator except Mr.. Abbott made any applica-
ton, and his doing so is not my fault
The illustration was in my written speech,
and could not know that either Mr.. Alb
bott Mr.. Nye, or any other man
| intended to speak or what they intended
| to say. intend to be diverted by no per-
sonal quarrel from bringing my plan be-
| fore the country. After that this is done,
/ will fight the whole capoodle of them,
| singly or alone, just as they wish. I do
not believe that any man thinks l am a
| coward. I have been under fire, and have
been wounded. I do not think my cour-
age admits question or needs vindication !;
therefore shall not attempt to get engag-
ed in street brawl but L do not intend
to avoid my daily walks, and if I am at
tackled I shall certainly defend myself. L
do not think [ could rest moment with a
hostile hand on my shoulder, and the man
who assails me and publishes his intention
| to do it, when he undertakes it does so at
| the peril of his life. As to the code, do
| no not believe in it, and will not recognize
it. [ recognize self-defence, however, as
| the first law of nature. [ do not care to
| live long. [ have no fondness for long
| life, and have no particular ties to bind
me here but intend to live long enough
to get my plan through, or at least under
stood before the people. It is right ; it is
certain to prevail had no vanity in pro-
posing it. I have studied ii out, and have
come to it alone, but I have tried to have
others than propose it talked it over
to members of Congress. saturated COM
mittees with it. tried to influence all
the Cabinet with it. I strove to get it
through the head of the President, but he
is gone case, and the politicians own
him. What did [ encounter Argument ?
Answer No, but personal abuse and
ridicule, and family war upon my bust
ness Then l retorted, and showed that
| put Anthony himself into the Senate that
L paid the requisite taxes of $40, 900 which
| were necessary to elect Burnside Governor
| He stands to-day on my pocket-book, and
now am supreme in Rhode Island. was
| reelected Senator without a dissenting
vote. Democrats and Republicans voted
for me to man. My man, Seth Padel-
ford. is to succeed Burnside for Governor.
| L receive letters every day from all parts
of my State declaring that am endorsed.
I intend to stay in Washington all summer
and Eight it out on thisline." Thisis what
Mr.. Sprague said. He talks in his parlor with
| great readiness and fiuency. and gets on
| much better than on the floor of the SEN
| ate. He impresses one as a man of I'M
| doubted ability, and has the directness and
intensity of monomaniac. Up TO this
time 10 affray has taken place between him
J and Mr.. Abbott. Mr., Sprague walked out