American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-05-01
The Abbott sprague Affair.

Reports from Washington for the
past eight or ten days, have been to
The effect that Il duel between
Sprague, of Rhode Island, and Alb
bolt, Carpet bagger), or North Car
lima, was eminent, arising out of an
attack by the former Oh the latter,
in the U. S. Senate. The following
dispatch gives some light on the
subject:
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator
Sprague's words yesterday which
offended Abbott, We're:
.'Mr. President, in answer to the
TRADE of the Senator from Nevada,
and the Senator from North CARROLL
ma, | am reminded of little illustra-
ton. In my travels from the centre
here into the rural districts through
thewoods and farms of the surround
ing neighborhood, chance at one
time brought me to a farm house.
discovered on looking up, large
mastiff and mOngrel puppy dog. The
little dog moved on me with rapid
ty from behind, bit at my heels, and,
frightened at his temerity, ran howl
ing away, followed by his larger
companion. The Senate will OBJ
serve that the mongrel whining pup
py, encouraged by the mastiff, and
embroidered to make the attack from
the shadow of his hacker, ran rapid
~ away, alarmed at his temerity,
whilst the overgrown cur followed
after with ears Topped and tail be
tween his legs to a place of safety
beside his menaced companion"
During yesterday evening Abbott
threatened to borsewhip Sprague
unless he retracted. In the Senate
last night, Abbot said:
"When ] arose in executive SEES
sion to ask that the doors be opened.
some time ago, / said l did not in
tend to utter anything unbecoming
on this floor, what | did intend to dc
was to ask the Senator from Rhode
Island if he intended to apply the
term puppy to me, as is implied in
the connection of that language. II
he did intend to apply it to me, my
purpose was to ask him for retrac
ton as full as the implication of the
language; and if he refused that re
traction my intention was to ask fol
satisfaction out of this chamber.
now, sir, give notice, inasmuch as
that Senator has sknlked outside Of
the chamber, that intend to have
satisfaction outside of the chamber
Sumner called Abbott to order
who, after much confusion, was al
lowed to say in explanation:
81 will state that ! am not du
elist; | was not educated dueliSt
and did not mean that sort of thing
| but meant to say that the Senate
from Rhode Island must make a re
traction as broad as the assertion
(order,) and that | shall have tina
satisfaction outside of this Chambe
in some way"
From the following it would ap
pear that the belligerents, afte
keeping Washington excited will
wild rumors as to a bloody termina
ton of the difficulty, have becom
reconciled:
WASHINGTON, April 27.-The fol
lowing is the Abbott Sprague COZ
respondence
WASHINGTON, April &c, 1869.
To the Hon. VIM. Sprogue:
DEAR SIR-On the 22d inst, il
the United States Senate, you Ut
tered the following language: (quo
ting Sprague's remarks about mon
grel puppy.') This language ha
been understood as meant in part
be. applied to me. | am not awar
that1 gave any occasion in my II
marks for you to wish 10 be offer
sive or insulting in reply. l. there
fore. deem it proper to ask that 80,
state distinctly whether You intend
ed to apply any of the above offer
sive language to myself.
l am, etc,
T.. =