The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-24
THE sPRAGUE EXCITEMENT.

4xC Ok haQO1 IL
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| The Great Sensation In Neutrality-suspicious..
views With Senators sprague and Abbott
Sprague Expecting a Communication from
MIR. AbbOtt-Sprague Must Apologize or
Fight-The Correspondence to Pass ON
Saturday.
WASHINGTON, April %, 1869.
The extraordinary session of the Senate expired
at an early hour this morning. with sensation. On
their way to their homes the Senators seemed to for
get the contests Sanford and Pile and Carlle
and to think only Of Spragne and Abbott The dis
cussion ran upon the probable means Of settling the
| '1ittle onpleasantness" which had sprung up be-
tween the Senator from the Old North State and the
| Senator from 'Lttle Rhody." Would Abbott box
Sprague's ears and pull his nose, would he chal-
| lenge him to mortal combat, after the good old
chivaric fashion, were the questions asked and
| speculated upon. The pluck of the two men was
discussed with much avdity by grave Senators as
If they were professional pugilists ana the expected
mill was to come Off tomorrow. When the sensa-
ton came OF there were few persons around
the Senate Chamber besides the clerks
and dOorkeepers and the newspapers cor
respondents. Like the Senators, they, too, had
their opinions and speculations concerning what
had occurred and what might follow. Each Of the
parties to the affair had, Of course their friends
end some went so far in their enthusiasm as to offer
TO bet The great mass of the people were entirely
ignorant Of what had occurred until they opened
the newspapers this morning. The news, however,
spread rapidly and during the entire day 1t has been
the talk OF the town. thousand rumors were
anoat Of collision having occurred between the
belligerents. Some had 1t that Abbott had lie.
sprague In the street ana had cowhided him, others
Ihat ne had pylIsd his nose and boxed his ears and
otherwlse S,eaped indignites upon him; and Others
still that arrangements were in progress for O
meeting on the historic ground at Bla1ensburg.
sprague's admirers circulated stories precisely the
opposite, giving all the prowess to little Rhodyn
and annihiatlng Abbott, the rotund and muscular,
as did David the gigantic Goliath. All these proved
groundless, and the sun went down without any
bloodshed.
INTERVIEW WITH sPRAGUE.
Your correspondent visited Senator Sprague in
the afternoon, to ascertain how he took the matter
and whether there were any preparations on foot
for settlement Of the difficulty between himself
and Mr. Abbott. The Senator remained at home all
day waiting ahe said, to receive message that
the Senator from North Carolina might have to CON-
munioate. He did not anticipate any, but If it came
| he did not want to be absent. Having left the
| Senate before Mr.. Abbott made his little speech
Sprague knew nothing Of its import until he read 1t
| In the papers this morning, The only thing in It
that he took exception to was the charge that he
had ''skuked out Of the chamber" He says he had
| no intention to run away from whatever danger
| there might be in either Abbott or his friends.
Before leaving the Senate Chamber Mr.. Abbott had
asked in executive session to have the doors opened
for the purpose OF allowing him to make personal
explanation. Sprague had inquired whether it re-
lated to him, and he was assured that 1t did not.
Thinking that possibly 1t might be fresh panegyric
| on General Burnside, which he was not particu-
larry interested left the chamber and went home
"what would you have done, Mr.. Senator. had
you been present ~ we inquired.
"wel" he replied, stretching himself at full length
l on the sofa II he were thinking up speech, 81
| would have said, mr.. President did not couple
| any Senator's name with the phrase puppy dog''
when 1t; but II there are any here whom the
skin fits they can put 1t on and wear it, That" he
continued, "would have been my only explanation"
| MR.. sPRAGUB PREPARED TO RENDER SATISFACTION.
"Suppose, Mr.. Sprague, Senator Abbott had not
| been satisfied with this, and had demanded, he
said he would, satisfaction outside the Senate Cham
| berYn
"weu,n he replied 81 would have said, Sir, you
| can have whatever satisfaction you want, either
| inside or outside the Senate Chamber"
| UNAVOIDABLE PROSPECTS FOR SENATOR ANTHoNY's
l REFLECTION
Leaving this subject temporarily Senator Sprague
| launched out upon his favorite theme-the politi.
| clans in the Senate and their attempt to ruin the
business Of the country.
| "what do you Think" inquired, "of Anthony's
| chances OF reelection to the SenateY"
1 "Psnaw |" he exclaimed with contemptuous toss
| Of his head and q snap Of his fingers, Anthony
stands chance Of getting back to the Senate
| from Rhode Island than you do, after his term is
| out. Why, do you know 1t took all that his owners
| and hackers Brown and Ives, could do. and all that
coud do, to get him elected the last timer He has
| no hold upon the people Of Rhode Island"
1 CAMERON AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. EoRswEARs
| BOTH.
Turning suddenly around, after a brief pause
| Mr. sprague said:-"What do you think OF Cameroni
Is he truthful honest mantn
replied that knew nothing to the contrary, but
| that probably he knew more about Cameron than
| did. whereupon he sad:-
81 used 10 meet him good deal some time ago.
| He would come and take me down to his agricul
| tural committee room, and set out champagne and
| ask me to drink, Finally said to him, Cameron
| you are vicious old fellow. am young man and
you are an old sinner, and you are always putting
| temptation In my way. Now don't intend coming
to your committee room any more.' since that time
| have had little to do with Cameron. don't know
what he intended to say yesterday, but suppose
he would have joined in the general attack upon me
had he proceeded when he arose to speak,"
ROSS, OF KANSAS, RUN by OUTSIDE PARTIES.
Having finished Cameron, he next inquired my
opinion Of Senator Ross, and failing to get salts
factory answer he proceeded to say;-"I think some
body runs Ross-some outside parties. That is the
way with several Senators. For Gil that think
Ross Is pretty clever fellow, but he is not plucky
or else he would have made better fight upor
Grant the other day when he ascertaned that all his
friends were being turned out Of onlce.r
ABB0rr's PLUCK QUESTIONABLE.
with view TO bringing him back to the main
point Of interest said, "Mr. Senator what do YOU
| think OF Abbottr'
soh, welin he said che don't amount TO much
He is one Of those lawyers who have great estl
nation Of their own abilities. You see Abbott Is
Yankee, and he Is sharp enough to know that 4