Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-06-08
A Scene in Westminster.

Among the men who figured largely in
the ea-ly political history of this State
was Matthew Lyon. He was a coarse,
rough-minded man, constantly engaged in
brois and provoking enemies on all sides.
During the session of Congress in l797-9S,
at which time Lyon was a member of the
House he got into trouble with Mr.. Girls
void, member from Conn, the story of
which runs thus:
during the sitting of the House of Rep
resentatives, January 80, 1898. while the
teller was engaged in counting the ballots
for managers in the impeachment against
William Blount, the Speaker and the men,
beIs left their seats according to the prac-
tice on such occasions. The Speaker sat
by the bar of the House, Mr. Griswold
bcssE asoars 4~hiis Lygu. -seo0a without the
bar, lssning on it and talking in a loud
voice with the Speaker. The subject of
his conversation was the conduct of the
members from Connecticut, which he de-
nounce3 in the severest terms, accusing
them Of seeking private ends alone. He
would ike to 20 to Connecticut and man
age the press there for awhile. He would
agree to revolutionize the State in six
months and get the present members
turned out
Mr.. !Griswold on hearing this laid his
hand on Lyons shoulder and remarked
If you come there you had better wear
your tcoo2en S1rord, alluding to Mr.. Lyons
having been cashiered in the army There
upon Lyon spat in his face.
The committee Of privileges recommend
ed that Mr.. Lyon be expelled from the
House for this conduct but the motion did
not prevail. During the debate in the
House on Lyons expulsion he undertook
defense of himself, and In vindication of
his character as 4 brave man, stated that
once in Vermont when he was insulted
by Mr.. Chapman, then Senator from this
State, he had chastised him. To this Mr.
Chipman replied by letter, Indignantly de-
nying the statement. Nor did he know
in fact what event Mr. Lyon was alluding
to, unless to aludicrous circumstance which
took Mace once upon time at Westmin-
ster. In the beginning of the year 1880
the legislature of Vermont was in session
at that place. Mr.. Lyon attended as
member; Mr. Chipman was there on
business. The House of Representatives
requested Mr.. Chapman, though not a
member, to examine and report concern
ing certain debts due from persons whose
estate had been confscated. He accord
ingly made report, at some parts of
which Mr.. Lyon was seriously offended.
One morning, soon after, Mr.. Chapman
was occupied in Mr.. Bradleyfs room, which
he was then making his place of business.
No one was in the room except these two
gentlemen, who were seated on opposite
sides of the same table, busily employed.
Mr. AsEon walked in and took a seat at
the table beside Mr.. Bradley and began
talking about the report above named. He
was not long in showing how deep was
his irritation, nor could he restrain it but
burst out with the rude declaration that
no man with spark of honesty in him
could have reported as Mr.. Chapman had
done.
Incensed at such insolence, MIR. Chip
man retorted with calling Lyon an igno-
rant Irish puppy Lyon bounded from his
seat and grasped at Mr.. Chipman's hair,
which was turned back with comb, crush
ing the comb in his grasp. Chipman was
mending a pen. and as Lyon assaulted him
he started up from his chair, knife in hand
prepared to avenge the insult. But just
at tAf moment Mr. Bradley grasped
Lyon fom behind around the arms and
drew Vim back little. Lyon was rem
deredteomparatively helpless by this; but
his wrath was unabated, and his feet were
free, and though held tight in Bradley's
arms. he raised his legs and kicked across
the table with all his might at Mr.. Chip
man. As he lay sprawling and kicking in
this fashion, his eyes glaring and his whole
face distorted with anger, the awkward
figure the man cut caused Mr.. Chipman's
passion to vanish and he burst into loud
laugh. Instantly dropping the knife. he
seized Lyons feet, and. with the help oi
Mr.. Bradley, who had not relaxed his
grip, carried him across the room and laid
him on his back in a corner. The two
gentlemen then returned 20 their seats
laughing heartily over the scene. But
though it might be fun for them it wa:
anything but fun for Mr.. Lyon, who rost
from his recumbent posture and stood fol
awhile speechless, as if overwhelmed a