Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-04
STRAIGHT-OUTS.
Tie BIantOn Duncan Convention Of
Immaculates.
The Opening Scene-An Old Fash.
toned, Straight-Out Fisty-Cuff.

The Louisville Courier Journal gives the
following report Of the prelude to Blanton
Duncan's Convention, which occurred at
the Gait House Monday afternoon:
The most exciting event Of the day &C.
CURED at the Gait House in the afternoon.
About l o'clock Col. Blan.on Duncan, sit
ting in the corridor in conversation with
several delegates, rose from his seat, and
approaching Gen. Geo. A. Custar and DR..
j. NJ. Keller, who were engaged in pri-
vate conversation, the following converse
ton substantially ensued:
Col. Duncan abiding TO his lameness,
Gen. Gustav said, satiricslly:
"You will be lamer than this next week. 7"
Col Duncan responded boastingly: 'You
fellows don't know how big thing it is. 1t
is the biggest thing that has happened on
this continent"
"Yes," Gen. Gustav made answer, sit
will last about three days"
DR.. J. n. Keller, who is a prominent ply
sician of Louisville, and a man of ire
proachable character, inquired pointedly of
Col. Duncan if he had noticed the general
appearance of the delegates who had ar
rived this morning?
Col. Duncan replied: 81 don't know. l
only know that il the delegation from New
York there are ten men who represent ten
millions. call these pretty heavy men,"
eyes" replied DR.. Keller, "heavy SO far
as money is concerned"
"You can be assured" remarked Gen.
Gustav, "that there is money in it if the
Colonel is interested"
"Taking about money" replied Duncan,
81 have been offered a half million dollars
TO break I'D this convention"
Gen. Custar retorted that it was the nat
ural inference that the other party had Of
fered more than half million dollars not
to break it up.
At this Duncan excitedly said: awe II,
sir, my character is as good as yours" and
added something about being bought and
sold which was not fully caught by Gen {.
Gustav and DR.. Keliar.
81 am not going to discuss your charac-
ter" said the General, sand have not re-
ferred to it particularly, but now that you
have brought the subject up, can establish
by good testimony, without going out of
this hall, that you openly stated that this
whole movement was question of bargain
and sale, and that, for your part, if there
was to be any sale, you were going to sell
to the party who would pay the biggest
price, aud that party you believed to be
Grant"
al don't know who your informer isl
said Duncan; "but whoever he is he is a
liar"
Gen. Custar remarked, Don't be so
fast, Colonel"
Duncan repeated, "Whoever told you SO
was liar"
DR.. Kellar, who was listening to but
aking no part in the conversation, then
turned to Col. Duncan and said:
"Col. Duncan, / am the party who is re-
sponsible for Gen. Custar's statement, and
you must take that back
Col. Duncan replied: 81 will not take it
back" and both rising, DR.. Kellar struck
Col. Duncan in the face. Duncan reeled
as if falling, but caught by a chair, with
which, as he rose he attempted to strike
the Doctor. Several Intellectual blows pass
ed, when the parties were separated.
\ If we say that the Colonel was angry,
the statement viii probably not be regarded
as an exaggeration under the circumstances.
10 fact he was very angry, and under the
Influence OF his excited feelings declared
that he could whip DR.. Kellar or any of his
friends-applying rather offensive title to
them. This angered Mr.. Robert w. Wool
lev, who approached Duncan as near as he
could for parties had stepped between
them, and denounced him in unmeasured
terms. There was apparently no response
10 this. and the matter ended. For awhile
pistols and coffee were talked of among the
spectators as probably the next step, but we
understand that Col. Duncan declines to
pursue the affair any further.
The conversation to which Gen. Gustav
referred preceding this scene occurred, and
in which both be and DR.. Keller say that
Duncan did make the boast charged, oc-
CURED on the first day Of the assembling Of
the Cincinnati Convention, and was be
twe5 n the three parties, DR.. Keller, Col
Duncan, and Gen. Gustav. Col. Duncan
on that occasion stated that he regarded
the Union Of the Democrats and Liberal
Republicans as a mere bargain and sale Of
the Democratic party, and for bis part be
would allow 10 man to sell him. If be was
TO be sold, he wanted to have something To
say about the price, and would sell to that
party who would pay the most, and be be.
lieVed that Grant would pay larger price
than any Of the parties named at Cincin
matt.