The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-01-16
c0NeRESSIoNAL DuELs.

CONGRESSIONAL DUELS.
It was during the administration OF
Mr.. Monroe that a collision occurred
in the Senate between General Samuel
Smith Of Maryland, and Mr.. Lloyd, of
Massachusetts,, the result of which gave
much satisfaction at the North. Gen
ernl Smith was known fighting man,
a brave soldier, who had rendered i'm
portant service in the war of 1912. He
was large, imposing figure of man,
of peremptory manner, and rather in
clined to be dictatorial and overbearing.
Mr.. Lloyd, on the contrary, was small
in statue, delicate and almost effemin-
ate in appearance, dressing always in
elegant style, and looking like a courtier
of the days of Louis XIV. In the
course of discussion Mr.. Lloyd had
contrOverted with some sharpness and
great effect certain statements and ar
guments of General Smith. A logical
reply suitable to the case did not occur
to the Senator so, instead of reafirm-
ing his facts and attempting to confute
the reasoning of Mr.. Lloyd, he tried
the effect of a little personal intimida-
ton.
Mr.. President, said he, in a tone of
a school-master lecturing his pupils.
gentlemen coming from the section of
the country where the doctrine of per
sOnal responsibility is not recognized
ought to be specially cautious in the
language they use toward gentlemen in
this Chamber. If their own principles
or the sentiments of their constituents
prevent them from giving satisfaction
for words not properly chosen, they
should take care not to wound the feel
ings of Senators who were educated in
n different school,"
Mr.. Galliard, of South Carolina, was
presiding in the Senate in the absence
of the Vice President, and he, knowing
of the stuff Mr. Lloyd was made, smiled
quite significantly as General Smith
took his seat. On the part of Senators
generally there was an expression of
lively interest as Mr.. Lloyd rose to
reply. He spoke in a low voice, and in
tone as mild as if he were inviting a
lady to take a turn in waltz.
Z" Mr.. President, am not acquainted
with the sentiments of my State upon
what the Senator calls the doctrine of
personal responsibility. I recognize
this doctrine to its fullest extent, and
am prepared to be held responsible in
any way for every word utter ON this
floor. Furthermore, Sir, in order to
prevent any miseonception hereafter, 1
give the Senator from Maryland to
know that I shall hold him responsible
for every word he speaks derogatory TO
my character or injurious 10 my feel
ings."
General Smith made no reioinder, and
the furry passed, but it was observed
thereafter that there was a studied
courtesy in the bearing Of all the fire.
caters toward Mr. Lloyd.
The last fatal Congressional duel was
that in which poor Cilley lost his life.
The quarrel was a political one, and
Cilley was sacrifice to the rancor of
party strife. There was no personal
Rnimosity on the part of the antagon-
lists. They fought with rifles, Mt forty
PAGES. Cilley was an expert shot with
the rifle, while Graves was wholly I'M
used TO the weapon. A side wind was
blowing fresh as the parties took their
ground, and the fatal shot was a chance
one altogether. Cilley was a brave
man, but he could not control his
nerves. On the first fire his ball struck
the ground not more than forty feet Off
Graves was perfectly cool and collected,
and at the third shot Cilley fell. NOR,
tally wounded. Henry A. Wise accom-
panied Graves to the field, and General
Jones, of Iowa, was the second of Oil
ley. They were much censured for al
lowing more than one shot, the difficult
~ being a technical one only; but the
fact is, they wentNn the ground tied up
10y an agreement made by the great
leaders OF the two political parties from
which they did not feel themselves at
liberty to deviate Their fatal mistake
consisted in accepting the conditions by
which the combat was to be governed.
Cilley died on the field, but his fate was
preferable to that of Graves, who lin
gered a few years a melancholy wreck,
wasting away the remainder of his life
in remorse and misery. -Harper's.