The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-01-20

HfaN
Whsu 81 iength ire vote wss takeu, there
werc tAiat-twn vote fof expulsion ie
f5riy.ioar againsl As mtmbcr coo n'd
not BE- expelled except by two.thirds
vote, Matthew Lyon retained bic seat
But, Il seems. the gross lnaiRnity
ranked IL The btcast ~ Roger Gtiswold,
who was tnau ~ education and dlsiin
guisbed Hnrage Forr days after the
failure % cxpel white Iyob was sitting
GA be tcst wth his BAT On, writing,
Griswoid camr pp to him and assaulted
him, jast - Brook. aiiofwafd assaulted
Mf. Sutnaer, hy striking him over lhe
hesd ard shoulders wire = hickory cane.
LyoB, entangied by tho desk and chairs.
was sonne iime in getting 20 an open
space Tie Esiztd the ,ongs aud rushed
npon his toe. Soon the helbEereuts
dropped their weapons, olitghed, iell to
lhe floor, and enjoyed for short time q
good rough and tumble fight, antlI they
were pulled apart By their icllow.mem-
bcfs.
But even this was not Tie end Of H.
A iew minutes afer, while Gfiswold was
standing IN corner oi the room, Lyon
came near with a cane in Dis hand, bat
without any intention 10 renew the strng-
gle. As soon a. their eyes met their
fury was rekindled, aud Lyon assaulted
Griswold with great violence. He had
struck several blows when another mem
Der supplied Griswold with asiick, which
restored equality between them. Other
members, however, interlcfed, aud the
combatants were finally separated.
This affair was the more TO be regret
ted, because il gave some appearance OF
Justification to those who desired TO ex-
clude from offices OF honor men who
were SO unfortunate as 10 have 80 partio-
ular grandfather Bul If the reader will
study closely the political history Of the
only four countries that have ever had
any politics, namely, Greece, Rome,
England and the United States, be will
discover that il has been The aristocratic
party which has most habitnally and in
stinclively resoited TO brute violence.
Before the year 1898 ended Matthew
Lyon was in more serious trouble. The
administration of John Adams was fool
ish enough TO prosecute him under the
abominable Sedilion Law, for having
said in his paper, that the President had
an unbonnded thirst for ridiculous p0mp
and foolish adulation, had written bn-
lying message, and uttered other equally
trivial and harmless words. Being con-
victed, he was sentenced to pay A fine OF
thousand dollars, and be Imprisoned for
four calendar months. Need il be said
that the people Of his district stood by
their representatives. Whilehe was serv.
ing out his term in prison, they recalled
him TO Congress by greatly increased
majority, aud be came back 10 Philadei-
phia in triumph. The Fedeealssts tried
again to expel him, and obtained a vote
OF forty-nine to forty-four against it.
Such was the infatuation of that party
only eighteen months before it was swept
from power foreyerl
This prosecution and long absences at
the seat of government broke up Lyons
business in Vermont, and he removed in
1901 to the new land of Kentucky, where
again he became leader both in business
and in politics. In two years hs came TO
Congress from Kentucky. His old enc
mics, the Federalists, were nen in
dwindling minority; and Matlhs Lyon,
from having been the butt OF an insolent
faction, found himself hero and fayorite
Of the Democratic majority. Candid men
OF both parties now perceived that he
was a man of sense, Of frank AM agreea-
bic demeanor, good tempered open to
conviction, and well able 70 give bis quo
ia of sound advice. He served IN Con-
gress until 1871, when he declined further
election, being siXly-iye years of age.
Some years later, Mr.. Monroe appointed
him agent to the Cherokee Indians, aud
he continued TO be an active business
man, patriotic politician, aud faithful
servant Of his country, trusted by the
Indians, and beloved by bis neighbors TO
the close OF his long life, He died 1922,
at Spsdre Bluff, high up on lie Arkansas
river, aged seveuty-seyen Yeas,
On the fourth Of July, ls40, Congress
honored itself by ordering The fine OF u
thousand dollars, with forty-two years
interest on the same, 10 be paid to the
heirs Of bis pioneer democrat