Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-03-08
Congressional Quarrels.


The Chicago Tribune in commenting
upon the quarrel in the United States
Senate between Senators Conkling and
Gordon goes back to the old times and
drags to light the numerous quarrels be-
tween the hot blooded congressman of
those times.
A quarrel then meant something more
than display of fstieufs. First among
the Congressional brawlers, in point of
originality and time, was Matthew Lyon,
who attacked Griswold, of Connecticut,
with fre-shovel during the open session
in 1898. Contemporary records assert
that this was one of the most interesting
differences of opinion ever seen in the
House, but the chronicler neglects to say
which one of the combatants carried off
the honors of the occasion. There were
in those early days alse many challenges
between eminent statesmen for words
spoken in and out of Congress. Dewitt
Clinton fought duel with John Swart-
hout in 1902, and another With Gen. Day
BRONX, of New jersey, in 1903. The
famous duel between Hamilton and Burr
occurred in 1904. Henry Clay fought
the first time with Humphrey Marshall
in 1903, and the second time with John
Randolph In 1926, vindicating in this
manner his honor against the statement
that his vote for John Quincy Adams
was "the coalition of Puritan with a
blackleg." Thomas Fl. Benton and An
drew jackson both fought duels. Mr.
CiIley, of Maine, was killed IN duel by
Graves, of Kentucky, in 1898. A num-
Der of duels and personal encounters,
more Or less serious, grew out of the
Brooks-Sumner affair. Besides the phys
ical injuries inflicted upon Mr.. Sumner,
from which he never recovered, a chal-
lenge passed between Anson Burlingame
and Brooks. The weapons named were
rifles and the place Navy Island, above
Niagara Falls. Brooks refused to keep
the appointment, alleging that it would
not be safe for him to travel through the |
North in the then excited state of public |
feeling. Burlingame was on hand ready
to proceed. He gained great popularity |
for his conduct in this affair; but the |
Puritan sense of Massachusetts, when it
had time to cool, was against him, and
he lost his election few years afterwards,
though not solely on this account. He
had another serious encounter with Keitt,
of South Carolina. Barksdale, of Mis-
sissippi, who assisted Brooks in his as
sault upon Sumner, was a noted fighter
in his day. In one scrimmage in the
House he took hold of a spittoon as an
offensive weapon, and had his wig pulled
off. Punch did the scene up in a cartoon.
He was at last killed at Gettysburg.
A memorable quarrel, which induced
preparations for a duel, was that between
Jefferson Davis and Bissell, Of Illinois.
The affair fell through, but it added
something to the reputation of Bissell,
who was aferward elected Governor of
Illinois, and had his title disputed on
the score of his disqualification, as a
party to duel under the law. Potter,
of Wisconsin, and Pryor, Of Virginia,
had an affair of honor, which was ter
minated by the selection of bOwie-knives
as the weapons by the former Pryor
retreated, asserting that no gentleman
could fight with bowie-knives, and Pot
ter was known to fame as bOwie-knife
Potter. Duer, of New York, gave the
lie to Mead, of Virginia, in debate, but
no duel followed. Foote, of Mississippi,
struck Fremont in the ante-room of the
Senate Chamber, but smOothed the
matter down by an ample apology. He
had a more serious difficulty with Ben
ton, upon whom he drew revolver in
the open senate. Five men caught hold
of Foote, and four seized Benton. The
former was disarmed, and the latter cried
out; "Let the assassin shoot !" Senator
Borland struck Census Commissioner
Kennedy in the grounds of the capitol
Griunel, of Iowa, was cowhided in the
retunda by Rousseau, of Kentucky;
Greeley was knocked down by Rust in
the street, offering no resistance; and
there have been various other afrays,
more or less momentous and disgraceful.
There have been no fatal duels among
Congressman, with the exception of the
one which resulted in the death of Cilley,
already referred to, The Southerners,
who in the old days were often the ag,
gressors, failed on several times to make
good their threats. The moment a de-
termined resistance was offered, they
found other means of accommodating
their difficulties than bloodshed. The
ending of several challenges in this man
ner at last suggested that the known
scruples of northern men, and the public
sentiment against dueling at the north,
encouraged the display of angry passions
by the Southern members. Thereafter
the exhibition of a more decided inten-
ton to resent every insult was consid-
cred measure of selfprotectiOn, and
was found efectual. Since the war, the
spirits have come as often