The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-03-08

Some Old-Time Personal Renconters I'm
the House OF Representatives.

the House OF Representatives.
After the attack upon Mr.. Sumner by
Brooks, writes Washington correspond
ent in the Chicago Times, Massachu-
sets member named Comyns made a
severe speech directed against Brooks
and the State of South Carolina He
was thoroughly armed with revolvers
and bowle-knives, and made a great
sensation. To his offensive utterances
Brooks quietly replied that in his coun-
try cock which wore spurs and wouldn't
fight was laughed at even by the hens.
This was intended TO provoke the Mas
sachusetts walking arsenal TO chal-
lenge, but he was silent. Then Bur-
lingame sprung to his feet and said there
were "sons of Massachusetts who were
not afraid to maintain her honor and de-
fend her rights on any field" This was
considered the proper thing to do under
the circumstances. Brooks sent chal-
lenge, and the whole world knows the
rest. Burlingame chose heavy rifles,
aud selected Canada as the dueling
ground. Brooks declined the meeting
on the ground that he could not with
safety to himself traverse an enemy's
country, and so the affair ended.
During the exciting times of the Kan
sas- Nebraska troubles Lovejoy was
making one of his fierce speeches against
the pro-slavery men. With sleeves
rolled up and eyes alame with excite
ment he came down the aisle, but was
met on the boundary line between the
Republican and Democratic domains
by Prior, of Virginia, who struck
tr,1A
tones, exclaimed, "Thus far shalt thou
go, but no farther" Potter, of Wiscon-
sin, a stalwart frontiersman, had fol-
lowed Lovejoy down the aicle ready to
take up his cause in the event of fra
cas-, and at once took Pryor's threat as
personal TO himself A few angry words
followed. Potter received formal
challenge, accepted promptly, and chose
bowie-knives and the Seventh street side
of the Patent Office as the place of
meeting. This barbarous encounter was
prevented by the police and the interven-
ton of friends. Of course, in times Of
very strong political excitement, it re-
quires but a spark to fire the magazine
OF bad feeling. But some of the fights
of those times had the most absurd orr
gin. While Lola Montez was in this
country she won the heart and COM
manded the purse of a member from
Tennessee, named Polk. His devotion
to the fair frail one was so marked that
it beclme the theme of common talk
among Congressman, from whom ordi-
nary peccadilloes OF the sort scarcely
elected any censure. A Mr.. Stanley,
from North Carolina, made the loves of
Mr.. Polk the subject of pleasantly in
one of his public speeches, which
aroused the gentleman from Tennessee.
A challenge was the result, but, after
much talk and great deal of ill-sup-
pressed excitement, the principals to the
affair decided not to kill each other.
The same Mr.. Stanley figured in an
other affair of honor whose origin was
quite as unconsequential as the Lola
Montez quarrel. In the discussion of
the annua' River and Harbor bill, Mr..
Inge, of Ala bama, Democrat, ordina-
rily opposed to appropriations for pur-
poses Of internal improvements, made
strong appeal for aid to improve the
harbor of Mobile. This was too much
for Stanley, who, as Wing, had often
been made to suffer 10y the economic OBJ
iections f Inge. He charged the Ala
bama member with inconsistency and
indecency, and the words " Lar and cow
ard " soon passed between them. They
agreed that nothing but blood could heal
the wounded honor on both sides, and
meeting was arranged to come off at
Silver Springs, few miles out of town
on the Maryland side. The weapons
were pistols, and two shots were actu-
ally fred when Frank Blair arrived on
the scene, and ny threatening and coax
ing persuaded the combatants to desist
until after they had partaken of break
fast, which he at once ordered, A gen.
erous breakfast, seconded by the good
endeavors of their host, restored har-
mony, and after cordial handshaking
they returned to their arduous legisla-
tive duties.
These instances of what was of almost
daily occurrence twenty years ago in
both houses of Congress may seem but
the idle vaporings of vainglorious Fail
stats. There is no doubt that the men
OF that time were ever ready to fight.
1t was not always that the quaIrels
among Congressman ended in the digni-
fed appeal to the code of honor. A duel
in those days WAS considered highly
honorable thing, but especially for the
settlement of difficulties between gen.
tlemen. A common hanl-to- hand en-
counter was esteemed disgraceful. even
among those quarrelsome, law-breaking
lawmakers. One of these disgraceful
fights took place between a couple of
Mississippi members. The quarrel was
one of trifing local importance, but the
lie passed, when one of them, a Mr..
Wilcox, approached his antagonist,
whose name was Brown, and asked if he
intended that remark for him (Wilcox).
Brown replied that lie did, when Wilcox
struck ont from the shoulder. The par
ties clonched, and in the struggle over
turned chair, and finally fell
to the floor, Wilcox on top. The latter
then reached for his knife, but at this
juncture DR.. Fitch, OF Indiana. giant in
physical prowess, took Wilcox by the
collar, and, jerking him to his feet,
brandished an immense gold. headed
| oapa OvaY his baa1 with @J,;a 1.