The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL BROILS.
Some 01d-Ti1ne Personal Renconters in
the House of Representatives.

After the attack upon Mr.. Sumner by
Brooks, writes Washington correspond
emit 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-kn1yes, 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 a chal-
lenge, but he was silent. Then Bur
llngame sprung to his feet and said there
were 8 sons of Massachusetts who were
not afraid to maintain her honor and de-
tend her rights on any field" This was
considered the proper thing to do under
the circumstances Brooks sent q chaI-
lenge, and the whole world knows the
rest. Burlingame chose heavy rifles.
and selected Canada as the dueline
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 Loveioy was
making one of his fierce speeches against
the pro-slavery men. With sleeves
rolled up and eyes afame 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
an attitude, and, In deep, tragic
tones, exclaimed, "Thus far shalt thou
go, but no farther" Potter, of Wiscon-
sin, stalwart frontiersman. had fol-
lowed Lovejoy down the aisle ready to
take up his cause in the event of a fra
cas-, and at once took Pryor's threat as
personal TO himself. A few angry words
followed. Potter received a formal
challenge, accepted promptly, and chose
bowle-knives and the Seventh streetside
Of the Patent Office as the place of
meeting. This barbarous encounter was
prevented by the police and the interven-
tion of friends. OF course, In times Of
very strong political excitement, it re-
qulres but 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 became 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 annual River and Harbor bill, Mr..
Inge, OF Ala bama, a 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 by the economic OBJ
jections Inge. He charged the Ala
bama member with inconsistency and
indecenoy, and the words " liar and COW
ard soon passed between them. They
agreed that nothing but blood could heal
the wounded honor on both sides. and a
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 aetu-
ally fred when Frank Blair arrived on
the scene, and by 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 a 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 Fal-
Stats. There is no doubt that the men
of that time were ever ready to fight.
Tt was not always that the qua1rels
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 hand-to-hand en-
counter was esteemed disgraceful, even
among those quarrelsome, law-breaking
law makers. 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, 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 out 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