Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-17
BOWIE.KNIFE POTTER.
4 Noted Wisconsin Ex-COngressman
ON His Death-bed.
Milwaukee Special to Chicago Times.

Milwaukee SPECIAL to chicago Times.
Hon. John F. Potter, who for several
terms represented the old First Wisconsin
district in the House of Representatives,
and while there acquired the title of ''Old
Bowie Knife" is reported to be dying at his
modest country house in the town of Muk-
wonago, Woukesha County. MIR. Potter's
public history is an interesting one A ser
vice of one term, in 1867, in
the State Legislature exposed the
true metal of the man, and he was
elected for three successive terms to Cou-
gress, serving in the Thirty fifth, Thirty
sixth and Thirty seventh sessions of that
body. It was not, however, until the last
few weeks of his Congressional career, when
treason had raised its hand to stab the ma
ton tc death, that John F. Potter came to
the fore. In April, 1860, there was hot
debate in progress in the House. The pre-
cedent established by the gag laws against
which Joshua R. Gliding had battled so
long and so faithfully, existed then in
everything but name as strongly as in the
past. Southern member after member had
arose and poured his wrath upon the heads
of the mudsils of the north. It was at this
juncture that owen Lovejey, boldand fear
less man, arose to reply. He denounced
heard of before in the halls of Congress.
The southerners WINGED beneath his sledge-
hammer blows. Lovejoy marched down
one aisle and up another, among the south
ern members, shaking his fist in their faces
and denouncing them in unmeasured terms.
While this was going on Roger A. Pryor, a
Virginian, now a lawyer in New York City,
advanced to the center of the hall in tow
ering passion, exclaiming: ''The gentle
man from Illinois shall not approach this
side of the House shaking his fists and
talking in the way he has talked. 1t is bad
enough to be compelled to sit here and
hear him utter his reasonable and insulting
language; but he shall not, sir, come upon
this side of the House shaking his fists in
our faces"
1t was then that Mr.. Potter arose and
said: "We have listened to the gentlemen
on the other side for eight weeks, when
they denounced the members of this side
with violent and offensive language. We
listened to them gently and heard them
through, and now, sir, this side shall be
heard, let the consequences be what they
may"
This, of course, brought the brunt of the
battle on to Potter, and Pryor was not slow
to rain down his abuse upon him. But the
WiSCUHblu uhu StJOu ny lib WOTuS, duu vi
April ID, one week afterward, received a
note from Pryor, Mr.. Hindman, of Arkan-
sas, delivering it. 1t merely asked Mr..
Potter to leave the District to receive a
written communication. Mr.. Potter an
swered that as the note con-
templated duel, and that his
disqualification was contained in the con
stitution of Wisconsin, he would not leave
the district. This was followed by peremp-
tory challenges, which Potter accepted and
quickly named the common bowie knife as
the weapon, the duelists to be locked in q
room. Chisolm, Pryor's second, protested
against the use of so barbarous a weapon,
but Lander, Potter's second, would consent
to no other weapon, but offered to substi-
tute himself for Mr.. Potter with other
weapons. This, of course, could not be
agreed to, and no further demands were
made upon Potter to fight. This made
Potter a great favorite with the Republican
| party, and at the convention which met al
| Chicago the June following he was pre-
sented, by the Missouri delegation, with g
bowie knife seven feet long, including the
handle, with blade three inches in
width, which may now be seen hanging
on the wall of his farmhouse. The handle
lis of ebony, and the blade of beautifully
polished steel On one side of the blade il
| the inscription; Presented to John F.
Potter, of Wisconsin, by the Republicans Of
Missouri, 1850" On the opposite side was
"Will Always meet a Pryor Engagement
The presentation took place in the fremont
House, Frank P. Blair making the speech.
| When Potter's term expired he was ap-
pointed Governor of Nevada, by Presiden
Lincoln, but declined. He was subsequently
appointed Consul General of British
America place which he filled for a shor
time and resigned. Since then he has no
been in public life, but lives on his farm
He Is 65 years OF age
Mr.. Potter was born in Maine, il
1917, educated at Phillips Academy, New
Hampshire, and after studying law came tt
Wisconsin in 1850. He was elected Judge
of Walworth County in 1856, serving fou
yours, from which position he went to tn,
Legislature, and thence to Congress a
above stated. Ever after the episode b.
was known as Bowie Knife Potter.
MIR. Potter's present home is modes
farm house, standing back few rods from
the road, three miles south of Mukwonago
There, unblessed by this worlds goods, tn
man whose name was in everybody's moutl
from Maine to Mexico, and from the At
lantic to the Golden Gate and even acros
the Atlantic is passing the last days of hi
life in obscurity. Sick and staggering unde
the weight of years, he is dragging out tn
miserable hours until death shall come t,
his relief, which now will not be long.