The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL CUR1os.T1Es,
Where MombCrs Were Born and How Thev
Died-Duels Both bloody and Otherwise.

CONGRESSIONAL CURIOSITlES,
Where Mombcrs Were born and How They
Ahed-Duels Both bloody and Otherwise.
Chicago Tribune Washington Letter.
1t may be of interest to the newcom-
ers i'll Congress to know some of the
things about The body of which thew
have just become members, which they
will not fad recorded in the great book
OF Columbian orators, which they doubt.
less have been carefully studying since
they have been elected, or in the columns
OF their local organs, which have mag
nined their Congressmen as among the
great things of earth
NATIVITY OF CoNGREssMEN.
During tho first forty.fvs Congresses
all but l42 of the 5,337 members were
born in the United States-New York
having 704, Pennsylvania 598, Virginia
5S2, Massachusetts 439, and Connecticut
$40. Most OF our foreignborn statesmen
have come from Ireland England,
Scotland and Germany have followed in
about equal proportion. There have
been two who were born in Bavaria, two
from Bermuda, five from Canada. seven.
teen from England, five from France,
twelve from Germany, fifty.two fiom
Ireland, one from Madeira, one from the
Netherlands, one from New Brunswick,
one from Nova Scotia, twenty one from
Scotland, two from Switzerland, four
from Wales, and four from the West In
dies. Out Of that long list there have
been some 1000 considerably less than
half-who received classical, collcgi-
ntc, or liberal education. 1t has been
the custom, more observed in the Eas.
tern States than in the West, to send
their Representatives to Congress for
long continued periods.
TIE OCCUPATIONS
of Congressman embrace nearly every
branch Of modern industry and the pro.
icssions. Yet there have been the rep
rescntatives of some occupations with
whom the newcomers will hardly think
it an honor 10 be classed. Among them
may be mentioned one prize fighter, one
murderer and one barber.
From the colonial days TO the present
it has happened that several generations
OF The same family have served In one
or both branches of Congress. The
snost notable among tl,es. are the Adam
ses, Bayards, Breckinridges, Harrisons,
Chandlers, Stocktons, Frclinghuyxens
and Holsters.
CONGRESSIONAL DUELISTs
a complete record of tho number of
Congressman who havo been engaged in
duels has never been kept, but the mum.
Der who have died in affairs OF honor is
pretty we'll known.
Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the
Treasury under Washington, leader of
the Fedcrnlist party, and leading spirit
in the formation of the Constitution, was
mortally wounded by Aaron Burr, at
Hoboken, July 3, 1884
Richard Spaight of North Carolina,
WAS the first TO die in duel. He served
in the Continental Congress, and sat in
the convention which framed the Con.
stituton. He was killed by his successor
i'll Congress-, John Stanley. The latter
was tried. and sentenced iu imprison.
ment; but was pardoned by Gov. Will
liams. OF North Carolina, in II year.
Stanley was subsequently elected 10
Congress.
Thomas X. Harris, of Tennessee, died
in 1916 from wounds received in q duel
with Col. Simpson.
Spencer Pcltis was killed in a duel
fought with Maj. Thomas Biddle, at St.
Louis, Aug. 26, 1881. The duel arose
out Of quarrel over the United States
Bank, the President of which, Nicholas
Biddle, was the brother of the challcn-
ger.
Arln;stead 7. Mason, ex Senator from
Virginia, fell in duel fought near
Washington city with John McCarty,
his brother.in'law in 1919.
Joseph Pierson, Of North Carolina,
died from duel fought in 1884 with
John Jackson.
Jonathan Ciley, of Maine, died from
1885, fed sSiVey By y winm Hnsl "ps9i Grase aso
Kentucky. Graves was subsequently
George A. Waggaman, United States
Senator from Louisiana, lost his life in
duel near New Orleans, March %, I843. |
George Poindextcr, Representative
from Mississippi, fought o duel with
Elijah Hunt, merchant, about 1886,
and killed him.
BLOoDLEss DUELs.
There have been many duels which
were bloodless. Among them the fol-
lowing are the most notable
Those between Henry Clay and Hum
phrey Marshall and between Clay and
John Randolph, Of Virginia.
Samuel w. Inge, Representative from
Aou6hU q ASiAdCuSUuIR Will
Edward Stanley, of South Carolina, in
the Thirty frat Congress, neither being
seriously injured.
John s. Jackson, of the Thirty seventh
Congress, fought several duels, one with
Thos: f. Marshall-none resulting Sc
riously.
Leonard Jarvis, member from Maine,
challenged colleague, +. o. J. Smith
from the Portland district, in about the
Twonty. fourth Congress; but the later
declined to fight.
SUICIDES.
There Lave hecn number of mem
bers who have committed suicide.
Haywood Chauncy Riddle shot him
self through the head, in Tennessee,
about 1875. Hewas undoubtedly insane.
James Blair, a Representative from
South Carolina, blew out his brains, at a