Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-25


EPISODE.
The following sketch is from the Eau
Claire (wisconsin) Free Press. and may
interest many of our readers. as Mr. Pot
ter was an Augusta boy. and has relatives
residing here at this time:
Now that Roger A. Pryor is posing as
champion of Ireland and the Irish Ameri-
cans in the O'Donnel case, it brings to
mind little scrap of history in which he
played a conspicuous part and which may
be Of interest 10 the readers of the Free
Press. This happened in anti-war times.
when the crack of the southern whip in
the halls of congress was heard little
louder and oftener than Of late years, be-
fore they had a specimen Of Yankee PROV
ess. Owen Lovejoy. who had some def
mite opinions about the declaration of in
dependence and what liberty meant, was
at this time . member of the house of
representatives from the Sta.e of Illinois.
az was Roger A. Pryor from the State of
Virginia. Mr.. Lovejey had the courage
of his convictions and was ready n all
times to express them, especially upon
the question of slavery. and had become
obnoxious to the slave oligarchy by the
boldness with which he championed the
anti-siayery sentiments that were then in
tensifying in the north. His enmity TO
slavery had no doubt been increased by
the fact that his brother had years before
been assassinated At Alton. Illinois. his
Office demolished and his printing press
thrown into the river by the minIons of
slavery from the other side of the Mississ-
ippi river, because he had committed the
objectionable sin of publishing an anti
slavery paper so near the stamping ground
Of slavery IN its hot-bed in the State Of
Missouri. Owen Lovejoy was now re-
preventative from the Alton district and
was ready TO take up the challenge Of the
slave owners in congress whenever at was
flung at the northern doughfaces across
Mason and Dixon's line.
At one time, about the year 1859, when
the southern representatives were under
taking to nationalize slavery by forcing it
into the territories, as he was making
speech in opposition. he became so warm
ed up To the subject that he left his seat
and stepped out into the aisle of the floor
where he could have more latitude and
better play in which to denounce their
methods and was outdoiDg himself in his
anathemas against their demands tor the
spread of slavery over free territory. This
was too much for southern chivalry to toll
crate. and some OF the leaders, prominent
among which was Roger A. Pryor. jumped
t. their feet and in a threatening attitude
demanded that be should stop, saying that
they would not hear any more of his
speech. But they were barely upon their
feet before John +. Potter. representa-
tive from Wisconsin (brave rs lion) was
on his feet in the arena backed by f. b.
and &. c. Washburne (all sons of Maine
and of fighting calibre). who declared
that Loveioy should speak. and in the
melee that followed (Which was one of
the most exciting that ever occurred on the
floor of the house), there was free inter-
change of fists. with coats made into car
pet rags and eyes put into mourning
and Barksdale's wig hopping the
floor of the hall. II was said that f.
b. Washburne was the man who
decapitated Barksdale. The next day
when the account of the episode APP.
peared in the Congressional Globe it was
so garbled and misrepresented that Potter
accused Pryor of interfering with the pub
Usher of the paper for the purpose of
classifying the record. Out of this accusa-
ton and its producing causes. grew
challenge from Pryor to Potter to fight a
duel. Pryor. who was a small man and
good shot. thought he would have sure
thing. rs Potter was much the larger
mark. When Pryor's challenge came tn
Potter. he called in his friend +. W. Lam
dot, by whom he sent a reply that he had
conscientious scruples against duelling
1x..N rt...l Al -.-l-a
speech he would accept the challenge and
Mr.. Lander would act as his second and
arrange the terms. Potter Immediately
left Washington to put himself out of the
reach of arrest. When Lanor was asked
about the terms of the duel, he replied
that as his principle was the challenged
party and allowed the choice of weapons.
he would choose the bowie-knife as the
weapon and let the challenger choose
time and place. This was an unexpected
dilemma for Pryor and did not develop
the sure walk-ever that he had expected
when his mind was on rifles or pistols.
He replied that fighting with bowie-knives
would be barbarons practice which he
could not for moment entertain. This
seemed to leave Landor with his occu-
patton gone. and rather than have the
tiiatieE ttItlluatt III tnat way ne Salu
to Pryor "lnasmuch as you have refused
to fight my principle after challenging
him, and rs Mr.. Potter has scruples against
duelling. have none. and will fight you
in his stead and you NAV have rifles or
pistols or any weapon you choose" To
that Prior replied that there need be no
quarrel between them and he did not wish
to fight him, and that ended the duel. This
gave to Mr.. Potter the appellation of
Bowie-knife Potter, and his friends in ST.
Louis Joined together and had made for
and presented to him mammoth bowie
knife inscribed with the words. ALWAYS
ready for Prior engagement" which
trophy he still keeps.
Mr.. Potter. who is regarded as one OF
the best representatives ever sent from
Wisconsin. still lives in Walworth county,
in this State. Mr.. Lander was then a
young man Ga civil engineer) and had
graduated from West Point and had made
an engineering survey across the continent
He was regarded as dead shot, He was
afterwards . general in the Union army of
whom Mr. Greeley said Tin his history of
the war; that he was one of the bravest
and best of our early commanders. He
died of congestion of the brain, caused by