National Republican., 1888-02-03
THE FIRST BLOW FOR FREEDOM
The Encounter Between Grow and
Keitt in the House OF Representa-.

The Encounter Between Grow and
Keitt in the House OF Representa-.
t,ves.
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN The
ides Of March had not yet passed. The
| first session Of the thirty ffth Congress was
| dragging lts length through the days aud
nights OF February. The border ruflians OF
| Kansas, by a system Of outrageous frauds,
had secured an apparent majority for the
Lecompton constitution. President Bu-
chaDan had recommended Congress to ad-
NIT Kansas as a slave state. The Senate,
being Democratic, passed the act Of admls
| sion with promptnees that savored Of
hurry. The question came up In the House,
| where the Republicans and anti.Lecompton
| Democrats had slender majority. Through
| the filibustering tactics Of the southern
| Democrats the hours OF the session had crept
| past midnight. Galusha A. Grow, slender
and handsome young Pennsylvania only "a
years old, was the recognized leader Of the
| Republicans. He had been candidate for
| Speaker against the then presiding officer,
Orr. He was active and aggressive In lead
Ing his forces against consummation Of
the Lecompton iDfamy. We crossed over to
the Democratic side OF tue iIouse to con-
suit with John Hickman, Douglas Demo-
crat from Pennsylvania, who occupied a
seat near the second aisle to the Speakers
! right. AS he was about to return Quitman,
Of Mississippi, asked unanimous consent to
make proposition. Grow saw at once that
1t was a fillibustering dodge and promptly
objected.
Lawrence Keitt, Of South Carolina, who
sat near by, cried out In threatening voice.
What did you object for? Go over to
your side OF the House." Grow glanced
at him and replied, "This is a free hall,
and will saw what xyfeh and ram NJ m
where please" Quitman continued to
appeal to the chair, and Grow was watch
ing him intently, when suddenly he oh
served keltt hurrying rapidly up the aisle
toward him, followed by Reuben Davis, a
a brother OF the now confederate presi-
dent As he approached the young Penn
sylvanian he cried out angrily, What did
you mean by what you saidT 81 meant,n
said Grow. ilrmly,. "lust what / said.
This is a free hall, aud will remain
where ! please" "You are u d-d
black Republican puppy" cried Keitt,
| coBtemptuously. "No matter what am, !"
said Grow, "no 'nigger driver can crack
his whip over me-" At this Keitt clutched
| viciously at Crows throat, and Immediately
the young Republican leader knockod
| keitts arm down with his left hand, and,
dealing him well aimed blow under the
ear with his right, sent the South Caroliuian
reeling down the aisle. He fell against the
reporters desk, and picking himself up he
| hurried out of the hall at the rear OF the
Speakers chair Just as the sergeant. alarms
| rushed In with his mace.
Great excitement prevailed. The brutal
assault made upon sumner by Brooks in
the Senate chamber was fresh in the II en-
ory Of the Republicans. They saw their
| young leader In the House assailed, and,
feeling that repetition OF the Sumner out.
rage was to be enacted, they hurried pell-
nell down the aisles to the scene Of the
disturbance. Each one deemed 1t per-
sonal privilege to strike out right and left
whenever Democrat was found In bel
lieerent attitude. A general melee fol-
lowed. John +. Potter, Of Wisconsin
Elihu Washburn, and his brother, Cadwal-
lader, were the first Republicans to reach
Grow, who was surrounded by southern
Democrats. Barksdale, OF Mississippi, who
sat near Grow, caught him around the waist
when he punished Keitt. As Potter came
up he hit Reuben Davis a sharp rap with
his right and poked stiff blow at
Barksdale with his left. Barksdale,
not seeing where the blow came from,
noticed Elihu Washburn within reach. lie
let Grow 90 and grabbed Elihu by the
throat: Cadwallader Wa.hburn seeing this,
and impressed just then that blood was
thicker than anything else, struck quickly
at Barksdale and knocked off that gentle
mans famous wig, which left broad
Uranium exposed as bald as cobblestone.
| A shout OF laughter rang through the
House. Barksdale, filled with modification
grabbed up his wig and clapped it on top
Of his pate. Poor fellow! In his hurry be
clapped 1t on wrong end to. At this, every
one burst into one Of those broad and up
roarious outlaws which are excited by {
truly burIesque spectacle. The belligerentt
paused. The gavel Of Speaker Orr whipped
the desk vigorously. The sergeant-at-arms,
who had been lost In the confusion, could
low be seen moving about briskfy waving hl
mace and calling for order. The members
seemed suddenly to realize that they were
somewhat disordered and completely out
OF order, and hurried back to their seats,
while the routine OF business procee led
until O'Clock In the morpiog, when the
House adjourned for breakfast, having
been in continuous session for forty'two
hours. DUBOIS