Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-30


The recent 'fsticuff " in the House Of Rep
resentatives has had many precedents. The
hand-to-hand encounters, extending back
nearly fifty years. we're more numerous than is
supposed at this day, when political and excit-
ing debate is not so frequent and is generally
conducted with more decorum.
The code was recognized in those days. and
whatever may be said against "that relic Of
barbarism," as it is called. it made men more
careful in bandying epithets, for the RESPONSE
b ility rested on them to accord satisfaction for
personal assaults.
Mr. John B. Weller, a member from Ohio
then, January, 1874, and subsequent Senator
from California, assaulted and beat very Sc
yerely MIR. Schriver, a reporter of the House.
The assault took place in the lobby and it was
construed to have been committed on the
floor and on an officer Of the House, and Mr..
Weller was arraigned and censured.
In April, 1874. there was a regular fight on
the floor OF Congress between John White of
Kentucky. afterward Speaker, and Mr.. Rath-
born of New York. Mr.. White left his seat
and. coming to Rathborn's, knocked him
down. general scrimmage ensued, and
Mr.. Moore, O member, fired pistol
which severely wounded an officer Of the
House. They were arraigned before the bar of
fortably provided for, mutual apologies were
accepted. In 1859 Mr.. Graw of Pennsylvania
and Mr.. Branch of North Carolina had an alter
cation which resulted in a challenge, but
mutual friends prevented hostile meeting.
About that time Mr.. Graw and Mr.. Keitt
of South Carolina INDUCED in pugiiistic en-
counter. When they were arraigned. Mr.. Keitt
took all the blame on himself and apologized
to the House and to Mr.. Graw. The Hon.
Robt W. johnson, then member of the House,
came to very close quarters with Hon. O. b.
Ficklin of Illinois, blows were exchanged
and they apologized for a momentary forget
fulness in yielding to the impulse to punch
each other before the assembled wisdom of the
nation.
In the early fifties the Hon. Joshua R. Gid
dings and Mr.. X. ". Meade of Virginia had
personal alteration which involved respective
friends. Mr. Meade seized Mr.. Giddings by
the neckcloth and proceeded to twist it, when
Long John Wentworth rushed in to part the
beiligerents, but MIR. Edmundson of Virginia,
standing on chair to reach his tall adversary
threw himself on Wentworth, carrying him to
the ground, or rather the floor. AS early as
1910 MIR. Inge of Alabama and Edward Stanley
having had on the floor of Congress some very
exciting debate, challenge passed. After the
third fire a reconciliation was effected.
Not long after the difficulty with Mr.. Inge MIR.
Stanley became involved in duel with Mr.
Pickens of South Carolina, and after fire or
two reconciliation took place, and again Mr..
with Henry A. Wise. They were
on horseback and met at the
race course, and MIR. Wise's horse became I'M
manageable and he rode against Mr. Stanley.
The debate that day in the House in which
they both took part was very bitter. and Mr..
Stanley, supposing Mr.. Wise's action was inten-
tional, struck him with his whip. Mr.. Wise
returned the blow and for some seconds they
belabored each other. A challenge ensued and
while practicing with Mr.. Stanley, the Hon.
Reverdy Johnson, who was his second, received
the injury to his eye, OF which he eventually
lost the sight. A fragment of ball
rebounded from q tree and struck him
in the eye. After the first fire
reconciliation was effected. In 1874 Gen.
Chngman in debate assaulted the democratic
party. charging fraud in the defeat of Clay and
was challenged by Yancy. They fought at
Beltsyille and after one or two shots
settlement effected. The Breck-
inridge ana Cutting duel, or challenge,
was occasioned by words spoken in
the bill to subsidize the Collins line. Mr..
Breckenridge was coached for the duel by MIR.
Blair ct Silver Spring. l saw him practicing
while there and every ball in the tree used as
target was in a line and all below the knee.
The Burlngame challenge to Preston Brooks
and the Potter challenge to Roger A. Pryor
created intense excitement. In 1858 Senator
Gwin OF California challenged Henry Wilson
and the matter was referred to Mr.. Crittenden,
Mr.. Seward and Jefferson Davis and settled by
them Henry s. Foote drew a pistol on
Col Benton in the Senate and some Senator
interferred, when Col. Benton, barring his
breast, said: Let the assassin fire." These
are only few of the many exhibitions of
temper displayed in both houses of Congress.
Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun used most bitter
expressions in debate. On one occasion Mr..
Clay said in the course OF the debate, Il am
the gentleman's master" and Mr.. Calhoun
In reply said: My masterl my MASTER would
not own him as a slave" Mr.. Seaton's inter-
yention prevented hostile meeting. Dixon
III. Lewis of Alabama an enormous man in size
and strength, stopped tigh, on the floor Of
Congress by holding the beligerents at arms
| length and arguing with them in very forcibis
terms. c..