The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-10-29
COMBATS IN THE HOUSE.
oLD-TIME FIsTICUFFS IN THE
LOWER BRANCH OF CONGRESS.

Bygone years-How Temper Has
Shown Itself I'm Debate.
The recent "fsticufT' in the House Of
Representatives has had many precedents.
The hand -to-hand encounters, extending
back nearly fifty years, were more numer-
Gus than is supposed at this day, when
political and exciting debate is not so
frequent and is generally conducted with
more deeorum.
The code was recognized in those days,
and whatever may be said against "that
relic OF barbarism,' as it was called, it
made men more careful in bandying epi-
thets, for the responsibility rested on
them to accord satisfaction for personal
assaults
Nr. John B. Weller, member from
Ohio, then, January, 1874, and subse
quent Senator from California, assaulted
and beat very severely Mr. Schriver, a
reporter of the House. The assault took
place in the lobby aud it was construed
to have been committed on the floor and
on an officer of the House, and MI. Weller
was arraigned and censured.
In April, 1914, there was regular
| fight on the floor of Congress between
John White, of Kentucky, afterward
! Speaker, and Mr. Rathborn, of New York.
Mr.. White left his seat and, coming to
! Rathborn's, knocked him down. A gen
eral scrimmage ensued, and Mr.. Moore,
member, fired pistol, which severely
wounded an officer of the House. They
were arraigned before the bar of the
House, but as the wounded man was
comfortably provided for, mutual apol-
ogies were accepted. In 1859 Mr.. Graw,
of Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Branch, of
North Carolina, had an alteration which
resulted in challenge, but mutual
friends prevented a hostile meeting.
About that time Mr.. Graw and Mr. Keitt,
of South Carolina, INDUCED in Il pugilis-
tic encounter. When they were arraigned
Mr.. Keitt took all the blame on himself
and apologized to the House and Mr..
Graw- The Hon. Robert w. Johnson,
then member of the House, came to
very close quarters with Hon. o. B.
Ficl1lin, of Illinois, blows were exchanged
and they apologized for momentary for
gctfulness iu yielding to the impulse to
punish each other before the assembled
wisdom of the nation.
In the early ffties the Hon. Joshua r.
Giddings and Hon. r. w. Meade, of
Virginia, had personal alteration,
which involved respective friends. Mr..
Meade seized Mr.. Giddings by tke neck
cloth and proceeded to twist it, when
Long John Wentworth rushed in to part
the belligereuts, but Mr.. Edmundson, of
Virginia, standing on Il chair to reach his
tall adversary, threw himself on Went
worth, carrying him to the ground, or
rather the floor. As carly as 1910 Mr..
Inge, of Alabama, and Edward Stanley
having had on the floor of Congress
some very exciting debate, challenge
passed. After the third fire u reconcilia-
tion was effected. Not long after the
difficulty with Mr.. Ingc Mr.. Stanley be-
came involved in IL duel with Mr..
Pickeas, of South Carolina, and after q
fire or two reconciliation took place,
and again lIr, Stanley was the principal
in duel with Henry \. Wise. They
were on horseback aud met at the race
course, and Mr.. Wise's horse became un-
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.. Wisc's action was intentional, struck
him with his whip. Mr.. Wise returned
the blow and for some seconds they be-
labored each other. A challenge
cnsued and while practicing with
Mr.. Stanley, the Hon. Reverdy
Johnson, who was his second, received
the injury to his eye, of which he event
ually lost the sight. A fragment of Il
ball rebounded from tree and struck
him in the eye. After the first fire "A re.
Cancellation was effected. In 1913 Gen
eral Clingman was challenged by Yancy.
They fought at Beltsville, and after one
or two shots u settlement was effected.
In 1853, 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 pistol
on Colonel Benton in the Senate, and
some Senator iuterlerred, when Colonel
Benton, barring his breast, sald "Let
the assassin fire." These are only few
of the many exhibitions of temper dis
played in both Houses of Congress. Mr.
Clay aud Mr.. Calhoun used most bitter
expressions in debate. On one occasion
Mr.. Clay said, in the course Of the de.
bate, ~ am the gentleman's master, and
Mr.. Calhoun in reply said; my master
my master! / would not own him as a
slave" Mr.. Seaton's intervention pre-
vented u hostile meeting. Dixon H..
Lewis, of Alabama, an enormous man in
size and strength, stopped a fight on the
floor of Congress by holding the bellig-
erents at arms length and arguing with
them In very forcible terms Washington
Star.