The Opelousas courier., 1891-02-21
IN THE HOUSE
FISTICUFFs I'm THE
LOWER BRANCH OF CONGRESS.

bocg.down and Drag-out Rows of
Bygone Years-How Temper Has
shown Itself I'm Debate.
The recent "fsticuf'' in the House of
representatives. has had many ~precedents.
sae hand-to-hand encounters, extending
Ak nearly fifty years, were more numer-
n than is supposed at this day, when
ethical and exciting debate is not SO
suuent andis generally conducted with
sore deeorurn.
The code was recognized in those DAYS.
nd whatever may be said against 'sthat
slic Of barbarism, !" as it was called. it
@ade men more careful in bandying epi-
: NETS, for the responsibility rested ON
bem TO accord satisfaction for personal
saults,
Mr.. John B. Weller, a member from
lhio, then, January, 1914, and subse-
slent Senator from California, assaulted
Id beat very severely Mr.. schriver, a
sporter of the House. The assault took
ace in Che lobby and it was construed
have been committed ON the floor and
i an officer of the House, and Mr.. Weller
is arraigned and censured.
In April, 1874. there was a regula,
lht on the floor of Congress between
am White, of Kentucky, afterward
eakgr, and Mr.. Rathborn, Of New York.
III White left his seat and, coming to
Mthborn's, knocked him down. Agen.
ssI serimmage ensued, and Mr.. Moore, a
nenber, fired a pistol, which severely
7 Hounded an officer of the House. They
zero arraigned before the bar of the
House, but as the wounded man was
sgmfortably provided for, mutual apol-
pgies we're accepted. In 1859 Mr.. Graw,
u Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Branch, of
Worth Carolina, had an alteration which
suited in q challenge, but mutual
bends prevented a hostile meeting.
bout that time Mr.. Graw and Mr.. Keitt,
South Carolina, INDUCED in a pugilis-
encounter. When they were arraigned
II. Kcitt took oil the blame on himself
bd apologized to the House and Mr..
raw. The Hon. Robert w. johnson,
zen q member Of the House, came to
ry close quarters with Hon. o. B.
icklin, of Illinois, blows were exchanged
Id they apologized for o momentary for
etulness in yielding to the impulse to.
|unish each other before the assembled
Fisdom Of the nation. !
IN tho early ffties the Hon. Joshua r..
Fiddings and Hon. r. w. Meade, of
Virginia, had q personal alteration,
ii hinyolyed respective friends. Mr..
Teade seized Mr.. Giddings by ike neck
10th and proceeded to twist it, when
long John Wentworth rushed in to part
lhe bclligerents, but Mr.. Edmundson, of
firginia, standing on a chair to reach his.
MI adversary, threw himself on Went.
forth, carrying him to the ground, or
nther the floor. AS early as 1910 MFR.
hge, of Alabama, and Edward Stanley
ying had on the floor Of Congress
d very exciting debate, a challenge,
ssed. After the third fire a reconcilia-i
pn was effected. Not long after the
Aaficulty with Mr.. IDge Mr.. Stanley be-
me involved in q duel with Mr..
ckens, Of South Carolina, and after a.
50 or two a reconciliation took place,
ia again Mr.. Stanley was the principal
q duel with Henry A. Wise. They
ssle on horseback and met at the race
sOurse, and Mr.. Wise's horse became un-
manageable and he rode against Mr..
Stanley. The debate that day in the
House ii which they both took part was
Fary bitter, and Mr.. Stanley, supposing
Ars Wise's action was intentional, struck
hin With his whip. MIR. Wise returned
ale blow and for some seconds they be-
Abored each other. A challenged
slsued and while practicing with
II. Stanley, the Hon. Reverdy
au1nson, who was his second, received
tho injury to his eye, Of which he event.
aally lost the sight. A fragment of al
asll rebounded from d tree and struck
Atm in the eye. After the first fire a re-
5nciliation was effected. In 1848 GEM
kal clingman was challenged by Yancy.
khey fought at Beltsville, and after one
two ahots a settlement was effected.
y 1858, Senator Gwin, Of California,
Alallenged Henry Wilson an6 the matter
sas referred to Mr.. Crittenden,. Mr..
Seward and Jefferson Davis and settled
ky them. Henry 8. Foote drew q pistol
IN Colonel Benton in the Senate. and
some Senator interferred, when Colonel
Benton, barring his breast, said: "Let
he assassin FIRE. These are only a few,
If the many exhibitions of temper dis
played in both Houses Of Congress. Mr.
Dlay and Mr.. Calhoun used most bitter
expressions in debate. On one occasion
Ii. Clay said, in the course Of the de-
bate, sI am the gentleman's master, 7 and
n. Calhoun in reply said: my masteri
pr masteri I would not own him as 9
Aaye.n Mr.. Seaton's intervention pres
sented d hostile meeting. Dixon H..
lewis, of Alabama, an enormous man in
'ize and strength, stopped q fight on the
door Of Congress by holding the belliga
ssenis at arms length and agsaling with
shsm in very forcible terms Washington
eEay. 81