Evening star., 1895-02-02
NO BLOOD TO BE SHED
Messrs Breckinridge and Heard Have
Settled Their Difficulty.
Apologies Made and All Satfsfactory
Some of the Personal Encounters
I'm Former Years.

The encounter between Mr. Breckinridge
and Mr.. Heard will not eventuate in blood
Through the intermediation of friends of
both parties, Messrs. Goodnight and Berry
of Kentucky acting for Mr.. Breckinridge
and Mr.. Dockery and Mr.. Hatch for Mr.
Heard, an amicable adjustment of the diff
flculties was arranged. These gentlemen
went carefully over the official report of
the words uttered and agreed upon a form
OF apology that would be satisfactory to
their principals. Accordingly, just before
O'Clock, when the House took a recess,
Mr.. Heard arose and read a typewriter
statement to the effect that a careful eX-
animation of the words uttered made it
evident, In the opinion of his friends that
after Mr.. Breckenridge dSciaimed the use
OF the language considered by him (Heard)
offensive he (Heard) should have with
drawn what he had said. Mr. Heard said
ne thought he had done SO, but his friends
sald ne had not. Il consider ii M duty
to co so now" said Mr.. Heard, "and now
withdraw what l said"
Mr.. Breckinridse's Apology.
Mr.. Breckenridge then Immediately arose
and accepted the olive branch of peace.
Il ought not to ha ye gone to the desk of
the gentleman" said he, "and have made
the statement 1 did. 1t was particularly
unfortunate, considering the past friend
ship existing between that gentleman and
L
manner to him and to the House. / pro-
foundly apologize for a scene that should
not have happened. No matter what oc-
CURED should not have resented it physi-
cally. L say to the House and to the gen.
tleman that l exceedingly regret what has
occurred and crave their pardon The
House applauded Mr.. Breckenridge heartily
as he sat down. At the request of Mr.
Goodnight the entire colloquy was stricken
from the record. Thereupon Mr. Heard
went over to Mr.. Breckinridge's seat and
the late adversaries shook hands.
Personal Difficulties in the Past.
/. Quite number of personal difficulties
have occurred in the House and Senate in
years past. Randolph challenged Clay
and Clay challenged Webster, with the re-
suit of bloodless duel in the case of the
former. The most aggravated case of as
sault in either house occurred during the
exciting period just before the war, when
sectional passions ran highest
Preston b. Brooks, a Representative
from South Carolina, assaulted Charles
Sumner, Senator from Massachusetts, in
1859. 1t grew out of the reply Sumner
made to Senator Butler OF South Carolina
Brooks uncle), in which Sumner condemn
ed the barbarism of slavery. Brooks broke
a cane over Summers head in the Senate
chamber. Arson Burlingame, then Rep
reseDtatiVe in the House from Massachu-
setts, denounced Brooks act in the House,
with the result that he was challenged by
Laurence N. keilt, one OF Brooks col
leagues from South Carolina. Burlingame
accepted and chose rifles as the weapons
and Niagara Falls the place. The duel
never came off, however. as keilt claimed
it would not be safe for him to travel
through the north. Soon after that Roger A
Pryor, then Representative from Vir-
Sinia, now resident of New York, chal-
lenged John F. Potter, a Representative
from Wisconsin, as a result of a contro-
versy growing out of. the killing of
brother of Owen LovejoX. almost thirty
"a n oh
bowie knives as the weapons and q dark
room as the place. Pryor refused on the
grounds that such duel would be bar
barous The duel ended in ludicrous
fiasco.
Mr.. Grows Remembrance.
Before that in 1857, Galusha A Grow OF
Pennsylvania, afterward Speaker, and now
asrain member of the House. knocked
Ke:lt of South Carolina 0he same who
vas emproli.,I with Eurlingame) down in
the area in front of the Speakers chair.
The excitement on that occasion was turn
ed into a laugh, when some one, in the
confusion, knocked off very beautiful
and luxurious wig worn by Representative
BarkSdalc of Wisconsin. The encounter
occurred after midnight, February ), 1853.
Mr. Keilt afterward apoloeiZed to the
House, admitting he was in the wrong.
Mr.. Grow now possesses a gold medal sent
to him by some admirers of Kansas on
that occasion. on which is Inscribed THE
first blow struck for freedom
While the row between Breckenridge
and Heard was in progress yesterday Mr..
Grow remarked to several members: This
reminds me of old times The contro-
verSieS of late years have lacked some Of
the Vigor and sensational characteristics
of those of the slavery agitation epoch.
In the Fffty-firSt Congress there were two
personal alterations. one between Beckwith
of Wisconsin and Wilson OF WasEingtoE,and
one between Turpie of Alabama and
Waugh OF Indiana. In both cases blows
were struck In the long session of the
present Congress Funk of Illinois and
Meredith of Virginia almost came to blows
Yesterday Mr.. Funk Sauntered over to
Mr.. Meredith's seat and congratulated MIN
on the fact that they were moi in it.