Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-10
gaila gen'sel'se sourual.
BACKED DOWN.
How Native Of Augusta Disconnected a
Southern Fire Eater.

it gives OF the GOODNESS and courage dis
played by a man who was a native of this
city:
Editor of the Tribune:
After nearly sixty years it seems the
citizens Of Alton, ILL.,, have decided TO hon
or the memory of the lamented Loveioy.
who was inhumanly murdered in that
city in 1887 for his anti slavery senti-
ments. Mr.. Lovejoy was outspoken at
that early day in his denunciation of the
colossal crime of slavery, as it then existed
III this country, and with his voice and
pen was ever ready to promulgata bis SEN
timcnts. He was repeatedly mobbed and
his printing presses destroyed, and he was
at last murdered by the minions of sla-
very. The erection Of a monument to
his memory, which is now proposed
Though tardg recognition of the efforts
and sacrifice he made in the cause is an
evidence of the char gcd feeling of the
American people in relation to slavery.
None of the old war horses Of anti
slavery is more deserving of such an
honor. 1t was at a meeting called in
Faneul hall, Boston, in 1897 to consider
the murder of Loyejoy when Wendell
Phillips made his first speech in opposi,
ton to slavery. II was Owen Lovejoy a
brother of the martyred LoYejoy, who
created the episode, years later, in the
House Of Representatives that eliminated
in the Potter Pryor duel fiasco. This
happened in ante-bellUm times when the
crack of the Southern whip ia the halls
of Congress was heard little louder and
oftener than Of late years before the
South had a specimen of Yankee
progress. Owen Loveioy, who had some
definite opinions about the Declaration of
Independence and what liberty meant, was
at this time a member Of Congress from
Illinois from the Princeton District, and
Roger A. Pryor was q member from
Virginia. Mr.. LOyejoy had the courage
of his convictions and was ready at all
times to express them, especially upon
the matter of slavery. He had become
obnoxious to the slave oligarchy by the
boldness with which he championed the
anti slavery sentiments that were then
intcnsifying in the North His enmity to
slavery had no doubt been Increased by
the fact that his brother, Jean, before
had been assassinated at Alton, his office
demolished. and his printing presses
thrown into the river by the minions of
slavery from the other side of the Mis-
sissippi with a little help no doubt from
the Alton people,, because he had com
mitted the objectionable sin of publish
ing an anti-slavery paper SO near the
stamping ground of slavery in its hOtbcd
in Missouri. owen Lovejoy WIS ready to
take up the challenge of the slave owners
in Congress whenever it was flung at the
Northern dough faces across Mason and
Dixon's line.
At one time, about 1852 when the
Southern representatives were undertake
ing to nationalize slavery by forcing it
into the territories as he was making a
speech in opposition he became so warmed
up to his subject that he left his seat
and stepped into the aisle of the floor
where he could have more latitude and
better play in which to denounco their
methods, and was outdoing himself in
is anathcmas against their demands Of the
spread of slavey over free territory. This
was too much for Southern chivalry TO
tolerate, and some of the leaders pro1ni-
nent among them Roger A. Pryor
jumped to their feet and in a threatening
attitude demanded that ne should stop,
saying they would have no moro of his
speech They were barely upon their
feet before John T. Potter, a representa-
tive Wisconsin, brave as a lion, was
on his feet in the arena, backed by r. Is.
and G. G. Washburne tall sons of Maine
ana of fighting caliber, who declared that
Lovejoy should speak, and in the melee
that followed. which was one OF the most
exciting that ever occurred on the floor
of tho House. there was q free interchange
of fists, with coats made into carpet rags
and eyes put into mourning, and Barks-
dale's wig was mopping the ioor Of the
House.
Potter said when he took Barksdalo by
the hair tnot knowing he Wore wig)
and found his wig in his hand it nearly
upset him for minute. He thought at
first he had decapitatod him, The next
day when the account of tho melee aD-
ncared in the Globe it was so garbIcd and
nisrepresented that Potter accused Pryor
of interfering with the publisher Of the
paper for the purpose of falsifying the
record
Out of this accusation and its produc-
ing causes grew u challenge from Pryor
to Potter to fight duel. Pryor who was
the smaller man and a good shot, thought
he would have sure thing, as Potter
was the bigger mark. When Pryor's chal-
lenge came to Potter he called in his friend
n. W. Lander by whom he sent reply
that he had conscientious scrupies against
ducling, but to vindicate the right of speech
he would accept tho challenge and Mr..
Lander would act rs his second and ar
range the terms. Potter immediately left
Washington to put himself out OF the
reach of arrest. When Lander was asked
about the terms of the duel he replied
that as his principal was the challenged
party and allowed the choice of weapons
he would choose the bowie knife rs the
weapon and let the challenger choose
time and place. This was an unex-
pected dilemma to Pryor and did not de-
velop the sure walkover he had expected
when his mind was on rifles and pistols.
He replied that fighting with bowie knives
would be barbarous practice which lie
could not for n moment entertain. This
left Lander-lilSe Othcllo-with his occu-
patton gone and IN Their than to have the
matter terminate in that way he said to
Pryor:
"Inasmuch rs you have refused to
fight my principal, after challenging him.
aaa as Mr.. Potter has scruples against
.dueling. have none and will fight you
In h;u. ctaad and Won may have rifles or