Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-29

mother shall not have her child? Where is
the wretch who would dare to go up and
take that iuttering and painting birding from
the bosom of its mother and say, 1t is mine;
L will sell it like a calf; l will sell 1t like a
pig?' The same argument that proves my
light to my personal liberty proves the right
of every human being to his. The argu-
ment that proves my right to my children
gives the same sacred claim to every father.
They, as l, get it from God, and no human
enactment can annul that claim. No, sir.
Never!
CHALLENGED TO A DUEL.
On the 18th of April following, during the
session Of the house, Pryor demanded OF Potter
a personal explanation of the language usei
by the latter in defending Lovejoy on this
occasion, and of a correction in the report of
this language, which Potter had made and
Pryor had subsequently, erased.
Potter made an explanation which should
| have been entirely satisfactory; also asserting
his right to make the correction, and denying
Pryor's right to erase 1t. But Pryor was de-
termined not to be satisfied, and evidently had
an Interior object in demanding the eXplana-
ton; and, replying to Potter, he said:
"The gentleman says he stands by his Ian
guage. | am very glad to hear 1t. l under
stand him then to give me the liberty OF
| constituting his remark as l please. l VIII
put what construction please upon 1t, ana
whether or not he stands by it, the sequel
will demonstrate" To which Potter replied,
LET 1t demonstrate"
THE WEAPONS UNSATISFACTORY.
The result was a challenge from Pryor to
| fight a duel; which Potter promptly accepted,
naming as terms bowie knives at five plces
terms which he well knew Pryor would not
dare to accept, as he was a small man, whil2
Potter was a large, powerful man, and In his
western pioneer life, had become familiar
with the use of the bowie knife. Pryor de-
clined on the ground that the proposed term
were beneath the dignity of a gentleman to
| accept; and so the matter ended. But a
laughable incident grew out of 1t, when Love
ioy used to relate for the entertainment of his
friends. On the day following the challe g.,
while the result was still unknown, both Pot
ter and Pryor were absent during roll call,
and when Potter's name was called a Quaker
member rose, and, in a quaint voice, said
"Mr. Speaker, l am informed that the gen
tleman from Wisconsin had a prior engage
ment." And when Pryor's name was called
a moment later he rose and again, saying,
Mr.. Speaker, l hear that the gentleman
from Virginia has gone to be as clay in the
hands of the Potter"
A single incident will illustrate Lovejoy's
noble generosity and freedom from vini tic
tiveness toward his political personal enemies
Coming out of the capitol at Washington late
one night, after a protracted session OF the
house, during a furious storm and drenchine
rain, he found Cr!ttenden, one OF his bitterest
enemies, without any means of getting away
and, Offering him a seat in his carriage, which
the old gentleman was glad to accept, took
him safely to his hotel.
Lovejoy did not live to see the realization
Of his hopes in the successful termination OF
the war and the final overthrow of slavery
which he had predicted. In the fall of 1868
while visiting friends preparatory to resuming
his seat in congress for the fourth time, a
change was observable in his appearance
and demeanor, a shade of sadness marking
his usual vivacity in social intercourse.
After a brief attempt to discharge his con,
gressional duties, increasing Illness compe,le1
him to seek rest in retirement; but he showed
his continued interest by sending in a speech
to be read, and, in February, having par.
TALLY recovered, he again attempted to re
sumo his work; but the effort was too much
for his enfeeblei condition; that fearful
scourge, Bright's disease, had marked him for
its victim, and he was again compelled to
retire; going to friends In Brooklyn, where
he died March 20, 1864, at the age of So.
HILL ATKINSON.