The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-04-09
Noted NJ. q.

bellum characters still living is j. F.
Potter of Mukwonago, who represented
the Milwaukee district in Co gress during
the stormy days which preceded the re-
bellion
He is better known as "Bowie Knife
Potter on account of the challenge to
fight a duel which he received from Roger
Pryor OF Virginia in 1860, and in ac-
ceptanee of which he stipulated the com
bat should be fought with bowie knfes.
In the feeble old man OF to-day, who
fer several years PAST has done little more
than to sit on the broad porch which
fronts his residence and look over the 400
acres of beautiful land which he cleared
himself IN the pioneer days of Wisconsin,
one would not expect to find the sturdy
and fearless fighter OF years ago. He is
still straight and tall, but time has
emaciated his form.
Nh. Potter was born III Augusta, Me,
May II, ISL. He studied at Phillips
Exeter academy, and was admitted to the
bar and came West in 1888. He at once
settled on the place in Walworth county,
which he still occupies as home.
After a long political career, Mr.. Potter
entered Congress during what was prob
ably the most turbulent period in the his
tory Of that body
j, L. Orr OF South Carolina was the
speaker. 1t was the time when personal
assault took the place Of digniled argu-
meut
The southern slave holders ON the floor
could not brook any one who dared to
give utterance IL sentiments displeasing
to them and in opposition to their pet in
dustTy. Charles sumner had been dis
abled Ton over a yeal ly the Iutianly as
sault Of Preston Brooks
southern thugs sat in the galleries with
reVoiveIs drawn ready to ti1e on any
Northern man who dared to oppose them.
Potter came unheraldcd and unknown.
He was man of stalwart FRAME harden
ed 10y the experiences of a pioneer, I'M
tlinching in declaring and standing by
what he believed to be right
During he first session he was in Con-
greSS he attained distinction for his de-
Tense of Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Potter has given the following ac-
count of the affair:
when Grow was assaulted it was near
ly in the morning. | seized the man
who had him by the throat and threw him
to the floor. Then Reuben Davis, Lamar
and others came up and joined in the me
lee. | hit Davis and he drew knife.
Some one seized him. Barksdale came
up then. | never saw a man who looked
more as if possessed of a demon. | struck
out right and left and then fell down. |
never struck one of those fellows but
once and every blow was III self defense.
The ttool seemed strewn with men. | re-
member looking up and seeing Orr, the
speaker, standing with a white face and a
gave in his hand | wheeled around and
saw f. b. Washburn in the clutches of
Barksdale Washburn gave a cry. | sup
posed that Barksdale was armed, and
struck him on top of the head. Cadwal-
ladeI Washblrn at the same time hit him
i'll the mouth.
ITO my establishment found a bunch
Of hail in my hand. had never supposed
Barks'lale wore wig, but there it was
However, | was not much surprised to
hear the crowd cry out that some one had
been >calped. \ group of Southernels
made a rush at me-
The sergeant alarms. bearing his
mace, came up and in the name of the
house commanded me to take my seat. |
said: Take those fellows off Just
then one of the Southern fellows struck
me. My friends cried out: You are
wounded 4 vein had been cut, and my
face was covered with blood. Finally
order was restored. Mott, a brother of
Lucletia Mott, was a member of the
house at that time. He was one of those
who came up and spoke to me after the
melee. He said: ''1hee must have taken
lessons IN the pugilistic art. No. | re-
plled, i never took a lesson in my life )
TO this he responded dryly, i notice thy
blows were very etfectual
The incidents from which Mr. Potter
won the soubriquet of ''Bowie- knife Pot
ter occurred in 1860, when Pennington
OF New Jersey was speaker of the house
The trouble originated during d speech by
owen Lovejoy, the abolitionist representa-
tive from Princeton, III. Judge Potter S
recollection of the circumstances is as fol
lows:
"Lovejoy was making speech. When
he got excited he used harsh terms In re-
latIon to slavery. He was standing in
front OF his desk. Roger A. Pryor was
on the opposite side of the house He
walked over and shook his fist in Love
Joy lace, saying You shall not come
over on our side Of the house. stepped
up, fearing there would be a fight, and
said to Pryor: He is not on your side;
you are on our side
NLovejoy came to me some days after
tins incident and said: DO you know
what those fellows have done with your
remarks interpolated in my speech? They
went down to the congressional printing
Office and ink d out what you said and
tore out several pages of proof
u went down with Loyejoy to see ABOUT
1t and found that Singleton, Pryor, and
Others had made changes in the reports,
as Lovejoy had stated. | said to the
printer: Il would like to restore those re-
marks He replied, All right and
did so.
"When the Globe came out Pryor refer
ring to the report of my Interpolation
SAID: 'Nosuch remarks were made. When
the proofs went to the speaker they were
not there | explained the matter and
sad: i don't know what that gentleman S
ideas OF courtesy may be, but if l had
been in his place l would have let my
hand wither before | would have done
what he has done
Pryor turned on me and asked: DO
understand the member from Wisconsin
to say that he did make those remarks?
Do you stand by them?' l responded that
L did. Then he Kissed out: THE sequel
shall demonstrate whether you stand by
them OF not | replied: Let it demon
strate.
THAT afternoon got a note from Pryor,
challenging me to meet him in mortal
c0mbat I haliova tbo+ Dr-o.sc