The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-05
An Old story

The Richmond Dispatch prints a
interesting version of the old stor
about the difficulty which occurre
in the chamber Of the confederai
senate between william L. Yancey c
Alabama. and Benjamin H. Hill G
Georgia, February, 1854. Not man.
months after the encounter Vance.
death resulted from INJURIES receive,
in the fight: that Hill threw hin
against a desk and injured his spine
According to h Dispatch, this wa
not possible, as they were twelve fee
apart.
A bill for organizing the supreme
court was under consideration in the
senate. Yancey and Hill. both magni-
fic mt examples Of debaters, discussing
the question, became involved in a
heated personal controversy. Yancey
charged Hill with making wilful mis-
statements, to which Hill replied: The
| remark that / made any wilful mis-
statements is false" and then took his
| seat. The Dispatch's story is as fol-
lows:
The senate went into secret session
| and transacted some official business.
| 1t continued, it seems, not In regular
| session. but in a sort of informal con-
ference, when, without any motion on
the subject, the controversy between
Senators Hill and Yancey was taken
| into consideration. Senator r. w. Barn.
well, of South Carolina, expressed the
| hope that the matter could and would
| be amicably adjusted. He intimated
| that Yancey had on a previous occa-
sion, January Goth, given cause of OF
Tense to Hill, and urged Yancey to
make the amende honorable to Hill.
| This Yencey declined, on til, ground
that he had lone nothing for which ne
ought to apologize. Barnwell persisted
in advising him to do so, until Yancey
cut him short by saying: After the
manner in which he had been assailed
by the senator from Georgia he had
no option as to his course. He should
stand upon occurrences as they had
taken place. So far from feeling 1t IN
cumbent upon him to retract any par
of his remarks upon Friday last, after
what had occurred, he only regretted
that he had not on that occasion USED
language of greater severity" Hill
Their addressed Yancey in a defiant
tone: You had better, then, do sc
now" Yancey replied: Il have said al
in that way that is consistent with my
character as a gentleman to say" Hill
then struck him with a glass ink
stand (Which had a metalllc tOp) OF
the right cheek, just under the eye, ano
as he turned toward him Hill threw a
him a heavy glass tumbler, which JUS
missed him and was shivered into
pieces against a window sash. Yancey
proclaiming hat lit was a coward:
blow" tried to get at Hill, who was
about twelve feet away, but seVera
senator's interposed and the presiden'
called for the sergeant-at-arms anC
the combat was stopped. The senate at
terward took jurisdiction of the affair
A committee was appointed; which re
ported resolutions Of censure of Yam
cey, and they were adopted.
Yancey made a formal protest agains'
the report Of the committee Of the sen
ate, who re~cOnsidered their vote; the
protest was read and then. withdrawn
Thu the matter ended. 1t is said thai
both senators had reasons which re-
strained them from duelling.
The inkstand which struck Yencey
was broken, and his collar, neck and
bosom were soon covered with blood
so that the blow must have been very
severe.