Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-03-08
FAMOUS FIGHT.
That of 1858 on the Floor of
National House.
Four Maine-Born Congressman
Were In 1t.
Grow of Penn, Still in Congress, a
Leading Figure.

'ooulH carolina mas Dcen feSpOllSlDit
FOR many of the disturbances which
have occurred in the Legislative ses-
sions of the United States. The state
itself led the secession and il was
off Charleston that the first shot in the
Civil War was fired. When such an oc-
currence as the Tillman- -McLaurin en-
counter takes place III the Senate,
therefore, it is only logical that the
|fiery little southern state should be the
one from which the belligerents hail.
Many fracases have happened in Sen
ate and House, but probably the most
famous was that which took place in
the winter of 1858, and in which practi-
|cally the whole House of Representa-
tives participated, when the Lecompton
constitution was up for debate. The
details of that battle, in which the
members indulged nearly half Il cen
tury ago, are rarely brought up at this
day. Only in the scrapbooks which
have come down are it's details and the
comments of the leading journals OF
the time preserve. Although it was al
most half u century ago one of the
prominent members in the affair was
Congress. All the others are dead.
Lawrence NJ. Keitt of South Carolina
who attempted with some success tC
use the tactics of a slave master upon
his cOnfreres in the House was the ac-
knOwledged leader of the southern
slave-holding representatives. Has
Tillman attempted to ape him?
fHis vulgar swageer,' said the
Washington correspondent of the AL
bany Evening Journal, Authoritative
|shake of the head and whip-lke jerk
|of tbe.arm, as he marches up and down
the aisle on the Democratic side of the
chamber crying out to his party col
|leaguessin sharp tones: Stand up!
Cog Through the tellers!' Sit down,
Dob tsvote!' Vote no!' all indicate that
|he Aas ofticiated as Whipper-in oi
|slaves- on a cotton or rice plantation"
1t was the man thus described who
With Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania
who is still in Congress, started the fur
upon Feb. 2 1853. Others who were ir
the fight We're Justice j. @. c. Lamar
ONen Lovejoy Of Illinois, John Sher-
man of Ohio, John Fox Potter of Wis
Iburne of Illinois and his brother, Cad
Iwallader WGshburne OF Wisconsin, and
Reuben Davis of Mississippi. Four OF
these, Lovejoy, Potter and the Wash
burnes were natives of Maine. Mr.
Potter was born in Augusta.
1t was an all-nght session. The balk-
ing point between Republicans and
Democrats was whether the Presidents
message on the Lecompton constitution
should be referred to the Democratic
committee on terri ories or to a select
committee of fifteen.
While some of the longer -winded
speakers sought to prolong the debate
others dOZed on the sofas. About :
O'Clock in the morning Galusha A
Grow, who happened at the time to be
out of his seat and on the Democratic
side of the House, objected to JOnn A
| Quitman's being allowed to speak.
IF you are going to object return tC
| your own SIDE of the House." said Keit1
| of South Carolina roughly.
This is a free hall" answered Grow
Every man has a right to be where ht
pleases.'
such an answer as that?" said Keitt
looming nearer.
| Il mean just what l say. This is q
free hall, and every man has right tC
be just where he pleases.'
keitt, his temper getting the better
of him, seized Grow by the throat, say
ing: Il will let you know that you are
- black Republican puppy
II shall occupy such place in this hal
as 1 please" repiesyow, knocking VI
Keitt's hand, Am 10 negro-driver
shall crack his whip Brer me-
That started the trouble. Keitt
grabbed Grow by the throat, Grow
knocked the hand OF. and when Keitt
came again he ran into sterling right
swing that foored him. Immediately the
hitherto sleepy House was in an up
roar. and everybody rushed into the
melee determined to do damage.
The Republicans rallied about Grow
| Elihu Washburne, short man. tackled
| Craig of North Carolina, who was tall
and while Craig was trying unsuccess-
fully to knock Washburne out with the
| Ihail-like movements IF his long arms,
| the Illinois man but d him in the
stomach. which tactic. according tc
tradition. Jared Craig's terrapin sup
Iper.
Potter of Wisconsin made his blows tell
Lamar, on the Democratic side, jumped ir
and made himself useful. John Sherman
too. was in the thickest of the fray. Cad
wallader Washburne of Wisconsin. made
| for Barksdale of Mississippi. thinking TO
grab his hair and draw his head under
his arm. the better to pound him. Barks-
dale wore a wig and to Washburne's con-
sternation the top of his intended victim :
head came off and the blow went wild
Lamar and owen Lovejoy of Illinois, had
paired of and were pummeling one an
other in great shape. They were the last
men to be quieted.
Punch took up the affair. and one of it,
bright writers composed an epic on the
great fight. beginning;
Sing. q goddess. the wrath, the ontaEi-
able dander Of keitt-
Keitt OF South Carolina, the clear grit
the tall. the ondaunted-
Him that hath wopped his own nigSers
till northerners all unto keitt
Seem but as niggers to wop. and hills OF
the smallest potatoes.
Getting into the description of the bat
tie the epic continues: