The Irish standard., 1904-01-23
How Duel Between Gordon and Conklnq
Because of Remarks Made by the
Latter Was Averted.
Browns Attack Upon B. F. Butler Has Gone
Into History asian Immortal Spec
linen of Invective.

session, and the following minute was
entered on the journal and thrown
open to the public:
| Whereas, A misunderstanding hav-
ing arisen between the Hon. Roscoe
Conkling and the Hon. John B. Cor.
!tn in the ccl sc of the executive pro-
eredings OF tho Senate OF Yesterday,
and mutual understandings thereon
having been arrived at as set out in
the following paper, it is ordered that
said paper be entered at large on the
Legislative journal of the Senate.
During an executive session of the
Senate held yesterday, words were ut
tered both by Senator Gordon, of
Georgia, and by Senator Conkling, of
New York, which were mutually felt
to be unkind and offensive. Reports
of the incident appearing in the papers
of this morning which are inaccurate
and unjust to both speakers, upon a
careful inquiry as to what was said by
each speaker, and what was under
stood to be said by the other, it is
certain that the first offensive words
were inspired by an honest misunder-
standing of what had been innocently
said by the other speaker. One harsh
remark provoked another, as too often
happens, but all that was offensive was
the outgrowth of misapprehension
Since such was the fact, we, who are
mutual friends of both senator's, are
of the opinion that it is due alike to
the Senate and to the speakers that
whatever was felt to be unkind or Of
fensive in the remarks of either should
be treated as if never uttered, and, we
are now authorized to state, are mutu-
ally simultaneously withdrawn.
H. HAMLIN,
M. w. RANSOM,
TIMOTHY o. HOWE,
J. E. MCDONALD.
December IS, 1877.
This entry was the first of it's kind
that had been made since the cele-
brated affair between Senators Poin-
dexter and Forsyth, similarly arranged
through the agency Of Henry Clay
more than forty years before.
John Young Brown, of Kentucky,
figured in somewhat more pictur-
esque and sensational affair while
member of the House in the Recon-
struction period. "Ben" Butler, of
Massachusetts had delivered a violent
philippe against the Southern people,
and particularly against the people of
Louisiana, who were just then in the
midst of the struggle which ended
with the overthrow of the Kellogg
dynasty. Browns response was as
follows:
Mr.. Speaker, the South is broken. 1t
lies in helplessness and despair, with
homes dilapidated, villages wasted, its
people bankrupt. Is there nothing in
that situation to touch you with pity?
If your magnanimity cannot be touch
ed, will you not be moved by some
sense of justice? By conspiracy be-
tween the attorney general and Kel-
logg and drunken Federal Judge, the
sovereignty of state was overthrown.
The usurpation has been perpetuated
since by bayonets. But recently one
of your generals entered the legisla-
tive halls as Cromwell entered the
English Parliament with Col. Pride,
and ruthlessly expelled the occupants.
Onward and onward you go in de-
fiance of the sentiment of the country,
remorselessly determined, it seems,
to drive the Southern people to de-
struction, to give their roofs to the
flames and their flesh to the eagles.
A Federal general steps on the scene
and sends dispatch that the people
of the state are banditti. We have
heard it echoed elsewhere that they
were thieves and murderers and night
riders. The clergy of that state, Jew
and Gentle, have denied it. The busi-
ness men and Northern residents have
denied it. A committee of your own
House, a majority being Republicans,
have given it solemn and emDhatic