Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-10
DUELS AvERTED.
Some Washington Challenges That Did
Not eliminate on the Field of Honor

Could the details of the causes of
numerous invitations to the field of
honor in order to settle differences by
resort TO the code ducllo and the
nonmateraliZation of these expected
hostile meetings be brought to light,
they would most assuredly prove to be
interesting reading matter. Many of
these flashes in the-pan affairs OriSi-
mated in this town in the antc-bcllum
days.
In the early part of 1854 big sensa-
ton was caused because of difficulty
between John c. Breckenridge, of kcH-
lucky. and F. 3. Cutting of New YORK,
both members of the national House oil
Representatives. 1t was at the time
when the Kansas Nebrask bill was
| under discussion. Cutting intimated
| in speech that Mr.. Brcckinridgc was
| partly responsible for an article that
was published in the Washington
| Union, the Democratic organ helt,
| which was offensive to him, and the
| two gentlemen INDUCED in Il colloquX
| that was very ne;.r a bitter personal
| quarrel. In the course of it Mr.. Cut
| ting made remark, when the
| Kentuckian arose, and, III quiet, but
very firm, manner, asked the New
| York man to withdraw the statement.
! The House lad been listening. to the
| remarks of these gentlemen very
earnestly al! the while, and wncn
| Cutting said, in answer to 'Brcchln-
i ridges request that he withdraw a
| specified portion of his remarks they
were assertions that Mr.. breckenridge
hal been skulkingD that he would
| withdraw nothing, there came sensa-
ton, which developed into great en-
| citcment when Breckenridge said cut
ting had spoken falsely. and that he
knew he had lied.
| Now, when a gentleman called
another gentleman a liar in that period
Iof our history, it generally meant a
fight of some kind, and so it proved III
this case, for before the day was over
Mr. Cutting, through his friend, MIR
| Maurice, sent a note to Mr.. Breckln-
ridge calling upon him to rctract OF
to make the explanation due from one
gentleman to another"
Early next morning Mr.. Breckin-
ridge, through his friend. Col
Hawkins, accepted the challenge. Both
men were up to full measurement ir
the quality of pluck required for
sanguinary battle. An arrangement,
was made to meet at Silver Spring. il
the State of Maryland, which was tho
residence of Hon. Francis p. Blair
They were going to fight with the
ordinary rifle, but they didn't get
together Mutual friends were grievet
at the idea of prospective tragedy
which might end the lives of both OF
these eminent men. Full details OF
this transaction in the interests OF
peace were not made known. but the
reconciliation was effected. though not
without urgent reasonings, and the two
became as friendly as ever.
| Every one knows OF the assault upor
Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts. by
Preston S. Brooks, of South Carolina
mo one seemed to think that a
challenge to the South Carolina mar
would come out of this lamentablt
affair. Brooks, is very well known
Twas intensely angered at remarks
made by Mr.. Sumner concerning
Senator Butler, of South Carolina. who
was an uncle of Brooks. This was II
Nav. 1856. The Massachusetts Sena-
tor had said in a speech the day be-
fore that Senator Butler showed ar
lincapacity for accuracy, WHetHer ii
stating the Constitution or in stating
the law. He also said: He canno
open his mouth but out there flies 6
blunder." The excitement over thi.
affair was not confined to Massa-
lchusetts and this country. but extend
ed across the sea, particularly t.
England, always the foe to slavery
slavery in America, at any rate
Massachusetts, was stunned will
horror, even the good Wendell Phillips
and William Lloyd Garrison were
aroused to anger.
In the meantime, Mr.. Brooks wa!
awaiting a challenge from some one
Senator Wilson, Summers colleague
and later vice-President Of the United
States, made a speech in which he sale