The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-08-20
DUELS THAT FAILED
Flash In the Pan Affairs That
Originated In Washington.
SOME FAMOUS MEN INVOLVED
The Challenge That Cutting of New
York Sent to Breckenridge of Ken
tucty-The Brooks Sumner Quarrel
and the Pryor Potter Trouble.

York Sent to Breckenridge of Ken
tucky-The Brooks Summer Quarrel
and the Pryor Potter Trouble.
Could the details of the causes of nu.
merous invitations to the field of honor
In order to settle differences by a re-
sort to the code duello and the non
naturalization of these expected hos
tile meetings be brought to light they
would most assuredly prove to be In
teresting reading matter. Many of
these flashes In the pan affairs origi-
mated in Washington in the antebellum
days.
In the early part of 1854 a big sen
sation was caused because of a diff
Guilty between John c. Breckenridge of
Kentucky and F. B. Cutting of New
York, both members of the national
house Of representatives 1t was at the
time when the Kansas-N Nebraska bill
was under discussion. Cutting init
mated in a speech that Mr.. Breckin-
ridge was partly responsible for an ar
ticle that was published in the Wash
ington Union. the Democratic organ In
the capital, which was offensive to
him, and the two gentlemen INDUCED
In colloquy that was very near bit
ter personal quarrel. In the course of
it Mr.. Cutting made remark, when
the Kentuckian arose and In a quiet
but very firm manner asked the New
York man to withdraw the statement.
The house had been listening to the
remarks of these gentlemen very ear
nestly all the while, and when Cut
ting said, In answer to Breckinridge's
request that he withdraw a specified
portion of his remarks (they were as
sertions that Mr. Breckenridge had
been skulking), that he would with
draw nothing there came sensation
which developed into great excitement
when Breckenridge said Cutting had
spoken falsely and that he knew he
had lied
Now, when a gentleman called an
other gentleman liar In that period of
our history 1t generally meant fight
of some kind, and SO 1t proved in this
case, for before the day was over Mr..
Cutting, through his friend, a Mr..
Maurice, sent a note to Mr.. Breckin-
ridge calling upon him to retract "or
to make the explanation due from one
gentleman to another"
Early next morning Mr.. Breckin-
ridge, through his friend, Colonel
Hawkins, accepted the challenge. Both
men were up to- full measurement in
the quality of pluck required for a
sanguinary battle. An arrangement
was made to meet at Silver Spring, In
the state of Maryland, which was the
residence of Hon Francis P. Blair.
They were going TO fight with the or
binary rife, but they didn't get togeth-
er. Mutual friends were grieved at the
idea of a 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 known, but the reconciliation
was effected, though not without ur-
gent reasonings, and the two became
as friendly as ever.
Every one knows of the assault upon
Senator Sumner of Massachusetts, by
Preston s. Brooks of South Carolina.
No one seemed to think that a chal
ienge to the South Carolina man would
come out of this lamentable affair.
Brooks, 1t is very well known, was In
tensely angered at remarks made by
Mr.. Sumner concerning Senator Butler
of South Carolina, who was an uncle
of Brooks This was In May, 1855.
The Massachusetts senator had said in
q speech the day before that Senator
Butler showed an ineapacfty for accu-
racy, whether In stating the constitu-
ZION or in stating the law. He also
said, HE cannot open bis mouth but
out there flies a blunder." The excite
ment over this affair was not confined
to Massachusetts and this country, but
extended across the sea, particularly to
Massachusetts was stunned
with horror Even Wendell Phillips
and William Lloyd Garrison were
aroused to anger.
In the meantime Mr.. Brooks was
awaiting a challenge from some one.
Senator Wilson, Summers colleague
and later vice president Of the United
States, made a speech In which he said
the attack upon Mr.. Sumner was bar
barous and ruffianly." Mr.. Brooks was
prompt to send him a challenge for