The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-08-06
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 Breckinridse of Ken
tucky-The Brooks Sumner 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 re-
sort to the code dueuo 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 big SEN
sation was caused because of a diff
Guilty between John @. 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-Nebraska bill
was under discussion. Cutting init
mated in 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 a colloquy that was very near bit
ter personal quarrel. In the course of
it Mr. Cutting made a remark, when
the Kentuckian arose and in 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 Cthey 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 or
our history it generally meant fight
of some kind, and so it 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 cor
to make the explanation due from one
gentleman to another"
Early next morning Mr.. Breckin-
ridge, through his friend, Colonel
f1dWhiuS, dcCtplcI Tic ShuiChSS. ADChAA
men We're 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 rifle, 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-
lenge to the South Carolina man would
come out of this lamentable affair.
Brooks, it 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, 1856.
The Massachusetts senator had said in
a speech the day before that Senator
Butler showed an incapacity for accu-
racy, whether in stating the constitu-
ton or in sta ting the law. He also
said, He cannot open his mouth but
out there flies blunder." The excite
ment over this affair was not confined
TO Massachusetts and this country, but
extended across the sea, particularly to
England. Massachusetts was stunned
with horror Even Wendell Phillips
and William Lloyd Garrison were
aroused to anger.
In the meantime Mr.. Brooks was
awaiting q 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
using these words. Senator Wilson
was opposed to 1.-The CODE and conse-
quently declined the challenge. He
sent word to his challenger, however,
that he was ready to defend himself
whenever assailed. But some one had
to come to the front for the sake of the
state that honored Sumner. Arson
Burlingame was the man. He was aft
erward, as nearly every one knows.
the American minister to China and
the author of the agreement known as
the Burlingame treaty. He was at the
time of the attack upon Sumner a rep
resentatfve in congress from Massa-
chusetts. He made speech in which
he said that Brooks entered the senate
chamber and smote Sumner as Cain
smote his brother Abel. Mr.. Brooks
sought some explanation concerning
parts of Burlingame's speech, but the
Massachusetts man said he would al
low his remarks TO interpret them
selves, and Mr.. Brooks sent him a
note-a very polite note-which read
AS follows:
Sir-You will do me the kindness to IN
dictate sorle place outside of this District
where it will be convenient for you to ne
gotiate in reference TO the differences be.
tween US.
On the same day Mr.. Burlingame an
swered as follows:
,o+~ Sat- Ms eI