The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-08-23
DUELS THAT FAILED
Flash In the Pan Affairs That
Originated In Washington.
SOME FAMOUS MEN INVOLVED

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-
SOFT 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
;erestlng reading matter. Many of
these flashes In the pan affairs origi-
mated in Washington In the antebeIlum
days
In the early part Of 1854 big sen
sntlon was caused because Of diff
Guilty between John G. Breckenridge Of
kentucky ana i. d. 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 intI-
mated In a speech that Mr. Breckln-
ridge was partly responsible for an ar
ticle that was published in the Wash
lngton 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
II Mr. Cutting made a 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
L a T.. n. 4 -.
request that he withdraw a specified
portion of his remarks they we're as
sertlOns that Mr.. Breckenridge had
been skulking) that he would with
| draw nothing there came a sensation
| which developed into great excitement
when Breckenridge said Cutting had
spoken falsely and that he knew he
had lied.
Now, when gentleman called an
other gentleman liar in that period of
our history II generally meant a 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 note to Mr.. Breckin-
ridge calling upon him to retract "or
to make the explanation due from one
gentleman 10 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
sangulnary 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 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 reasonlngs, 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 chal-
lenge to the South Carolina man would
come out Of this lamentable affair,
Brooks. 1t IL very we'll 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
speech the day before that Senator
Butler showed an incapacity for accu.
. racy. whether In stating the constitu'
4 In a. hn a
I said, lie cannot open his mouth but
! out there fIes n blunder." The excite
} ment over this affair was not confined
! 10 Massachusetts and this country, but
. extended across the sea, particularly t.
I England. Massachusetts was stunned
Z with horror Even Wendell Phillips
. and william Lloyd Garrison werS
!. aroused to anger.
|. In the meantime MIR. Brooks wat
. awaiting q challenge from some one
. Senator Wilson. Summers colleague
o aud later vice president OF the United
3 States, made speech In which he SAID
Z the attack upon MIR. Sumner was "bar
n barous aud rufilanly" MIR. Brooks wat
n prompt to send him challenge fol
using these words. Senator Wilson
: was opposed to the code" and conse
. Quently declined the challenge. III
/ sent word TO his challenger. however
, that be was ready to defend himself
, whenever Rssailed, But some one hat
to come 70 the front for the sake Of th,
state that hOnored sumner. AnsoI
Burlingame was the man. lie was aft
b erward, rs nearly every one knows
% the American minister TO China an,
% the author of the agreement known a
70 the Burlingame treaty. He was at TIN
Il tiTpe OF the attack upon Sumner rep
.. resentative In congress from Massa
% ghusetts. He made speech in which
II be said that Brooks entered the senat
% chamber aud smote Sumner as Cab
4. smOte his brother Abel Mr.. Brook
IN sought some explanation concernlnl
d parts OF Burlingame's speech. but tn,
b Massachusetts man said he would al
. low bis remarks 10 interpret them