Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-10


barous and ruftianly." Mr.. Brooks was
prompt to send him challenge for US
ing these words. Senator Wilson was
opposed to 1.-The CODE" and conse-
quently declined the challenge He
sent word to his challenger, however.
Ithat he was ready to defend himself
whenever assailed. But some one had
10 come to the front for the sake of the
Safe that honored Sumner-Anson
| Arlingame was the man. He was
af<rward. as nearly every one knows,
| theAmerican Minister to China, and
the author of the agreement known as
theBurlingame treaty. He was at tho
tim of the attack upon Sumner
Representative, in Congress from Mas
| sachtsetts., He made speech. in
| which he said that Brooks entered the
| Senat chamber, and smote Sumner as
Cain mote his brother Abel. Mr..
Brook. sought some explanation .eon-
cernina parts of Burlingame's speech,
but the Massachusetts man said he
would allow his remarks to interpret
themselves. and Mr.. Brooks sent him u
note-a very polite note-which read
as follows:
"Sir: You will do me the kindness to
| indicate, some place outside of this dis
| trict where it will be convenient for
you to negotiate in reference to the
differences between U.S."
On the same day Mr.. Burlingame an
| swered ds follows:
''Sir: Your note of this date was
| placed in my hands by Gen. Lane this
| afternoon. In reply I have to say l
| will be at the Clifton House, Canada
side of Niagara Falls, Saturday next
| at 10 NJ. to negotiate in reference to
any difference between US which. in
your judgment, may require settle
ment outside of this dicstrict."
This expected duel was another that
| did not materialiZe. 1t was prevented
| by some means. The minions of the
| law got in their work, and the gentle
men were put under heavy bonds not
| to violate the statutes.
| During the discussions upon the Le-
compton measure, the Kansas-Ne-
braska act and the repeal of the Mis-
| souri, compromise measure, over fifty
years ago, there was more acrimony in
| Congress than in any other era in it's
| existence. That is when folks began
to call the House bear garden. 1t
| was almost as bad in the Senate. 1t
| was during debate in the Kansas
| Nebraska act in the Senate that Scna-
| tor Douglas of Illinois, and Senator
| Green of Missouri poor. old Jim Green.
| who is never spoken of by those who
knew him but with pity for the UNI
| fortunate drinking habit that occa-
stoned his downfalD had trouble.
| Green, in his speech. said that Doug
| las did not dare to controvert him. 1t
| was debate in which Jefferson Davis
got mixed up, and there were per-
| sonalitics all around. There was some
| movement toward a duel at that time
| between Douglas and Green. Notes
| had passed and everybody expected
there would be something going on at
| Diati"nSburg, but friends interviewed
| and prevented 4 hostile meeting.
| Then there comes to mind that ia
| nous Iryor-Potter trouble, which grew
| out Of a charge that Potter, who was a
| Wisconsin man, had nterpolated the
manuscript of the House reporter. The
| quarrel that began over that resulted
| in Mr.. Pryor, who represented tine
! Richmond, Va, district, sending Potter
| a challenge. Potter, while disclaim-
ing allegiance to the COCO, said he
| would fight Pryor, in doors or out. in
TIC district with bowie knives. Pryor
declined 10 G:3h; in this way, on tho
ground that the weapons were barbar-
ors. inhuman, and not used among
gentlemen. Then Gen. Lander, WHO
was Potter's friend, offered to fgh,
Pryor in any way, but his offer was
declined on the ground that h.
Pryor) had no quarrel with Lander.
| There were other ducls expected her,
in Washington in the dueling days
that never took place, but those cited
here are about the most important o.
the episodes.