The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-02
just Before the War.

just Before the War.
John Sherman was never in the
army, but had he entered the service
he would undoubtedly have shown as
much bravery as did his famous broth
er, the general. He was never afraid
of danger. During his first days in
Congress he went out to Kansas to take
testimony in the Congressional investi-
cation of the Kansas Nebraska trou-
bles. The Western frontier was then
filed with ruffians. Assassinations
were frequent, and Congressman Sher-
man was again and again Threatened
with death. He told me once that the
committee often found warnings. the
paper above which was ornamented
with collins and pictures of skulls and
cross-bones. Now and then the wit
nesses swore vociferously at the Con-
gresham, and nearly every other man
had a revolver In his belt When Sher-
man returned to Washington he had a
chance to show his nerve. One Of the
Southern members remarked one day,
while Sherman was speaking, that one
of Sherman's statements was a lie.
Sherman did not hear the remark, but
it was reported to him, and the next
day he arose to question Of priFi-
lege stating that Wright was proba-
bly, drunk and did not know what he
was saying AS he did this, Wright
n frc w ND
Sherman picked up box of waters and
threw it into Wright's face. Wright
tried to draw his pistol to shoot Sher-
man, but the members Of Congress
about him prevented him from doing so.
Everyone expected a duel as the out
come of this trouble, and Sherman was
called upon by one of the Southern
members and asked what he would do
Il he were challenged. He replied that
he was not duelist, but that If Wright
attacked him, he should beware Of the
consequences. The secretary of state
is a good shot, and he once said that
he never felt cooler in his life than
when he walked up to the capitol the
next morning, with pistol in his peck
ct and his hand on the trigger. He
had made up his mind that If Wright
approached him that day in a manner
to Justify it, he would shoot him dead.
He did not see Wright until he left
the capitol that evening
As we went down the steps to go
home, Wright came out and passed
down the opposite side. Sherman had
friend with him, and Wright was
likewise accompanied by friend.
Sherman kept his hand on his pistol
and his eye on Wright as he walked
down the steps Wright saw that Sher-
man meant business, and he walked on
without doing anything. He served for
some time In Congress, but he never
again called Sherman a liar.
Sherman's action as regards Wright
was according to the same policy pur-
sued by many of the Northern Con-
gressmen just before the war. Section
al feeling was so keen that duels were
talked of most every day. and the man
who could be bulldozed had no peace
whatever. Some Of the Southern fire.
eaters seemed to take pleasure in try
ing to intimidate their fellows, and
among these was Bob Toombs, Of
Georgia. Toombs found his match,
however, in Ben Wade. The late Ed
win Cowles, editor Of the Cleveland
Leader. and great friend Of Wade,
told me the story. Said he:
"Ben Wade once took occasion to
abuse Toombs in a speech. Toombs
sent one Of his friends to Wade, with
view to arranging for a duel. The
friend said: L am requested to say,
Senator Wade, that Senator Toombs
considers the language you used to-day
n gross insult to him. He demands
that you make a retraction or abide
by the consequences
''Ben Wade looked the messenger IL
the eye and then coolly replied:
My dear sir, want Toombs to
challenge me. We Northerners have
held a consultation about the bullying
action of you Southerners. We have
decided to kill off four or five OF you,
and | have picked out old Toombs as
my man. You may tell Toombs TO send
In his challenge. / shall. of course,
have the choice Of weapons. and -
me IL / don't take my old rifle and lay
Toombs out the first crack
Gen. Toombs was not used to the
rifle, although he was an expert with
the pistol and the challenge was not
sent"