Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-21
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
FIRST SERIOUS CLASH IN CON-
GREkS


Congress has been the scene of many
clashes since its organization, but they
have been usually of a harmless mouth
battle" character, and rarely have those
taking part come to blows. The int in
stance of this character was in January.
1898, during the first year of John Adams
administration. The partisan spirit had
become so strong by the time of his in
ception in office that, according to JET
ferson, political opponents could no long
er separate the business of the state
from that of society.
He further stated that men who have
been intimate all their lives now cross
the street to avoid meeting, and turn
their heads another way lest they should
be obliged to touch their hats"
One day in the house of representa-
tives, then assembled in Philadelphia,
Matthew Lyon was ,contending that the
Connecticut members did not represent
the will of their constituents on a certain
measure and said that, if he was to go
into the state with printing press for
few months, he would turn out the
whole delegation.
IF you went into Connecticut" said
Roger Griswold a Slember from that
state, would you wear your wooden
sword?" This was a reference to the
fact that while in the army Lyon had
been cashiered.
| To this, and the loud laugh from the
| federalists, Lyon replied: Il know them
well, for 1 have had to fight them when
| ever they came into my district
Did you fight them with your wood
en- sword?" sneered Griswold. This was
too much fer the Irish temper of Lyon
and he spat in Griswold's face They at
once grappled with one another and the
men were separated with difficulty and
the house was called to order.
The affair was referred to committee
that reported in favor of expelIing Lyon
The gentleman from Vermont apoloEized
and the vote for expulsion stood fifty
two to forty-four.-less than the neces
sary two-thirds. Instead of letting the
matter rest, however, the newspapers tool
up the subject and bitterly lampoone6
both men in prose and verse. Lyon wa.
designated as the King Of Beasts" anC
Griswold was THE Knight of the Rheum
: full Countenance."
Griswold resolved upon revenge, ant
one day assaulted Lyon while he was sit
ting in his chair beating him over tht
head with a heavy walking-stick Lyo.
ran to the fireplace and seized the tongs
but was soon disarmed. The two me,
l.
secured a stick and with 1t struck Girls
,, void on the head, wnen again the twt
were separated.
The Speaker was now called upon (,
} desire the members to take their seat
) and form the house, but while this wa
2 being done the two enraged members me
: again within the bar, and but for tn
doorkeeper and some gentlemen presen
+ would have renewed the combat.
Order was at length restored and bus
] mess was started, but from the excite
J ment of the scene which the member
had just witnessed 1t was found impossi
g BILE to conduct any business and mo
r ton for an adjournment was made AM
+ carried
v On the following day Mr. Davis.
e representative from Kentucky, propose,
the resolution THAT Roger Griswold an
n Matthew Lyon members of this house, 70
violent and disorderly behaviour commit
4 ted in the house, be expelled therefrem.
d This resolution failed to Carry, as
a was urged that the house was not i
v session when the fight took place, an
= the motion was defeated by vote c
, seventy-three to twenty-one. Lyon wa
b later made to feel the weight of federal
e list displeasure, but while this was tn
a III 81, II Was HoI the last OF the KIM b
n which congress was disgraced.
" Matthew Lyon had served during III
Revolutionary war as lieutenant in
company of '"Green Mountain Boys" H
founded the town of Fairhaven, VT, i
1888, and was the representative of ths
s district when the brawl referred to aooy
u occurred. In October of the same yes
. Of his alteration with Griswold he wa
indicted in his state for writing and put
!. fishing letter calculated to stir up s,
- dNion and to bring the president and tt
= government into contempt. He was col
- victed, confined for four months in II
= Vermont jail and fined $1,000, which we
paid by his friends, who reelected hi
to congress while he was In prison.
Roger Griswold was a Connectic,
a. lawyer Of ability, and the fifth governs
Of that state in 1911. A few days befoi
= Adams retired as president he offere
S. Griswoid the position of secretary
- state. which he declined, and was CT
N time seriously considered for the pres
- dency.
CTemorrow-Clay and Randolphs Bloc,
20 less Duel)