CHAP. XI.

Traits of national manners in America-Pugilistic contest in the Congress Opinions of the press on this affair-Acquittal of the Speaker of Arkansas-Justification of murder-Mockery of the law-Robbers and cut-throats at New Orleans-Horrible act of Lynch law at St. Louis-Outrages attributable to Slavery-Address of Judge Fox to the grand jury-Attempted abolition riot at Boston-Scandalous scenes at weddings-Quack medicines and necromancy-Indications of mourning in families-Tranquillity of the streets of Philadelphia-Musical sounds of the chimney-sweeps-Grand evening party, without wine-Lectures delivered in Philadelphia-Public meetings for benevolent objects -Experiments of Dr. Mitchell on carbonic acid gas-Freezing of mercury-Cold at 102° below zero-Production and properties of carbonic acid snow-Practical application of Dr. Mitchell's experiments Substitution of carbonic acid gas for steamComparison of cost and benefits-Plan to be tested by the Franklin Institute Object and character of that association, improvements already effected by its labours-Progressive advance of American manufactures-Last visit to the State House of Philapelphia-Oppressive heat of the atmosphere-Fine view of the city and suburbs from the steeple.

ON the subject of national manners, some public occurrences came to our knowledge in Philadelphia, which are sufficiently remarkable to deserve a special record, and the more so, as they happened in very different quarters of the Union-from New Orleans and Arkansas in the extreme south, to Boston in the north; and from St. Louis in the extreme west, to Philadelphia in the east, and Washington, the seat of government, in the centre. To

To begin at head

quarters, the following is a faithfully abridged report from the proceedings of Congress on the 1st of June, 1838.

"INDIAN HOSTILITY APPROPRIATION BILL.

"Mr. Turney resumed the floor, and finished his speech in support of the bill.

"Mr. Bell rose, and, having complained of the attack of his colleague as unprovoked and unexpected, disclaimed any particular ill-will to him, on the ground that he was acting only as a conduit for the concocted and long-cherished malice of others, who had never thought proper to meet him personally. His colleague was acting as an instrument-as a tool, as the tool of tools.

"Here Mr. Turney (who sat immediately before Mr. Bell) rose, and, looking him in the face, said, it is false, it is false !'

"Mr. Bell thereupon struck at Mr. Turney in the face, and blows were for a short time exchanged between them.

"Mr. Turney repeated his assertion that it was false, and the attack was renewed.

"Great confusion ensued.

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Members rushed from their seats, and cries were heard for the 'Speaker,' and the Sergeant-atarms!'

"Mr. Duncan said that such things must be the consequence of the abuse which was going on. One or two other members, while crowding to the spot, had some rather sharp verbal encounters.

"The Speaker hastily took the chair, called on the Sergeant-atarms to preserve order, and read a British precedent, (see Jefferson's Manual, p. 132,) where the Speaker of the House of Commons had, in like manner, interposed to quell a disturbance which had arisen while the House was in Committee of the whole.

"Mr. Bouldin moved that the House adjourn. The motion was negatived without a count.

"Mr. Pennybacker said that it was a farce that the House should have rules, aud refuse to enforce them. He then moved the following resolution:

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"The Hon. H. L. Turney, and the Hon. John Bell having violated the privileges of this House by assaulting each other in the House, whilst sitting, it is therefore,

"Resolved, that the said H. L. Turney, and John Bell do apologize to the House for violating its privileges, and offending its dignity."

"Mr. Bell then rose and said he had been ready, at any moment, to acknowledge that he had violated the order of the House. He, however appealed to the older members of the House to say whether it had been his habit to use unparliamentary language in that House. He regretted extremely that he had violated the decorum, and offended against the dignity of the House.

"Mr. Turney followed, but in a tone so low, that but little of what he said could be heard. He was understood to say that he had no intention to insult the House, or to violate its rules.

"The resolution was then laid on the table, and the House went back into committee of the whole.

These were the facts of the case, about which there seemed no dispute. The opinions entertained of the conduct of the members partook as of the spirit of party; but in the greatest number of instances, in which the editors of the public journals expressed an opinion on the subject, (for some were silent,) that opinion was condemnatory of both the offending parties. The following example may suffice. The Pennsylvania Herald says,

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Every man must regret and condemn the affray which took place in the House of Representatives on Friday between Mr. Bell and Mr. Turney. The Halls of Congress should not be made a gladiatorial arena, and the members of Congress should be taught to curb their passions and their tongues within the limits of Parlia mentary decorum. Too much latitude has been given to debate on the floor of Congress-the necessary consequence of this is per sonal violence-for one is not less becoming the place than the other."

The other papers of Philadelphia equally condemned the conduct of both members; and the general sentiment of the press, northern and southern, seemed to run in this current, while the New York Gazette thought nothing short of the expulsion of both should satisfy the public. It says:

"The offence of Messrs. Bell and Turney, is the grossest and most disgraceful that has yet occurred in our legislative annals, and should have been punished with a promptitude proportioned to its enormity. Both members should have been instantly expelled, and if they are not expelled, we may just as well abolish our form of Government, first as last. If the national legislature cannot even prevent its members from actual bruising matches on the floor of the House, while it is in actual session, there is little hope of going on with civil government any longer. We care not for the character of Mr. Bell, we care not for his politics-for both we have the highest respect. We care not for the provocation-and we know it to have been the most gross and the most wanton-we care for none of these considerations. The outrage should be punished by expulsion, and any lighter retribution will disgrace the whole house as deeply as these two members have disgraced themselves."

Neither of these members, however, will lose their seats in Congress, from the conduct here described, nor much of the consideration, if any, of their respective political parties; because in this, as in the late duel case, party politics will cover the misconduct of each, as with an ample robe to hide all their defects. It is this, indeed, which, more than any other influence, as far as I have yet been able to discover, so blinds the judgment and perverts the understanding, as to make even intelligent men unable or unwilling to perceive anything right in their political opponents, or anything wrong in their

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political friends, so that neither are to be trusted to pass judgment on the other.

About the period of this Washington affray in Congress, the following appeared in the Philadelphia Sentinel.

"JUSTIFICATION OF MURDER.-Our readers cannot have forgotten the outrageous murder that was committed in the House of Representatives of Arkansas, last winter, by Mr. Wilson, the Speaker, who came down from his chair, drew a bowie-knife, and slew a Major Anthony. The act not only stamped Wilson as a murderer and villain, who neither regarded the laws of God nor man, but it cast a deep stain upon our national character by its horrid barbarity; and being done at the time and in the place it was, and by one who had been chosen as the presiding officer of a body which was sitting to make laws to control and restrain the savage propensities of man, and to protect his person and property from violence. Viewing the act with the horror which it naturally excited, what will our readers say, and what will the civilized world say, on reading the following notice of Wilson's acquittal?

"MOCKERY OF THE LAW.-The trial of John Wilson, who, it may be remembered, officiated as Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives during the last legislative session of that State, and who, on a certain occasion, walked down from his chair, and slew Major T. T. Anthony, with a bowie-knife, on the floor of the House, took place a few days ago. The verdict of the Jury was'Not guilty of murder, but excusable homicide.'-Louisville Journal."

Notwithstanding, however, the strong expressions of condemnation used by the newspapers near the scene of action, the acquittal of the Speaker of the Arkansas legislature excited no more sensation among the community at Philadelphia, than the first announcement of the fact did at New York, where I was staying when it occurred. The truth is, the