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dfristMOltr
" After the decision of the house which retained the wretch in his seat, I found
but two courses which (in my opinion) I cou'd possibly take—either to address a
letter to the House, and in severe language criminate the conduct of the minority in
the House, and resign my seat, or to pursue the course which I have taken—chastise
the rascal in his seat, and by that act chastise both him and the party, and in defiance
of them all let them know that I knew how to avenge my own wrongs, and that I
was not to be driven from my seat by any villainy of theirs. To the first of these
measures there were very great objections— I did not feel willing to return into
Connecticut, after the insult I had received in so public a manner, without taking
satisfaction ... in addition to whicli circumstance the idea of being driven from
the House by a minority, when a majority were giving me every support in their
power, and were prepared to vindicate every step which I should take, seemed to
carry along with it a certain meanness of spirit and want of resolution which was
wholly inadmissible ; the other course, although attended with difficulties, was in my
opinion much to be preferred :
it look'd like going forward, conscious of the injury
which I had received, and at the same time with a determination to punish it, in
defiance of faction, and a resolution to maintain my situation without fearing the
efforts of villains to discourage me. The events have completely justified the measure,
and, although my enemies may condemn the harshness of the remedy, yet my
friends will approve of it : the newspaper squibs which have and will appear on the
occasion are of no consequence—they may tell lies as usual, but they cannot take off
the beating."
The same views are expressed in a letter to liis father, dated March
19, 1798, as follows :
"I have no idea of committing any further violence myself; the violence which
I committed by chastising the Vermonter had become absolutely necessary— I was
reduced to the necessity either of leaving Congress with disgrace to myself, and, in
addition thereto, to leave a stigma on the State which wou'd be constantly thrown at
our Representatives, or to wipe off the stigma by inflicting a public chastisement. I
chose the latter, as I believe every man who possess'd any spirit wou'd have done ;
and, although I regret the occasion, yet I believe I shall never lament the measure."
This is the inner history of the much talked of "affair" between
Roger Griswold and Matthew Lyon.
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