The Great Congressional Brawl: When Tough Words Become Hard Blows

Politics has always been associated with knock-down-drag-out fighting. Typically, the fighting takes the form of debates or backroom deals. Then we have those few moments in American history when the description becomes more than a metaphor. Take, for example, the Great Congressional Brawl of 1858.

Yes, we refer to the Congress of the United States — the same august body that is held up as the model of civility all around the world. Once upon a time, this same governmental entity once hosted a full-on melee, complete with punches, insults, and wig-pulling.

Let’s set the stage. In 1858, the nation was teetering on the brink of Civil War, and Congress was embroiled in a heated debate over slavery. President James Buchanan — a man whose charisma level ranked somewhere between a damp sock and a decaying salami — was determined to admit Kansas as a slave state. Republicans, led by Congressman Galusha A. Grow, were equally determined to block it. Tempers flared, insults flew, and on the night of February 5, the tension finally boiled over into an all-out brawl on the House floor.

Crossing the Line

The showdown began when Galusha Grow, a Pennsylvania Republican and chairman of the Committee on Territories, crossed the aisle— literally. Around 3 a.m., during a marathon debate, Grow wandered over to the Democrats’ side of the chamber to consult with a colleague, John Hickman. This seemingly innocent act was taken as a provocation by South Carolina Democrat Laurence M. Keitt, who barked at Grow to “go back to your side.”

Learn about and watch epic brawls in parliaments around the world

Grow, not one to back down, shot back, “Every member has the right to be where he pleases.” This did not sit well with Keitt, who stormed over to Grow like an enraged rooster defending his territory. He called Grow a “damned black Republican puppy.”

By way of disclaimer, we have to say that this writer once had a black puppy. He never confided his political leanings, but regardless, we thought he was adorable. For that reason, we’re not sure why Keitt’s choice of insult led him to compare Grow to a cute little canine, nor do we know why Grow chose to take the words as an insult instead of a compliment. Perhaps it was the early morning hours and lack of sleep that clouded their judgment. In any event, Keitt’s words evidently hit a nerve.

Grow responded with a zinger of his own: “No negro-driver shall crack his whip over me.” Keitt, now seeing red, lunged for Grow’s throat, only to be met with a well-placed punch that sent him sprawling.

The Melee Ensues

This was all the invitation the rest of Congress needed. Within seconds, the House floor devolved into chaos. Thirty lawmakers leapt into the fray, throwing punches, shoving each other, and generally behaving like extras in a saloon brawl from a John Wayne movie. Speaker James Orr pounded his gavel in a futile attempt to restore order, while the Sergeant-at-Arms, Adam J. Glossbrenner, charged into the fracas holding the Speaker’s gavel high like a knight wielding a sword.

The Wig That Saved the Day

Amidst the pandemonium, Wisconsin Republicans John “Bowie Knife” Potter (yes, that was his nickname) and Cadwallader Washburn (a man who genuinely needed a nickname) spotted Mississippi Democrat William Barksdale, whose wig had become dislodged in the scuffle. In a moment of either mischief or pure absurdity, they yanked it completely off his head.

Barksdale, flustered but determined to regain his dignity, snatched up the wig and plopped it back onto his head— backward. The sight of the wig’s crooked placement was too much for the exhausted and enraged lawmakers. Laughter erupted across the chamber, deflating the tension like a popped balloon. Order was finally restored, not by the Speaker’s authority but by sheer absurdity.

A Moment of Levity in a Dark Time

The Great Congressional Brawl of 1858 stands as a bizarre reminder that, even in the darkest of times, humor has a way of breaking through. It didn’t solve the deep divisions tearing the country apart, but for one ridiculous moment, Republicans and Democrats alike could agree on one thing: sometimes, you just have to laugh.

And let’s be honest— if C-SPAN had existed back then, this would have been a ratings bonanza.

Read more about incidents like the Wig-Pulling Brawl at the U.S. House of Representatives historical site.

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