Our Feuding Founders: The Brawls, Blows, And Backstabbing That Led To The Forging Of A Nation
They never formed a perfect union, but they still united a nation
The fight began with a spitting match. And I literally mean a spitting match.
The year was 1798. Vermont anti-federalist Matthew Lyon accused Connecticut US House Representative Roger Griswold of profiteering. Griswold responded by questioning Lyon's war record and calling him a coward.
Lyon retaliated by spitting tobacco juice in Griswold's eye. Griswold wiped the spit from his face and demanded Lyon's expulsion from the House on charges of "gross indecency."
Congress spent the next two weeks debating the punishment. When the Federalists didn't receive the required two-thirds vote to oust Lyon, Griswold took matters into his own hands. He grabbed his cane and beat Lyon until he had blood running down his face. Lyon then grabbed a pair of fire tongs and lunged at Griswold.
The other members of Congress separated them, and the press had a field day satirizing the brawl.
Oh, boys…
The incident was hardly surprising given the growing friction between the Federalists and anti-Federalists. Despite John Trumbull's serene painting…
