Congressional pugilists

A crude portrayal of a fight on the floor of Congress between Vermont Representative Matthew Lyon and Roger Griswold of Connecticut. The row was originally prompted by an insulting reference to Lyon on Griswold's part. The interior of Congress Hall is shown, with the Speaker Jonathan Dayton and Clerk Jonathan W. Condy (both seated), Chaplain Ashbel Green (in profile on the left), and several others looking on, as Griswold, armed with a cane, kicks Lyon, who grasps the former's arm and raises a pair of fireplace tongs to strike him. Below are the verses: "He in a trice struck Lyon thrice / Upon his head, enrag'd sir, / Who seiz'd the tongs to ease his wrongs, / And Griswold thus engag'd, sir."

This was a Congressional meeting, planned to remove William Blount, from office, in Tennessee, when this political encounter occurred. Because Lyon was ignoring Griswold, Griswold insulted Lyon, calling him a scoundrel. After Griswold called Lyon a scoundrel, Lyon spat in Griswold's face and their fighting started.