Francis H. Cone, a Georgian state senator, and Alexander Stephens, a U.S. congressman and future vice president of the Confederacy, were intense political rivals. What happened when they met on the steps of the Atlanta Hotel in 1848?
Answer: Cone had been angered by the Clayton Compromise over slavery, deeming Stephens a traitor of the South, and a vicious fight broke out. Stephens hit Cone in the face with his cane, while Stephens ended up being stabbed six times by Cone. Despite his injuries, Stephens never pressed charges, and Cone escaped with an $800 fine, a very sizeable amount at the time.
Source: Alexander Stephens of Georgia by Thomas Schott
