"Damm you I'll kick your Asse"

The moral of this story is, don't mess with Alexander P. Field. Also, that Illinois politics has always been a dirty business.
On February 10, 1827, James Hall was elected Illinois State Treasurer, defeating Field.  After the House of Representatives adjourned, Field  went into the assembly hall and asked Illinois State Representative John Reynolds if he had once said that Thomas Reynolds (possibly his brother?) had stolen a ten-dollar bill.  When Reynolds hesitated to respond, Field went after him with a small dagger.  After kicking John Reynolds in the behind, Field turned on Thomas Reynolds with the same question.  Receiving no answer from Brown, either, Field advanced on him with a knife.  Thomas Reynolds wet his pants and ran away.

Henry Eddy Papers, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Thomas C. Brown to Henry Eddy, February 11, 1827

“Hall was elected Treasurer over Field on yesterday on the 8 ballot he got 27. Carlan was absent & of course that was a majority the House then adjourned. Field went in & asked John Reynolds before any one left the house if he didn’t tell him that Tom had stole a Ten Dollar Bill & John hesitated. Field pulled out his dirk & John run & Field followed & says damm you I’ll kick your Asse & did accordingly severely & then went to see Tom & he run & with a few remarks by Field of his having stolen ten $ &c. &c. in the midst of the affair David Blackwell jumped up & ran clear off he walked over all the chairs & tables in the State house & run very brisk & Field never saw him at all. This was calculated to create mirth from all parties to see David fleeing & with a big clubb that he had kept for the last 5 or 6 weeks. I am told that his friends says his Bravery deceived him.”

Singleton H. Kimmel to Henry Eddy, February 11, 1827

“On yesterday the election for Treasurer came on, which resulted in the choice of James Hall your pickiune Judge

…

“One thing I had like to have forgotten which is best of all; on the evining of the election for Treasurer, A. Field entered the Hall of the H. and asked John Reynolds in presences of the whole house and in presence of Tom R. if he John had not told him Field at Sangamon that Tom had stolen a ten dollar bill at Kaskaskia to which the said John made no reply, the question pressed with some warmth, by field which not being answered promptly, Field old him he had so said and should not deny it, on which he F. drew a dirk and John R. retreated receiving a kick in the posteriors he very soon disappeared, when F. turned to Tom and observed that John R. had told him so and that he had heard many others say so, besides which he believed it was true on which he asked him if he could deny it. Tom making no reply F made a pass at Tom with his foot and advanced quickly when Tom drew up a chair and Field his dirk when as might readily be supposed Tom dropt his chair and made a strait shirt tail. A second reconnoiter ensued at a later hour of the same evening, when John R. drew a pistol, and Field advanced as far as he could (being intercepted by his friends) but not nigh enough to justify John in shooting. John R. is no coward but Tom is a most infamous one. I bileve he Tom pissed his breeches, at least it is so thought. His honor Picaune dodged off and has kept himself pretty closely every since. He has not however much cause to fear Mr. F. for he is no way displeased with him and beside he can well conceive himself protected by his insipidity and nothingness.”

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas C. Browne, who witnessed Field's attack on Reynolds.