Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-20

they would have refused their aitlin giving
notoricty to the circumstances Of DGtl.
/ But, because the transaction has hccn niis;n-
derstoo'l, and this acco0nt Will certainly.
/ througi, some medium. be presented To the
public If not through this-thc Editors have
determined to publish it. they have sub
,.ued their reluctance with less difficulty, be-
cause they are persuaded no man can read
the narrative without being impressed with
I horror, of deeper and deeper cast, at a
I practice, which nearly all men of humane
4 feelings rcprobate, but many are seduced
/ into IN defiance of their judgment.
Nat. IntelHgencer.
cum noNicArgD FOR PUBLICATIONS.
| Reports being in circulation calculated to
induce belefthat the gentlemen who were
the friends of Gen. A. T. Mason, in the fa-
tai termination of his quarrel with Mr.. Nc
Carly, had been, instrumental in urging the
affair to its unfortunate issue--it is thought
proper &c publish simple statement of facts
promising, that not even the nearest relatives
of the deceased can more sincerely regret,
than do those gentlemen, the determination
OF Ger. Mason to prosecute this business TO
its ultimate result
L. II iswell known to a number Of Gen.
Mason's friends, that he had resolved on chal-
longing Mr. NcCarty, in opposition to all
the advice which they gave, and all the eff
forts which they made to dissuadc him.
9. One OF the two gentlemen who were
the friends of Gen. Mason in the field, had,
sometime before, made sislilar exertions to
dissuacle him from the course lie Intended,
and with similar bad success.
| 5. Before personal interview had taken
| place between Gen. Mason and his seconds,
his letter, containing positive Instructions for
/ their government in conducting the affair,
was written. This letter enclosed a COMMIT
| nication for Mr.. McCarty.
| The letter to Mr. hcCarty not'havng been
read by that gentlemen. it is only thought
necessary to give such extracts from it as
! show clearly that the determination of Gen.
| Mason was made independently of any con-
| sultation with his seconds. This letter is
dated Richmond, Jan. 9, 1872
| The following extracts fromit:
" Sir have resigned my commission for
| the especial and sole purpose of fighting
| you and am now free to accept or send
challenge, and to fight duel. The public
| mind has become tranquil. and all suspicion
| of the further prosecution of our quarrel
| having subsidized, we can now terminate it
without being arrested by the civil authori-
ty, and without exciting alarm among our
| friends
&c This effort has been delayed by my anx-
| iety to effect such an arrangement of my af-
fairs my duty to my family required
| That arrangement is just Effected. -
&c / am extremely anxious to terminate at
| once and forever this quarrel''-
60 NV friends and - are fIIv
authorised to act for me in every particular.
Upon receiving from you a pledge to fight,
| they are authorised and instructed at once to
| give the challenge for me, and TO make i'm
| mediately every necessary arrangement for
| the duel on any terms which you may pre-
| scribc.''--
| The following are extracts from the let
| ter of instructions which is dated, Rich
mond, Jan. 9, 1872
| Z" Gentlemen You will present the en-
| closed communication TO MFR. John McCarty,
and tell him at once thatyou are authorised
| by me to challenge him, in the event of his
| pledging himself to fight. lfhe will give the
| pledge, then desire that YOU will instantly
! challenge him, in my name, to fight duel
! with me. You are not authorised to give a
verbal olallenge. 1t must be reduced to
writing. Agree to any terms that he may
| propose, and to any distance to three feet.
his pretended favorite distance, or to three
inches, should his impetuous and rash cour-
| age prefer it
| SO any species oftire arms, pistols, mus
| kets, or rifles, agreeat once''-
! Other incorrect reports being current res
! pecting the interviews and communications
| between the respective friends of Gen. Ma
son and Mr.. McCarty, it is thought proper
| TO state.
/ /. That, or presenting the challenge, two
modes of terminating the affair were propos
| cd by Mr.. M;Carty-iirst, to fight on bar
! rel ofp9wder; and BADLY, to fight with dirks
! both which were objected 60, as not accorI'
| ing with established usages, as being win,
! out example, and as calculated to establish.
dangerous precedent.
| 2. That third mode was proposed in the
| following written acceptance Of the cha-
! ienge; which the seconds Of Gen Mason
| were bound to accede to, both from the DO.
sitive instructions Of their principal, and from
| the laws which govern the settlement of dis
| putes inthe field of honor
| Gentlemen agree to meet and fight
| your friend, Gen. a. t. Mason, tomorrow
| evening, FIVE o'clock, at Montgomery Court
| House AS am at liberty to select the wea-
| pom with which am to fight, ] beg leave to
propose musket charged with buckshot,
| and at the distance of ten feet.
February q, 1Sf9."
3. That il was proposed by the friends Of
| Gen. Mason, and agreed to by the friends of
| MIR. McCarty, to substitute a single ball for
| btckshot.
a. That it agreed by the friends Of
| both parties to postpone the meeting until
| 10 o'clock, OIL Saturday morning-and that,
| on the ground, the distance measured exceed
| ed - feet.
1t now only remains to state, that all re-
| ports respecting the indecorous department.
| OF either party on the ground, are entirely
| false--that the unfortunate meeting took
| place at the appointed time, and that the at
| fair, although fatally, was honorably iermi-
| mated. No man ever exhibited more perfect
| GOODNESS aud self-possesson than did Gene
raj Mason on this melancholy OCCASION
1t is due TO the friends Of Mr.. McCarty,
| who are not aware Of this publication, to
| STATE that their denortnent fhrousrho,,. eI,,