Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-14

consequently surrenders 10 the challenged, tie
right of selecting weapon, place, time and dis.
tance; and that the foimer Is always bound 10
accede 10 the propositions OF the latter, unless
they bear on their face manifest absurdity,or
are unnecessarily rash and extravagant. Gen.
Metcalfe was the challenged party-and, in
proposing TO fight with rifles instead Of pistols,
he was NOT only exercising right, but perform.
irp duty to himself. II would have been sin.
puiar. indeed, an act Of more than Roman mag
nanimitv, and surprising Knightly courtesy IN
the best DAYS Of chivalry, il he had SURRENDERED
his avantage ground" TO his opponenl--ifhe
had not chosen the weapon with which he Wa,
most familiar, but, on the contrary, that CT
which he knew nothing, and with which hi,
an,aeonis, was "familiar as his garter" Its
rue that we sometimes hear il said, that when
a nroposition is made to fight with rifles, h.
desnera,e character Of the proposition is pre-
sumo,iye evidence that the maker Of il is endes
yoring to alarm his opponent Bat this can
not be said Of Gen. Metcalie's conduct; for, h,
wa, so anxious 10 obyiate the prime pal obiec
ton at first, urged by Mr. McDuiie 10 the Use
of the rife, (the weakness OF his arm,) that h.
agreed TO permit him 10 use rest. Bu, say
.ome nrrsoas. Mr.. McDuffie was right in re-.
fusinp 10 fight with rifles, because even with
rest. he was not convcrsant enough with them
10 ensure any sort Of accuracy in the use Of hi;
wcapon! But, these gentlemen forget, that Mr.
McDufie must have known, and did know when
he challenged Gen. Metcafr, That lie sa,e,o
the Gen. the right Of choosing his weapon
He had therefore no option left TO object 10 tia,
choice. whatever it might be. And it seems
still stranger, that, after assuming 10 himself
This option, he should go still farther, and him
self propose a weapon, which gave him the ad
yantapes Of superior knowledge Of the use Of
his weapon, which he had just made the foun
da,ion of his objections to the proposition Of
Gen Metcalfe! He would not accept Gen
Me,calrc's proposition, which Gen. NJ. had
right to make, because il PLACED him on unequal
ground; and yet, he assumes tie right 10 make 4
proposition, & expects his antagonist 10 accede
to it, wich gives hun the decided advantage
We repeat that we are glad no blood has been
she'd but, we cannot but think II has been pre-
vented by the palpable Stacking out" OF Mr.
Nc Duffie.
There is one circumstance incidentally con.
nected with this affair, which we will notice.
and dismiss the subject. II is this: Maj. Ham.
iIton (the second Of Mr.. McDuffie) remarks, as
if to shield the reputation Of his friend, that
the proposition to fight with rifles was rejected
by himself on his orn responsibility, and that his
principal, (altbough night had elapsed be.
tween the proposition and It's rejection) was en-.
,irely ignorant of its nature. We cannot, Il.
may be owing 10 constitutional incredibly, per-
haps,) we cannot put confidence in so p-epos.
ferrous tale. II may be true, and the high
character Of Mai. Hamilton is sort Of guaran.
tee that il is; but il is so improbable, that we
mus, set it down as the suggestion Of an anna.
bile solicitude for the reputation Of his friend,
which had already suffered so much in his pre-
vious rencOunterS.
- IS L.-' ...1r.-s ye..- toto eIntrue,
"Keep pr0ba6ilify IN pietv."