Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-28
WAsulYGToy Cry, 25,h Dec. 1882

20 the Editor OF me Gl0be:
SIR: In the Telegraph OF this morning. Gen.
Dutf Greea gives TO the public what he calls "a
statement Of the circumstances attending the as
sault'' made upon him by nyself. on yesteday;
and subjoins Il pu,teript purpo.tins to be state
ment which he understood mad given as the
cause of the assault made upon him. The state.
ment attributed TO me in the postscript is t'lse.
as General Green asserts Rever made IT.
but as General Green's n statement is a little
wide of the mark, OF at least does not give tho
Whoie truth. lhave thought 1t proper that should
likewise give a brief statement of the facts Il
was highly provoked by me terms in which Gen.
Green spoke Of the Union Party OF S,uth Caro-
lima. IN hs paper Of Saturday last My angry
feelings against General Green we're not conceal
ed from that time forth, but were made known to
many, and to some who have reason TO beirve
were both his personal and political irlends-ali
endpavured to dls,uade ME from any personal VI.
olence upon Gen, Green; and Tor var"us rea-
SONS, not necessary to be enumerated. endea
vored to reconcile il to my feelings, 10 let the III.
suit pass with immunity. Bat fund myself
unequal to the effort. To have self, and the
party with whom il is my pride 10 b. associated.
Denounced as "a tory faction "h" had prGtaned
tho sacred name Of Lnion,' sc. "as more than
could brook. My father had mn, only fought
throughout the revolutionary "at. 5il bed IN The
cause Of American independence. There new
er ran one drop of Tory blood in the VEN, Of my
family, on ''ether side Of the House." that
am aware Of never heard that Blair or a
Douglass, had been a Tory; Oh tive contrary,
they had all taught me, from nv infancy, to exc
crate the name; and, perhaps, General Green
could not have applied to me any other epthet
that would have been so provoking.
In this temper met him on the Avenue yes
ter.iay, lot far from GadsbY's Hotel, each OF as
walking alone. | had understood ne always
went armed, and presumed he must have heard
OF my excited feelings towards him. A. soon as
We approached within some eight or ten PAGES Of
each other, accosted him thus: swell Gene.
raj, the Union men Of South Carolina are all to.
res, suppose:" He replied, sternly, "you
know what have said " YES" SAID !, land
you shall soon know what | viii! do''--and in
sranus struck him with the small end OF my
stick. What occurred afterwards VAS pretty
much as represented by General Green-except
that did not think that | had injured hun as
much as he states. 1t was not my intention to
do so. struck only with the light end of the
stick throughout. and restrained the force of the
first blows, at least, if not thes~hole. As soon
as made the FIST hostile Indication, General
Green was endeavorins to get some weapon from
his bosom or side pocket, which presumed was
pistol-he drew out something, which at length
discovered to be dirk. But while remain.
ed under the impression that pistol was about
to be used against ne. it is probable increased
the severity Of my blows to an extent that am
not aware Of. If the chastisement given to Ge.
neral Green exceeds the bounds Of moderation,
nv apology is to be found, not merely 10 the
great provocatiOn he had previously given. but
in the unyieldins spirit with which be sustained
and prolonged the conflict.
Very respectfully, Yours, sc.
JAMES BLAIR