Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-26
DOMESTIC.
From tho Charlottesville Advocated
CORRESpON DENCE S-c

lie, am constrained by obligations oi justice myself 10
suppress those painful emotions which have been associated
with IT, had intended TO publish the letters which have
passed between Mr. Rves aud myself without mt:
presumng that mere personal controversy, however
pleasant or important might he in its results the par.
ues was subject OF too much delicacy, and of little
consequence TO the public, Justify sninute detail of the
instant Since the friends OF Mr. Rves, however have
thought proper TO anticipate the publication our cores
pondencc, and TO orestal public opnon by very incor
rect statement OF those circumstances, trust shall be
excused Tor The allusion thus compelled make TO
them.
The last letter Of Mr.. Rive, was received ON the day
preceding the July court OF county f its character
had been such to admit of farther continuance of our
correspondence, had no time write ag ain to Mr. r.
before lie came to Charlottesville Soon his arriv
al ihs place. on the morning OF our court day, him
in the porco Of The tavern the house. and af
ter Offering him my hand, which he accepted, observed
that wished 10 have a few minutes conversation with
him. We Immediately entered the public passage o. the
tavern and resumed the subject Of late
ence, by remaking that had received his letter OF the
29tb and thought il was not such had right to ex-
pect Mr. Rives suggested that should go into back
room, which was at the extremity OF the passage the
Por'ico where we had met We accordingly entered the
room and sat down. continued by observing that was
not angry, aud that resolved become So as
my obec, was to talk with him calmly aud freely Of the
subjects involved in correspondence. then reca.
piula'ed many Of the topics which had been advert.
ed TO, and concluded by expressing the hope that al.
ter reflection MIR. Rives would be conscious that he
had done me Injustice, and that friendship which
we had so long mutually cherished, would not be
terminated without better than he had vet al.
lodged Mr. Rlves remarked that might possibly en-,
terrain very different ideas OF friendship that he had
right TO complain Of me for being his friend said
that was not now the question ;tha conceived my good
had been implicated by his suspicious and asked il
could hope Tor other explanation than what was con.
tained in his last letter! remarked that my complaint
had been probably Observation-Disclosures did ask Mr.
X TO admit me to his triendshp-but that insist on
some aoneinent for the injury done by his very un
worthy suspicious. He told me more than once when |
repeated the hope, that he would still do justice that
he could give no further explanation. then remarked
that was compelled very reluctantly think that lie had
acted towards me like hypocrie. ii replied tina, was
scoundrel villain; be positive as 10 the epithe
used) BY this time we had both risen our feet or were
IN the act Of rising then applied the fingers OF my right
hand gently 10 his He instantly disengaged him
self from me, either by drawing back pushing mo from
him. and having horse in his hand. struck me Sc
vera times with the butt end Of it. While / parted
these blows with my right arm, attempted catch him
by the collar OF his coat with my left hand in this
effort the lore finger OF my lett hand got into his mouth
and was severely bitten. In the attempt TO extricate IT,
my right thumb painfully injured While nv finger
was thus in his mouth struck him blows in the face
with my right hand When my finger was exiricaied
caught the large end OF the whip. with which Mr.. r.
was still striking me, with my right hand, and drawing
the smaller end of through the hand with which he held
1t, inflicted several stripes with il his legs and shout.
ders, and tink) one on his forehead BY this time the
crowd from the passage rushed in, and sepa.
rated.
These the circumstances of this very painful occur
renee, faithfully detailed my memory attess after be-
Ing severely taxed am conscious that apology is
due 10 the public for having thus infinitely the par
ticnlars OF transaction peculiarly delicate in lis ia
/ il
membered, that have been placed under this disagreed
BILE necessity by the of this
ALTAR which were eagerly inserted during my absence in
newspaper published here, called the
Chronicle aud known be in the immediate interest of
Mr. Rives The effort has been siudously made TO in
duce belief, that not only inflicted The ndgniiy 10
which have alluded, Mr. Rves, but that also struck
him while he was sitting ! cannot be persuaded 10 be-
eve that Mr. r. is deficient that spirit which l. The
characteristic OF manhood. to sit sill quietly. and with
Out suspicious OF attack awaiting the blow OF an adverse
~ after high words had passed 10Th sides and The ga"
tempt had been made to pull his Moreover IL
had desired TO inllc, bodily Injury on Mr. r. should moi
have used the lesser instead the larger end of his wIp
when wrested il from him.
MY purpose throughout has been to vindicale myself
not to inure Mr. Rves II until had Exhausted
all the expeden,s by which had koped 10 restore har-
mony and confidence TO relations that was provoked
by the sudden application OF an infamous epithet TO nct
an ndigniy on the persona Mr. r. / valued Mr. Rives
asa friend, and behed with deep regret his alienation
from That regret enhanced by the accusations
which were ieveiisd at my reputation and cited as the
preeXts Tor this alienation. could meet accusers nor
answer accusations even when urged by friend unless
they were disclosed What alternative then had but TO
i've under the whitening reProsch of reachery, urged
against me by who called himself my friend yet no
would not tell me in what had betrayed! | endured
much, because ! ielt that much due to the sacred
name OF Frenhship-hut had endured more must have
been either digDed above below The con ion
OF a rail aud faible man.
am sensible OF the disadvantage under which labor
IN this controversy He whom once deemed among the
kindest OF friends 10 whose elevation glad TO contr-
butte my humble mite, is my adversary; and when
nave appealed IN vain 10 him friend and man,
have been tainted in a court OF Justice with whom
collisions would be degrading" Humility is a virtue
winch trust shall always appreciate, but arrogance is
vice which shall never tear rebuke in exalted
station The tone OF affected superiority which MIR Rives
has assumed towards lily becomes him, and per-
staded, his own COOL will induce him when he
comes TO reflect, 10 lay il aside. What does he ex.
peet of his friends Must they he loyal his whims
and caprices. and shall they be denounced ireache
rous, II their sense OF duty while filling public
lion suggests that lh6y something 10 the people
as well as 10 him? Why does he complain that had
prepared resolutions Of instructions during the last session
Of our Assembly,, which / designed TO submit as a re =.
preventative OF The people IN the House OF Delegates
Were not both dischargng the functions OF responsible
public stations And was responsible only 10 HIM
have annexed the resolution which did design offer
ioreboe 10 offer II, Tor the which induced
me TO vote for laying Mr.. Knox's the table-a de-
sire TO DO my "duiy 10 my friend as well 10 my coun
try was unwilling TO any one, especially
Mr. Rives, on rumor, and therefore declared that
would vote for 10 instructions until these rumors
confirmed by Mr.. RS speech which was daily ex-
pected Did my duty the friend Of Mr. r. forbid that
should thus perform what deemed my duty TO the peo
pie Of Albelnafe
semby, the annexed statements with regard my course
towards Mr. Rves. These gentlemen my daily a.
sociates, and eye and witnesses Of my conduct
could appeal 10 many many others TO vouch the sincerity
wills which humby eOdeavored to discharge " my duty
10 my friend as well my country. have appealed TO
whom Mr.. r. might suspect Of disposition TO do
him injustice. Though that system Of espiona
very incompatible, conceive, with the feelings or
the duties Of fiendshp) has been kept all my private
moments yet II impossible Tor 10 conjecture v 10
had been the secret normefs against me, what had
been communicated 10 Mr. Ryes Had these been made
known 10 me, I might have enabled MIR. II 10 iu5gc
whether they prompted by tho laudble motives OF
Justice hogfilitv .rfa