Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-07-16
SENATOR RIyEs AND Nm. G1LMER:
From the Charlottesville Louaon advocate
of,July s.

ATUFt RI< SSUTfOteUHfe LOEGQn uFQU1rGkr- l.
ofJuiy5.
We had anxicusy hoped to be spared the
painful necessity of saying one word, in rela-
tion to the very unpleasant affair, which &C
Cured IN this place ON Monday last, between
the Hon VIM. G. Rives and Thomas w.
Gilmer, Hsq. After the free and full expo
stion OF all the circumstances of the case.
which both parties had ample opportunity Of
making to their respective friends, and which
actually was made in ,ne presence and nm.
der the sanction Of tire Judicial tribunal of
the country; and more especially as both gem
tlemen avowed their determination to give 10
them, we did not for a moment doubt. that
the propriety of RETAINING fl ON any &c
hdrfe statement of the occurrence, or of tho
circumstances which led to it, would be at
once recognized and cheerfully acQniesced in
by ALL Notwithstanding this expectation
however, the course which contemporary
has thought proper to pursue, has left us no
alternative. In the absence of Mr. Gilmer,
who has been called to Lewisburg by pro-
fessional business inthe Court of Appeals, we
should be wanting in justice as we'll as FRIEND
shipto that gentleman. were we to suffer pub
lie sentmentto be forestalled, by passing IN,
noticed, statement, which had he himself
an opportunity of doing so, we know he would
promptly reject as, in his estimation. widely
variant from the truth. With the issue thu s
made up between the parties, we have no.
thing to do. Our business is not to render a
verdict,-but to do justice to AN absent man,
by submitting to the public what we believe
to be his version of the occurrence les. the
truth of that which has emanated from, ano
Their source, because undenied, should be
deemed undenable.
Ut the correspondence between Mr.. Gil
mcr and MIR. Rives, as it will very soon b,
IN the possession of the public; we even nov
feela reluctanceto say any thing. 1t vii
speak for itself, and the public can decd
from its tenor and the facts which it will de
velope, whether Mr.. Gilmer merely com
planned of Mr.. Rives' injustice in mistrustin!
his friendship, or demanded repatriation 70
the wrong he had done him, charging hir
with gross duplicity and double dealing.
With respect to the assault made by MI
Gilmer upon Mr.. Riyes, the statement thu
has been submitted to the public, differs widel
from Mr.. Gilner's own account ofthe occur
renee. 1t is alleged that he not only con-
mtted upon Mr.. Rives, the "Randoph OUT
rage" but actually inflicted a violent blow
whilst he. (Mr. r. was yet in his chair. an
altogether unsuspecting the attack, becaus
Mr.. Gllmer had risen, for the purpose as II
believed of leaving the room. This state
ment having been heard by Mr. Gilmer. be
fore he left here, he declared that it was ut
terly untrue, that he was sitting in his chai
Immediately by the side of Mr.. Rives, whe
after several Intellectual demands for an &C
Acknowledgement of the wrong he alleged ha
been done him, he told Mr.. Rives, that n
alternative was left. him, but to pronounc
that his (Mr. R's.) conduct towards hin
had been that of a hypocrite; that Mr. Rive
quickly retorted in language equally offensive
and that whilst he was uttering the retor
both parties were simultaneously rising fror
their seats; That they were in the act an
attitude of rising. when he did commit tn
Lieutenant Randolph outrage" This don
Mr.. Rives commenced striking him with tn
butt end of his horsewhip, and inflicted wit
1t, one or two slight blows: That whilst th
was passing he attempted to seize Mr.. Rive
by the CO 1t with his left hand, but In dom
SO, was so unfortunate as to get his fingers ir
to MIR. Rive's mouth, circumstance whic
resulted in the ARRAY. And it was at tn
juncture-Mr. Glmer alleges, whilst h
finger was actually undergoing most pail
full operation that he struck Mr.. Rives tw
blows in his face and that he did this wit
the view of cxtricating the luckless membe
Having succeeded in this, he wrested III
Aorsewhip from Mr.. RIves' hands, and struc