Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-08-08

ting entirely under their guidance-,he gui.
dance OF men whose honor, whose pacific
disposition, and whose aversion To blood the
world has never dOubted-I wrote the note
marked NO. s IN the testimony. I charged
my friends and advisors, while they were
framing that note, 10 consult my honor, and,
through me, the honor of tho State which i
represented. without any reference whatever
TO my personal safety, which could not in
tho slightest degree allow to be consulted
when my honor and that of my State were
concerned They and felt equally that l
could not take any other steps than those ac-
tually adopted, without backing out of the
affair disgracefully aud dshonorably. I had
fully learned the responsibility of my situa.
iion. Gentlemen of The highest honor had
informed me of the etiquette, which, till
then, was ignorant of; and could not for
moment hesitate between the alternatives
OF honor and disgrace. then felt, as I now
feel, that il would he far better Tor me 10 Law
down my life than to risk my own honor and
The honor OF Kentucky, (great cheering. J
l still feel TINT il would have been far better
Tor me and Tor you that should have fallen
on that occasion, than that one foul stain
should have been reflected on you through
your Representative, (great cheering
True, was, and AMI have always been
wholly inexperienced-totally ignorant OF
It's etiquette and code; bot those, on whose
experience and high sense of honor could
laithiuily rely, were my advisers, aud did
not hesitate one instant in placing myself
entirely al their disposal. promptly told
those friends not Ia suffer their conduct 10
the business to be influenced in the slightest
degree by my thing iha, could in the most
remote manner tarnish my fame or the Gre
di, OF that Stale which had honored me with
its confidence and trust, had never hand.
led ducllIng pistol with hostile views in
my life. had ever detested the idea Of prac-
Using with pistols 10 acquire dexrerity IN
their use, from a feeling Of decided disap,
probation. From my very boyhood ! had
been imbued with deteslation of the prac>
tice. And with regard To rifle shooting, I
do not think had ever fired half II dozen
shots without rest, and even with that |
had but indifferent success. My opponent,
on the contrary, was well SIX Illed with both
weapons, and confident of success. The
chances were entirely against me, vet did
not hesitate one moment. We met al n
time, place, and distance, and with weapons,
all OF his own choosing, and the result is
known to all; il would be painful TO dwell
upon il longer. II erred in what did, il
was because could not see how il W as pos
sihle for me 10 act otherwise. I TEL: assured,
and still feel assured, however deeply
deplore, and must ever deplore, the fatal O.
vent, that the Steps was compelled TO take
were in conformity with the best advice and
opinions OF great men, whose sense OF honor
and propriety is unquestioned.
81 thank you, fellow>citizens, for the pa
thence and attention with which you haze
honored me. Ifyou think that you can s, i'll
rePose in NE the same confidence and the
my part, TO merit that confidence, and to
preserve your honor with my own, or yield
up your trust when | cannot ma intain both
UNFINISHED (Great cheering }