Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-02


Georgia by Tie name OF Scmmcs. rs TO the question:
whether ic is guilty or nnncen do not pretend 10
argue: that IL to be decided By Of Justice ac-
curdlag In law and evidence. My only object is to
correct false reports which have gone abroad
and tn state the truth far | am Informed
In order 10 excite prejudice much rs possible in
the public mind, report has been circulated TINT
Professor Davis aad Mr.. Spmncs had some difficulty
to occur between them short time previous TO the
fatal accident. Tbs is utterly false and could only
haze hren conceived in malice, and told by some
one who is equally enemy justice and humanity,
for the unmanly purpose Of nhamng The public mind
against the accused. Such slandcrous alsehoods when
spread abroad hard to correct, and in this
they certainly go very far to confirm SUSPICION and to
prejudice the public against the unfortunate Individual
who stands arraigned before them for trial. number
of other tales equally sanderous and equally false as
the one just mentioned, have been circulated in every
direction, which would be trcsomc and tedious to
detail. Suffice il to say in answer TO the above, that
MIR. Semmes never exhibited any disposition to treat
Professor Davis in any other manner than with the
proonndest respect previous to that time, nor had he
the slightest occasion tn treat him otherwise than
spnc;ful. Those who know Mr.. Semmes can testify
To the gantity and cour,consness of his manners-hs
fine sensibny and the high place which lie has al
WAYS occupied rs Il man Of honor and responsibility
wherever he has been hence it would be absurd sup
pose him capable Of wantonly insulting Professor Da
Wis without cause, and bearing malice against him
merely because he had thus wuntony insulted him.
The way that Professor Davis happened 10 gel shot
| was simply this Some two three students in
disguise walking about on the lawn firing pistols
| and making other nosc las has been stated 10
the public before in celebration of the 18th OF No
ycmber, which most persons know TO be the nnnvcr-
sary of the day which the faculty dismissed great
number of students some years ago This has been
the custom since that time, and have every rea-
believe, that there not the least intenon al
the CONNIE ncement Of this sport, TO do any thing
than celebrate the night in the usual manner. 1t
seems that they had ned few times opposite to the
Professors houses las always the custom before at
these celebratons and il being ascetained that only
very few were engaged in it, Professor Davis, sup
pose, concluded hs would make effort 10 detect
who they were. lie accordingly came out of his
house and placed himself behind one Of the pillars, in
front Of his dwelling 10 watch for the offenders Soon
after he had done this, of the party passing
within few PAGES Of the place where he was standing
Discovering him 10 be small man, | suppose he
thought that he could take him BY force and identify
him and leaping forward, actually laid violent hands
on him. but not getting very firm hold, the person,
disguised tore loose from HIM and discharged the dead
ly shot upon the impulse Of The moment. Surely this
was rash act in Professor Davis-a very mprudent
STEP notwithstanding he Gin discharge of his
duty they say. hardly Think however, that it
was his duty to hazard himself las in this he
certainly dong) for the purpose of snpprcssng noise
which was being made by few frolicksome students.
Dutv in this case, signifies legal obligation il
derstand rightly, the part Of Mr. Davis 10 nc,
he did Is there law Of Virginia, Of The Uniyer-
sty, requiring Professor TO place himself in jeopardy
in order to prevent noise which was, perhaps, some
what annoying; think not. And any deny
that this was perlous adventure, considering II
independent of the result | presume not, if he has
spent moment in contemplating the excitabIlitv
Of youth, and the with which their resentment is
kndled. As regards the matter Of "duty, it will lie
rendered clear, by asking The question: would any one
in the Commonwealth Of Virginia have accused Pro-
fessor Davis Of being delinquent in his Duty fhc had
not attempted TO lay violent hands on the individual
who shot him: IL this question be answered in the
gatiye, il seems 10 me IT must, then this point IS set
tied. The like done before, in this nsttu-
ton, far as learn, and believe the Professors
have been complained Of for not doing it. do
doubt the purity of Professor Davis motives in this
unfortunate affair, for believe was his daily study
promote the interest and welfare of the University
and to deal as mildly with the students generally as
was consistent with his duty. But this occasion lie
seems al least 10 have forgotten the dictates Of prn
dence. If he had reflected for a moment on human
nature lie could hardly have supposed otherwise than
that the person thus violently taken hold Of would be
prompted By pride and revenge TO inJufe him IN some
manner. Let any proud, spirited man imagine himself
for moment in the same situation. Suppose man of
vastly superior size and strength to himself 10 jump
nj him and attempt by violence To tear oil his disguise
or TO drag hlm TO place IN order TO identity him.
How much would he feel himself insulted what
feelings Of Indignation and revenge would instantly
swell lis bosom how much would his pride he
wounded especially if he were Student, knowing
that he would be laughed al by his fellow Students for
being handled in such manner by Professor Is
it not rational 10 suppose that all these feelings sud-
denly rushing into the mind Of youth, as they GER
tanly would do under such circumstances, would urge
him. without reflection TO do an act Which he might
repent at the ne st moment Most certainly it is This
Professor DAVIS Is altogether unprecedented,
we'll as that of the individual who shot him. have
doubt that both acted without reflection, and that both
repented Of their rashness would not be understood
by any means Justify the conduct OF the individual
| hos In Davis he IN civ
| my appreciation to any deed Of the kind, under
more aggravated circumstances than those under
sideratlon but do most honestly think, that should
make many allowances for the unfortunate one who
discharged the fatal shot The quick aud fiery temper,
the precpitancy and want Of reflection, natural 10
youth; the accident happening suddenly unexpected
ly and certainly unprecedented, should all weigh Sc
riousy minds when estimating the degree OF this
offence. Nome of these circumstances, however, seem
10 have entered into the minds of those who spun the
perpetraor such bitter accents. mprecations have
been invoked upon the accused, and as SAID before,
asehoods of the basest character have been circulated
analnst him. His situation is surely painful enough
without this. Those who pcrsccue Inn thus, ought
to remember that the sunshine OF prosperity and good
fortune may not always smile upon hem-hey, too,
may some day meet with misfortune in land Of
strangers, and need friend 10 console them III the
hour Of adversely. Those Of you, fellow students,
pecally who have prosecuted the accused with such
maligny, ought TO feel rebuked by your consclcnces
for such conduct. Some of you believe, were nc
tuated by the best of motives and nothing but the
great excitement at the time prompted you to go too
far But there are others who felt but very little in
teres or concern in the matter, and vino took very
active part expressing themselves in the most bitter
terms against the unhappy vctIn-probably more with
the hope Of getting ihcir IN the newspapers,
than for any good feelings towards the family of Pro-
fessor Davs-for
"sure his pleasant thing to ones self in print"
Others inined in The cry merely because IT was up,
without any very definite object, thereby verifying the
old proverb-that "when man starts down hill, every
body is willing to give him kick"-and more espe.-
cally if he is one who has always occupied high
place before Such indeed, is the general disposition OF
mankind, land it is much to be regretted,) that few
would "rnise a mortal TO the skies, however much his
virtues might merit such exaation but most OF them
would "drag an angel down Too many, alas IN
their of an affair like the present seem
entirely 10 forget the duty they owe TO themselves, 10
their God and to their fellow beings, and in their Tor
getfulness, ,.,.,.
aDistot the TRUTH accumulate The lie,
And pile the pyramid Of caumny"
have myself listened with disgust to numerous re-
4 H.. ,l0r1 ooh