Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-07-11
NEw York, June IS, 1914.
To the Editors of TIE n: Y. Bute,aing Post:

10 Tie Eda0fS o. the ~. /. LgenafS POSt:
do not wish to occupy the columns of your
paper, In conducting controversy with any
one; nor shall attempt any thing OF the Kind.
| have other objects and other pursuits.
One of the city morning papers, employed
in the advocacy of MIR. Clay and the principles
of the Wings, has thought proper to assert
that some part Of my account of the attack
that was made on Mr.. Polk in the year 1885,
by Messrs. Barber, Peyton, and others, was
untrue; and feel myself called on to say that
my version of the affair is precisely the one
that was given of it by the Wing letter wri-
tiers and the " hig presses at the time it took
place. They then boosted of it as chival-
rous exploit, and Messrs. Peyton and company
were eulogized for daring to attack, earned as
they We're to the teeth with pistol and still
letto. an unarmed man.
Mr.. Polk, re-assert, did not pause to no.
tice the attack of his assailants, and for the
eason that he was not disposed to leopard his
life, by placing himself in hostile attitude
before three assailants, who he knew carried
an armory about their person; and he was less
disposed to engage ina personal collision which
in no event could reflect aught else than dis
grace on himself, and dishonor on the charac-
ter of the United States House of Representa-
tives. If he had attempted to repel his assail-
ants; he would have been assassinated on the
SPOT: | assert this on the authority of Mr..
Peyton himself, who Subsequently on the floor
of Congress, Whilst delivering a rambling
speech, asserted that if Mr.. Polk had raised
his hand; moved muscle, or given him a hos
tile look, he would have shot him down like
dog. He was prepared for the deed, he said
"and by - he would have accomplished
it." History informs US that the assassin of
Peter the Great glotied in his villainy when
mounted on the scaffold.
If there was any coFardice manifested oil
the occasion, it could not be charged to
the account of Col Polk; and, am vet to
learn that that man displays tile chivalry Of
Napoleon, who sustaihed by two associate bra
| vos, makes murderous assault on an unarmed
man. and threatens him with instant death if
he dares defend HIMSELF! In the West. where
we sometimes pay too little attention to the
laws of humanity whilst acting under the i'm
pulses of false chivalry, We should deem the
man who would enact the part that Mr.. Bale
! Peyton enacted, ga wretch whom it was gross
| f1attery to call coward
| If Mr.. Peyton had held himself wronqe,l
| man, and had been of opinion that his wounded
honor could be redressed in no other way than
| by an appeal to this code Of honor, he would
have challenged his alleged foe to passage at
arms, and thus have placed his own valor, as
well as that of Col. Polk. to the test But
he did nothing of the kind. Far from it-he
chose to meet him at moment when he was
! defenceless, and his hands were tied bv the
laws of the land, and sustained in his murder
Gus intent by two associates as reckless as him
self, he nobty dared to insult him.
| But this was not all. The attack was rem
dered doubly cowardly by the fact, that it was
as well known to Mr.. Pevton, as it was to eve
| ry one IN and from Tennessee, that Mr.. Polk
was devoted and consistent adherent of the
Christian religion, and that his principles. if
his notions of propriety his regard for the laws
of the land and his character as gentleman
could not restrain him, would not suffer him
to engage in brutal BLACKBOARD fight. within
the portals of the Capitol Of the United States
1t is very true that Mr.. Polk has never imita-
ted the example of Mr.. Clay, and made 4 pub
lie display Of his professed devotion of religion
whilst at the same momont desecrated it: but
all men who know him, know that he is
christian worshipper, without being bigot or
sectarian, and hence, it will be admitted, /
fancy on all hands, that the attack of Messrs
Peyton and Company, was not very chipat
rous.
I,hope, and trust that, the day has not arri-
we'd when an American elector can be induced
to withhold his suffrage from candidate 70
the Presidency, because that candidate ha