Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-03-12
TO THE WINGS OF THE UNITED
STATES

TO THE WINGS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
The able and distinguished advocate Of our
principles, John Hampden Peasants, has fall
I'm, In the prime and yigorof his inteilect,a vie
tim TO that barbarous practice, which, from the
DAYS Of Alexander Hamilton to the present,
has battened on the best blood Of this nation.
There are circumstances attending the fate
Of the individual we now deplore, which,
while they are in an extraordinary degree,
calculated TO harrow up the best senslbIlItias OF
our nature, must impress every mind with the
highest respect for his chivalfic generosity u
character. To those who are cogntye of all
the facts, and TO the Investigations Of the law,
we leave their development and publication
Let ours be the more agreeable duty Of placing
before the Wings Of this nation, the claims OF
their departed champion, the .utra. Of the
Press.
Iiisnot enough that the people of Richmond,
and even those Of Virginia, should adopt the
children Of John Fl. Peasants. No, no. His
talents and his labors were not exerted only Tor
Virginia, but for this happy Union with the
boundaries Of which his fame was eo-exten-
sive; nor should gratitude for his services be
less vivid in Boston and New Orleans, than in
this city. Come then, Wings Of the Union
participate with Richmond Ia the qualification
ofgeneral impulses She has set an example
worthy Of the Gibraltar Of Wing Principles;
follow her noble lead, and cease not, until pro-
vision be made to pay this Whig National
Debt The only son of the deceased when
asked, nj very tender age, what profession
he preferred replied, "I,cW be an Editor -
Yes. IVhig Editor to bear high, and proud
l., the banner of liberty and good government
is it necessary to say more? That were TO
doubt, what has never yet been questioned, the
public spirit and generous sympathies OF the
Wings Of the United States. 10 uori5 then,
at once! Let every Wing Editor, in every
City and town in the United States constitute
hi nsclf, for one month, a Treasurer TO receive
subscriptions towards q fund now being raised
for the benefit of the mother and children Of
the late John Hampden Peasants. and at the
cid Of the month let him transmit the sum so
received to VIM. II. Mcfarland, Esq, presi-
dent Of the Farmers Bank of Virginia, who
will give it the proper direction. II is proper
TO say, that these are the suggestions OF an In
dlyidual, but Of one. who entertains full conf
dence, that, if acted on, they viii he effective.
The writer desires that the city editors may ia
YOUR these views with an insertion in their jour
nails, if they approve of the plan, and if not,
that they may suggest some other, which, TO
them shall appear more practicable.
A WING.
We have been requested TO insert the follow
ing communication
In common with the whole community,
deeply regret the unfortunate meeting III the
neighborhood of this city. Ofthe circumstan-
ces attending it, have nothing to say, but as
various and conflicting statements and reports
concerning il are in circulation aud especially
- rofor To Lott btr
Mr.. Thomas Richie and delivered TO the gen
/teman who bore the message to Mr.. peasants,
referred to in the enclosed letter. think il
cannot be amlss in me 10 send YOU a copy Of
the letter itself, and TO request It's publication in
your paper The note was appended by the
gentleman who bore the letter.
RIcHMoND, Feb. 9th, l646.
Dear Sir The message delivered to me
by YOU this morning from ]. II. Peasants,
was nearly in these words "a am requested
by Mr.. peasants to inform YOU that he will be
on the Chesterfield side OF James River to-mor-
row morning at sun rise, armed with side-auns,
without rife, shotgun or musket, and accom-
panied by two friends similarly armed"
This disguised challenge protest against
first. because it is not in the form which is Jus
tilted by men OF honour, and to great extent
upheld by public opinion.
Second, Because il prevents that certainty
Of equal advantage recognized BY all gentle
men as an essential Of the duel or fair and chlv-
arous combat
Third. Because it gives to the challenging
party the privilege of selecting time. place and
weapons aEght which, according to allusage,
belongs to the challenged.
Fourth, Because both the time and place are
SO selected as to occasion great inconvenience
and danger TO all parties concerned, from legal
prosecution.
Fifth, Because the terms proposed are say
age, sanguinary aud revolving, TO the taste and
Judgment, not only of all honorable men. but
of every man in the community, and calcula-
ted to cast odium on any one who may be gov
erned by them.
am ready to receive a proper challenge
from MIR. Peasants, but for the reasons above
given, solemnly protest against the terms he
has proposed. On his head, then, must rest
all the blame and reproach which should be
incurred from acting in defiance of these con
sideTatlons.
Notwithstanding these objections, shall be
on the ground mentioned at sunrise.
Do not consider me as casting upon your
self the slightest reflection. ! 90 not consider
YOU in any way responsible for the message
delivered this morning. | am your obedient
servant.
(Signed) THOMAS RTTCHlE, j.
TNoTE-The message referred to in the
above letter was delivered to MIR Richie about
3 O'Clock, p. NJ, on Tuesday, (the 2ith FebO
One portion ofthe message was Inadvertently
omitted in the above letter that portion speci-
fed 1.-TWO hundred yards above the couon-iac-
tory" as the precise place at which Mr.. Plea
SAINTS would be at sunrise The letter was de-
hyered to the gentleman who bore Mr.. Pleas
ants message at 9 O'Clock, p, NJ, of the same
day. Ills reply was that he was not authori-
zed 10 take any other action in the mater than
that already performed in the delivery Of Mr.
Peasants message. and that he believed il
hopeless for Mr. Richie to expect any other
Tsply)
Rev. CHARLES ToRsEY.-A petition hes
been presented to Gov. Pratt Of Maryland, for
the pardon Of Rev, Charles Tory, (now con-
fined in the penitentiary for abducung slaves
ttfae4 \ J. I - L.