The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-05

uOn. We repeat the hope that this matter will be
nsuded to with prompttude and hberality.
The House, after some desultory proceedings in
he case Of contested election from New Jersey
which, however, led 10 no renewed action, received
reports from comnittees. And, for the rest Of the
lay, devoted its time to the consideration Of the bill
for the Improvement Of harbors and rivers.
THE TRAGICAL EVENT AT RICHMOND
We stated on Friday night, in brief and hurried
article, the melancholy death Of John Hampden
Peasants, esq, Of Richmond, and made general
inference TO the manner in which he fell. The
gloomy transactions Of the deeply.egretted event
leave TO other pens to trace out for the grathca-
nOn Of public curiosity. We then stated, that it
Is not our duty to enter into the circumstances
Which have brought about this lsmented catastro-
ph.." We shall not undertake this task now. We
turn from it with pain which we cannot very well
express, and from the force of considerations,
which, we have no doubt, every rejecting man in
he community will properly appreciate. We regret
that the "Pennsylvanian" Of Wednesday last
should have gone into a history of by-gone times,
,bout which there may be some diversity of opin-
ion, and which it would be better at once to bury
in oblivion, willis, we agree with the respected
sdltor of that paper, III the solemn protest which he
has made against the "horrid practice" Of mortal
encounters.
Il is moi duty, sither, to notice me tiruussad
errors that are afoat upon this subject-some Of
which are very extravagant, and none of them cal
tuated to do any honor to the parties. A state
m,nt will probably be made on the theatre itself of
this melancholy drama; and to the Richmond pa
pen, and others which are pleased to copy from
them, we must refer the reader for the various par
tculars. But we trust we may be excused for cor
,cting few Of the grosser misconceptions and
Misrepresentation which involve the character of
the survivor, by republishing from the Richmond
Times and Compiler" of Monday morning, the fol-
lowing correction:
To The editors Of the Times aud Compiler:
an common with the whole community I deep
regret the unfortunate meeting in the neighbor-
hood Of this city. OF the circumstances attending il
have nothing TO say; but as various and conflicting
statements and reports concerning it in circula-
ton, and especially some of them refer to a
eter written by Mr.. Thomas Richie, jr., and de-
lvered to the gentleman who bore the message OF
i
think It cannot be amiss in me to send you a copy
Of the letter itself, and to request its publication in
your paper. The note was appended by the gen.
ueman who bore the letter:
"'RIcHMoND, Feb. "a, 1886.
DEAR SIR: The message delivered to me by you
this morning, from J. H. Peasants, was nearly in
these words: Il am requested by Mr. Peasants to
inform you that he viii be on the Chesterfield side
OF James river tomorrow morning at SUNRISE,
mad .,,tk A. -
musket, aud accompanied by two friends similarly
armed .....
"This disguised challenge protest against--First,
because it is not in the form which is justified by
men Of honor, and to great extent upheld by public
opinion. =
Second, because it prevents that certainty Of
equa advantage recognised by all gentlemen AZ an
essential of the duel, or fair and chivarous combat
"'Third because il gives to the challenging party
the privilege Of selecting time place, and weapons
nght which, according to all usage, 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 prose-
cuton
Filth, because the terms proposed are savage,
sangGinay, and revolving to the taste and judgment
not only Of all honorable men, but Of every man
in the community, and calculated to cast odium on
any one who may be governed by them.
=" u am ready 10 receive proper challenge from
Mr.. Peasants, but for the reasons above given, |
soennly protest against the terms he has proposed.
on his head, then, must rest all the blame and re-
proach which should be incurred from acting in de-
nance Of these considerations.
Notwithstanding these objections | shall be on
the ground mentioned at sunrise.
y" Do not consider me casting upon yourself the
slightest reflection. | do not consider you in any
way responsible for the message delivered this
morning. ] am your obedent servant,
(Signed) THOMAS RICHIE, jr.
"INorE The message referred to in the above
eIer was delivered to Mr. Richie about o'clock
| P m, on Tuesday, the gath February. One portion
| o. the message was inadvertently omitted in the
above letter; that portion specified two hundred
Yards above the cotton factory the precise place
which MIR. Peasants would be at sunrise. The
eter was delivered to the gentleman who bore Mr..
reasants's message at 3 o'clock p. m. Of the same
day. His reply was, that he was not authorized TO
AXE any other action in the matter than that already
Performed in the delivery OF Mr.. Plesssnts's mes.
s.sgs, and that he believed it hopeless for Mr..
Richie to expect any other reply.r"
For the purpose Of correcting other msrepresen-
taons, it may be proper to add that no occurrence
took place during the combat which the friends Of
ether party considered as manifestng undue sdvan-
''gc on either side; that Mr. T. Richie, it,, had no
OOwie-knfe, but Roman artillery sword--,hat he
waited the assault ofMr Peasants at the spot spee
led and although unhurt he ceased TO strike az soon
the attack Of Mr.. Peasants was discontinued. lr
a'tic. to the gentleman who bore Mr.. Plessants't
s.