Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-09-22
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MISCELLANEOUS.
From the augusta Constttntionolist
To THE PUBLIC.

From the augusta Consnntaonalisf
TO The PUBLIC.
As there has been much excitement IN reia'
lion 10 The recent difficulty between Mr.. Stephens
and myself think hat justice TO myself requires
FULL fair and correct statement OF all the facts
connected with this most unfortunate affair. |
would remark, in The first place, thai previous 10
the com nencement OF this difficulty, the private
and social relations between Mr.. Stephens and
myself had been OF The most friendly character.
On the 23rd Of Angus, | went 10 the barbecue
al the Glades, in Putnam county, where | met
Mr. Stephens whom had no, seen since his re"
turn from Washington | mel him with Kindness,
which thought was recptoca,ed IN his part
After speaking, he said 10 me. as near as can
recolIect 81 heard that you had charged mc with
being a trai tor to The South" replied that |
had not. He replied, at you had said So |
have said that would slap your jaws"
From the manner in which il was said, and The
relation which existed between Us, did not IN.
dersIand il as a threat seriously and earnestly
made, but spoken in locuiar manner, and u
excited no feelings on ms part. dc Afterwards
went with me 10 my buggy and look soms re-
ireshments, and We parted perfectly friendly
Alter my return, ana on the morning OF tax 10TH
heard that il was reported that Mr. Stephens
had threatened 10 slap my jaws, and that had
submitted 70 il. and MOI resented II. Immediate
" addressed him The following letter:
AUGUST 25lh, lS4S
nDEAR SIR: You will recolleci whaI passed
a, The lime met you a, the barbecue in Putnam.
In the remarks that you made Ii never struck
me al The time hal you were IN earnest.
nThe previous relations that had existed be.
tween US the manner in which you met me, and
the utter nnprobably OF The act Ell no doubt in
my mind that you made III remark in jocular
way.-l have since been informed that you were
a H., II Il
Let M know he ruth in relation 10 The matter.
.Verv respectfully, F. II. CONE y
handed this LEI er 10 Col. King, With The re-
quest Ina, he would hand to Mr.. Stephens al
Madison, which | am informed he did on the
same day.
lett here On thai day 10 be abscn, sc:cfal day,
aud directed the Postmaster a, GTeeEsboroush e
forward any letters with Nr. Stephens frank !,
Milietgeville. | let Miledgeve on THURSDAY
the 3ls day of August, uoto which time had re
ceived no answer heard n Miiedgevle anG
also a, Mason and Forsyth, ,hat Mr.. Stephens
had threatened 10 slap my Jaws, and thai
had mol resented il, and winch was represented
10 me by my friends as degrading and seriously
injuring my character.
[ consulted with some 81 nv friends in relation
10 the course thai ought 10 pursue.
X was thought best, and agreed, that should
call upon Mr. Stephens and ask OF him whether
he intended by the remarks he had made, serious
" to have threatened To slap my jaws, and il he
did not disavo@ il, then 10 charge him with being a
traitor 10 lhe 9oulh in order that | might be re-
iieveC from The position and impu,alion in which
his previous threat To slap my Jaws had placed nc.
saw Mr.. Stephens al The political meeting a.
Forsyth, bu did not SPEAK; aud as The NEE,
was iafs. and excited one il was not deem
ed proper place Tor personal explanation.
| went un to Atlanta, aud remained th"re one
day. Mr. Stephens came on the cars the next
day, and as hc Game into the hotel | asked him il
he had received my leIlel7 He said hat he had.
asked him it, III the answer, he had disclaimed
having seriously and in earnest threatened 10
slap my iaws2 He said TIA the letter would
speak for itself. | said 10 him. that unless ne
disclaimer il | should presume that he had not
done 50 in his iel,ef. He said that could pre-.
sumo what pleased. was about thea 10 say
"You are 4 ;fai!or 10 the South" il or'er 10 re.
lieve myself from the position n which his
previous threat had placed me, and the
,mputation il had cast upon me. Before
bad fully pronounced the words, even II
had commenced the pronunciation, Of which
am no, crnain he struck me across The lace
with a snail whale.bone walking stick. II
caused an excitement 10 come over me which
am Incapable oi describing and immediael!
drew The knife from my pocket and inflicted on
him the injuries which be received, and which
most truly and deeply regret | do not pretend
10 say, mat in doing TINS did rish,; ia from it,
And though all NAV condemn the act as impro.
per, We, now lew are there, who under the same
circumstances, would not have been liaole 10
have cel in the same manner.
The fact that he had threatened TO slap my
laws, the conIemptuous blow across nv lace
with the walking sick, caused feeling I" come
over me WHICH deprived ne OF the poAer OF Iea
son aud reflection, and caused me 10 do an ac
which shall regret as long as | live. When
had the interview with Mr.. Stephens, nad nc
wish 10 hurt hair OF his head. My only obj"c
vas 10 save ny own character and feelings from
degradation.
Those who know me best, know that am q
man OF peace-thal the whole practise OF my lie
has been Ta,ner 10 suffer injury than 10 do inJn
". For the last twenty years have been ensa
ged i'll au extensive practice oil The law, @h'cf
has brought me constantly in contact with tht
Interests, feelings aud passions oil mankind; ye
IN all that time do not lecollect to have had
personal difficulty with any man. The feelings
OF my nature are kind and gentle as all nv &C
quainlance will testify, and 40 man has a srealel
adherence oil transaction ui This kind II is no
my disposition To harbor malice against any one
/ had No intention whatever Of using knife
unless it became necessary 10 defend mysel
against some deadly weapon Mr.. Stephens
nigh, use against me. | had no wish to injur,
or harm him; and although the act is done, ane
cannot be recalled, trust that my friends and tht
public, when they look at The circumstances, vii
Judge Of the transaction with candor and impair
TALLY. F. II. CONE.
Greensborough, Sept. 9Th, lS4S.
The following is Mr.. Stephens reply TO Judg,
Cones frs, letter:
MONTICELLO, (Ga.,) 29lh Aug, lS4s
DE.R SlR:-Your letter OF the 26lh instant wa
handed 10 me BY Col King on Friday evening
Ias, in Madison. and should have been answer
ed earlier but for the want OF the necessary
leisure and convenient opportunity. And in re
ply, nov, You will allow me 10 say, that wa
perfectly in earnest in what | said TO you upol
our meeting al the time ALLUDED 10 by you.
had been inform that you had charged me WIN
being "Traitor To the South" and had salo
that should demand ot you, upon sight, whe'
Their you intended 10 be SO uuders!ood-and II you
said that you did, should slap your Jaws
When | met you at the Glades stalled 10 you
what had heard, and asked you il you meant
10 be so understood. You replied in the mega
live and stated what you had said, which was en-.
,irely satisfactory 10 me. what then statel TO
YOU was prompted by no motive orieeling what.
ever bul consideration OF what deemed 10 be
due, no less 10 you than to myself. tod you
in person what had said to others should DO
in case You should avow having charged me
with being "a Traitor to the SCUM MY IAN
euase and manner, in this particular, were IN
tended 10 evince nothing but that Split OF candor
and trankness which ever has, and i trust, ever
will characterize my conduct, and which !
thought vas fully understood BY you and all
uho heard what occurred between US. Yours,
mos. respectfully, ALEX Il. sTEsRsss