North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-09-17
from the AsheyiIle Messenger.1
TO THE pURuEG

News of the 7th inst, in relation to the difcuIt,
between him and myself, imposes upon me The ne
cessIty OF short reply. In Justice to myself am
constrained to correct his statement in some particu
lars, give the facts bearing others more fully and
Pu1llsh the correspondence between
Ills allegation that / had s. proclaimed him 10 the
Worio, through the Messenger, ar,'' as well as
MS statement previously made that had in the same
Communication spoken of him the deputy OF
Mr.. Clingman," are both untrue. He has forced a
construction upon my language doubt purposely,
as an apology for his course towards me. Whatever
may have thought and privately said TO my friends
about him, heve never published in the Messenger,
or any other paper, what he has charged. ANY one
who feels interest in the natter can ascertain for
himself the truth of what say, by reference 10 the
article complained of; and an act of Justice
might well call on him to publish the communication
referred to by him. that his readers might see and
judge for themselves whether not his construction
OF my language is fair; but have long since des-
paired OF receiving justice through the paper under
MS management. But enough upon this point.
On the evening of the 18th of July, received by
the hands OF DR.. Jones, the following note
AsHEvILLE, July 10, 1851.
=" Col. John Baxter: have seen your article in
the Messenger this afternoon. It contains charge
which gentlemen cannot submit to. therefore re-
quest you to name your FRIEND who will arrange with
the bearer of this. the preliminares our meeting
Very respectfully,
MARCUS ERWIN.
Under ordinary circumstances, l would have de-
clined this challenge, we'll for the reason that
believe duelling both criminal and irrational, as from
the conviction that he Influenced from an un-
worthy desire for notorietY. But satisfied that
he was an instrument in the hands of others, put
forward to challenge me, in the hope that my known
contempt for the man would induce to decline it in
which event, the press under his control would have
been prostuted to the low and base purpose of mis-
representing nay motives, and defaming my char
acer, with the view OF bringing into ridicue and
contempt Such course would, in my opinion,
have led to greater breaches of the criminal law,
than the acceptance of his challenge, and of the
two evils chose the least. With these opinions
made the following reply:
AsHEvILLE, N. c., July Is, 1851.
MARCUS Erwin, Esq Sir: Your note of to-day
was handed TO me by DR.. Jones. understand it to
be challenge to meet you in mortal combat. am
not conscious of having done you any injury, but
the contrary, I have RETAINED from saving m UGH
which might with propriety have said For various
reasons am opposed to settling difficulties in the
way indicated by you. sound public opinion is
always competent to do justice to all persons situated
we are, and am at all times willing abide its
judgment; not only but if at any time could be
made sensible of doing injustice to any one, would
feel it duty to make reparation. But from every
with the belief, that you seek, in this correspon-
dence, notoriety to which you not entitled, and
il is therefore, that provoked to do against
my conscience, and one that will diminish my self
respect. 1t is my purpose accept your invitation,
but present engagements and the laws of the State
forbid accepting at this time and place. If you
will meet me the line between this State and South
Carolina. near Col. Jno. Daviss, in Henderson coun-
ty, on Thursday, the Gath inst, at half past ten
o'clock, with two friends only, I will answer you
definitely. In conclusion will enjoin upon you
profound secrecy, as it will promote the quiet of
ny 'N N ~ " JOHN BAXTER"
When met accepted his challenge on the fol-
lowing terms:
SALUDA GAP, S. c., July "a, 1851.
Sir: accept your challenge to mortal combat, and
propose to fight you with the weapons and upon the
terms to be proposed by my friend, ]. w. Wood6n,
Esq. as soon as the Preliminares can be agreed on
MARCUS Erwin, ESQ.,
The terms proposed those published by Mr..
Erwin. We took our positions, and on his firing l
Was hit the right hand, which caused my pistol
90 off. Having previously declared to my friends
my purpose not to fire, and to avoid every appearance
of duplicity, remarked to the company that my fire
accidental, and requested DR.. Jones to say so to
my antagonist for contemplate believed him
to be, and the motives which Influenced his action,
was unwilling for him to believe that had sought
his life. On receiving this message, he approached
me, and proposed reconciliation, when l remarked
tina" the object of my message had been misunder-
stood-that while l had malice towards him,
could not recognize him as equal" Herehe says,
he stopped me, and turned away. This may be so
intended to have said more, and thought had.
For this conduct he arraigns me before public opin-
ion. All that have to say in reply is, that could
not, with my opinions of the man, consistently with
sincerity, recognize him as a gentleman. Such pre-
tended reconciliation would have been in conflict with
my deliberate opinions, entertained for than IL
months BEFORE and the vest hypocrisy on both sides.
determined that no false notions OF polltenesS or
honor should place me in that position.
Notwithstanding my assurance that did not in
tend 10 fire upon him, he has closed his manifesto by
saying that g nobody in this community believes it,
except few contemplate slaves, who will say any
thing they paid for and perhaps few old crazy
women.'' Now have the satisfaction of believing
that my word would be taken true, by this whole
community-even by the gentleman himself, upon
this or any other question, without other proof 1t
is only because he wishes it otherwise, that he pre-
tends to dsbeleve it. But for the purpose of fore
stalling the influence of his slanderous paper, pro-
pose to give the facts 10 the public.
/ had not shot any sort of gun ten times in ten
years next before met, and had never before, on
any occasion, shot duelling pistol. My pistols
reached here but the Monday BEFORE directed to DR..
Whitfield, in whose possession they remained until
We went upon the field. On being urged by him to
practice, refused, the ground that did not in
tend to fire and when we got upon the ground, the
pistols rusted that one was loaded with diff
Guilty, and the other could net be loaded at all but
the bullet partially pushed in it, was extracted by Mr.
Fuller of this place, after my return Looking to the
possibility of fatal result prepared paper con-
tanning nv opinions of the man, the motives that in
fuenced him. of my acceptance of his chal-
lenge and also declaration of thy purpose not to re-
turn his FIRE. This paper. sealed up, handed to my
friend, DIR. Whitfield, before taking my position, with
instructions open it till after the fight 1t con-
tans the words regard the practice babarous,
SINFUL and irrational. | never desired the blood OF
anv man. nor can be induced to shed it and should
we engage in mortal combat, will not return his
fire." Indeed nv views and feelings upon this sub
iect were so well understood by my friends, that it
was confidently asserted by them at Rutherfordton,
L., knfor Tho