Daily American telegraph., 1852-04-29
Communicated
The BorIand and kennedy Anair-Asail

The Borland and Kennedy Anatr--Again.
MEssRs. EpIToRs: As Mr.. Lemuel Towers
seems somewhat piqued that did not introduce
into the published correspondence connected with
the affair between Mr.. Borland and myself
letter in which I proposed certain interrogations
for him to answer or not to at his pleasure,
am willing to indulge him with few words re-
specting his communication. 1t is to be regretted
that he deems the mention of his profession at all
derogatory, and that there is greater condescen-
sion in STOPPING to the journeyman printer
than to the man, for do not; and it was pecu-
larly proper to distinguish him from the gentle
man of the same name Il think his brother who
was an applicant for the public printing. Under
these circumstances the propriety of my dis
elimination is manifest; and while no disrespect
was designed, the distinction is no doubt agreea-
BILE, as it was due, to the mastcr-workman. To
me it seems little curious that, if Mr.. Towers
was serious in imagining my mode of proposing
questions so exceptionablc, he should have an
swered them so promptly. My object in pro-
posing certain questions-each of which could be
| answered simply eyes" or "no," or assent or
dissent, expressed to all, if he though proper
was not to induce him to "falsyy himself" for
| there was no occasion therefor. Sufficient
| to say, my object was accomplished. | saw,
and now see, bearing in his replies of ma
terial Importance, but which this is not the
place to discuss, and | come directly to what
would direct attention to, viz the note of Mr..
Towers made to the fourth interrogatory. Mr..
| Towers says, . for certainly said to Mr.. Ken
| nedy if he had struck Mr. Borland at this point
| of the conversation, no matter what the conse-
quences might have been, | would have justified
him, and ! would have 'staid' longer to have
sustained him than he did to defend himself" 1t is
| important to note that Mr.. Towers expresses the
opinion that would be justified, 8 at this point o.
| the conversation" if | had struck Mr. Borland.
| Now, what part of the conversation was this
| 1t was before the uttering of that remark by me
| which Mr. Borland pleads as the reason for, and
| in extenuation Of his assault on me- In other
words had struck Mr.. Borland for his insulting
| remark, Mr. Towers would be ready to justify
| and sustain me: this he could not honorable do,
| if had offered any previous insult. As / re-
torted only to his insolence in words, and was
violently assaulted in consequence, l was, accord
ing to the other statement of Mr. Towers, clearly
| in the wrong Mr.. Towers, in his statement to
| Mr. Borland, on the 18th of February, says, ="
make the same statement to you l did to Mr..
! Kennedy on the evening of the difficulty" lie
this true Did he tell Mr.. Borland in that state
ment the very material fact now admitted, after
| it is proved that he told me that had the first
cause to strike-that was, in his opinion, so in
suited as to justify me in asssulting Senator in
| the Senate Chamber? If he had incorporated this
important admission of Mr. t., it seems to me that
Mr.. Borland would not have formed very high
| appreciation of his impressions" or thought
them SO important to his justification. The ad-
| missions of Mr.. Towers corroborate the state
ment heretofore made by me-that my first re
mark was not insulting or SO designed; and that
Mr.. Borland first insulted and then assaulted
me for very proper and truthful retort to his
insult
The only difference between the statement Of
Mr.. Magill and Mr.. Towers is, that the former
makes Mr.. Towers to say that he (Towers) would
have been the first to strike; whereas the state
ment of the other would have it that he only said
he would have justified and sustained me, had
given the first blow; and that, it will be borne in
mind, was before my making the remark with
respect to which it was, Mr.. Borland says, g for
this dealt him blow in the face with my fist"
So that Mr.. Borland, according to his own wit
| ness, gave the insult, and that of no small mag
nitude, to justify such retaliation. This is all
l have ever contended': it is all / deem material
to place him in the attitude in which his own
witness places him, and in which | have hereto
fore represented him.
JOS. C. G. KENNEDY.
! WASHINGTON, April 90, 1852.