New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-04-07

We publish elsewhere the correspondence between
Messrs Cutting and Breckenridge sud their seconds
or friends II speaks for itself The Only fact Of any
consequence that discloses u.s. that neither party ex
bbited any invncbe inclination to fight In this they
acted like prudent and sensible But they did not
sct in prudeIt sid sensible manner b! placing them
selves in the position they did before the world Il
very absurd to mske such great show OF bellgerent
temper and ysorOus purpose in order to Wind up the
exhibition with few harmless paper billets
AZ the relative position Of the parties as zen Of
fighting courage, they appear to be .car on par as
two men could well be. pperhap. the advantage is
rather on IL sioe OF .r Cutting Mr Brecsenridges
second Pforr,.ed prompt and hostile meeting with
rhes ~ sizty PAGES Mr. Cuttings second oemurred
to this on Two grounds let That Mr. Breckenridge had
90 right to claim the choice of weapons; and %
That Mr. Cutting was totally unused to the rifle
Bat lie a. osce proposed a fight with pistols at ten
pscer. And il was thus the case stood when the
correspondence snd explanations ensued, which re-
suited in the accommodation OF the difficulty. Tn
der the code Of duelling, the second Of Brecken-
ridge was bound TO accept of the proposition of
Cuttings second, even if Breckenridge were the
challenged party, FOR il is the rule in all such cases
that the most deadly propositions take precedence;
ard shooting with pistols at ten paces is more danger
ous combat than using rifles at sixty. If anybody de-
clired the field therefore il rather Mr Breeker-
ridge than Nr Cutting But we are perfectly satisfied
that the purposes Of both to go greatly moderated
~ the l5pse of time, and that both preferred sone
otLer sort of entertainment They have exhibited
through the whole affair neither more nor less than the
average quantity Of spirit and pluck They stand no
better in snybodys eyes than they did before, aud
good deal IN the estimation Of many. Neither
hssrsep, but both have fallen BY the foolish proceed
ipgs in which they have been engaged
One thirg should not be forgotten. A strngen. law
not long since passed by Congress agaios. duelng
ard sglipst ell parties leaving the District Of Colum
bia with the intention of fighting. Yes il the face
and in defiance of this law, here two prominent
legislators who have for several days deliberately ex
changed Io,es with view 10 the COMM, sion OF this
very ofeDse. And they have only escaped arrest BIZ
keeping Themselves seereted. In view Of the Justice
OF having laws applied equally to high and low We
propOIe that these TWO gentlemen be brought before
TIE ar OF the House on charge of contempt for tue
laws which lhey have thus earng,y defed And We
suggest punisbment for their having done so that
both gentlemen he imprisoned in the District Jail for
period Of not less than forty days and kept on low
diet. We are persuaded that such period of Lent
would be good for them, and afford & saucry exam
pie TO other gentlemen who nigh. be disposed to make
criminals and fools Of themselves in the sane way
that Messrs. Breckenridge and Cutting have done