New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-19


pRrxrrcy on DrEttIvG,-A few weeks since,
Geo. d. Prentice eoitor OF Tie L0nisrHe 'onrndl,
paid visit 10 Arb ansas, and While there, puolshed
an article in TIE True Democrat over the signature
of Arsspss in which one N. But HeSson con-
sidered himself alluded to in offensive manner
Whereupon he addressed note to Mr. Prentice ask
ing him to reiract. Mr. Prentice replies that ne had
no ir,e nion of assaDg his persona character or oil
making bimself offensive, and therefore ne nad
nothing to re'rsct. Heyson is still dissatisfied.
Thereupon, Mr. Prentice addressed him the following
capital letter:
Little Rock, Nov. a. 1854.
SIR: Your note dated Yesterday, was handed TO
me this morning. 1 have bO other reply TO make TO
il than that which made TO you at drs, can not
properly say 10 you that ,etract the personalities OF
10y article in Tie True Democrat, for 10 not think
il contains any. j have distinctly dlsclalmed any
such COZ struc non of the language of that article az
would imply impntstion upon your personal char
setter OF conduct and do recognize any right or
your part 20 ask expect more OF me. THIS
] deem quite much due TO IN, self a. 20 you.
PrtsumiDg that your notes are written to me with
view TO du.l may well say here, that have
not II least thought OF accepting challenge from
you / consider my structures upon your writings en-
tfely legitimate at any rate, the diseia meF thar
have MADE ought 10 satisfy you.
| came here from a distant State because many be-
ieyed could DO something 10 promote great and
important enterprise, dnJ, rs nave no reason 10
think that ny labors altogether in vain, do not
intend to let myself be diverted from them. There
are some persons, and perhaps many, To whom my
life is valuable and however little or much value
may attach to 1t on my own account, do not see nj
at present TO put ii up voluntarily against yours.
| am no believer m the duelliDg code. would not
call mon TO the field unless be had done me such
oeadly wrong that desired To kill him, and would
not obey his call TO the field unless had done him 50
mortal an injury to eDtitie him, in my opinion to
demand an opportunity of taking my life have not
the least desire to kill you or harm hair your
head, and am not conscious of having done anything
to tntle YOU TO kill me. | DO not want your blood
upon my haDds, and do not want my own upon any
bodys. l might yield much to tho demands of d
strong public sentiment but there is no public sen,i
ncnt, nor even any DISTINGUISHED individual sent-
ment that either requires me to meet you or would
justify me in doing
| look upon the miserable code that is said to re.
qure two men 10 20 out and shoot at each other for
what one Of them may consider a violation OF et-
quete or puDctilio in the use of language, with a
equal to that which s getting to be felt for it
by the whole civilized world of mankind. l am not
afraid to express such views in the enlightened CAPT
tai of Arkansas, anywhere else. l am not so
cowdrdly as TO stand in dread of sny imputaton on
my courage. / have always bad courage enough
to defend my honor and myself, and l presume
always shall have.
Your very obedient serysnt ..,,
~. Butt He SsoS, Esq
After ths letter. the difficulty was speedily adjusted,
of course,