Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-01-18
THE DIPLOMATIC DUELS.

We copy the following from the last Richmond
Enquirer:
The DIPLOMATIC, Duel. We observe a DISPOSE
ton in the Wing press to condemn the conduct of
Mr. Soule in his recent difficulty with the French
Minister in advance of any authentic report of the
not surprised at this exhibition of iliberaity,
but we very much mistake the temper of the pub
lie mind if the conduct of Mr. Soule be not APPROX
ed by the country.
The appointment of Mr. Soule was in the first in
stance exceedingly distasteful to the Court of Ma
drid nsomuch that there was some doubt as to his
reception. Threats were made by the Spanish press
that he would not be suffered to represent this
try at the Court of Madrid; but the apprehension,
lest such act of hostility might provoke the dis
pleasure of our Government caused the adoption of
a more gentle method of rebuke and annoyance
The plan suggested by Madrid journal was to give
Mr.. Soule formal reception, and then, by system
of petty annoyance and contcmptuous demeanor, to
render his position absolutely intolerabc. In pur
suance of this design, no doubt, the Duke of Alba
avaed himself of the occasion of official recep-
ton by the French Minister, to make a disparaging
remark in regard to the dress of Mrs. Soule For
tunaely the did not escape the observation of
young Soue, who promptly resented the insult in a
very emphatic manner. In our judgment, the con-
duct of MIR. Soule, Jr, is worthy of especial COM
mendation He did right to chast:se the titled min
ion for the insult to his mother; and it was proper
that the punishment should be public as the Of
fence. The wife of an American Minister is equal
in rank to the highest of Spanish danes, while in
every thin that mparts dignity and respect to tho
character of woman she is much superior to them
as her country is superior to the corrupt and decay
ed Monarchy to Spain. The outrage upon Mrs.
Soue could have occurred at no other Court in El-
rope; at no other Court would the respect due to
her sex and her position have been so bascly vioat-
cd Where virtue is utterly wanting in woman it
is impossible to look for chivary in man. At
Of m in
the scandaous excesscs of illicit love, will look
in vain either for refinement of sentiment courtc-
sv in manners While the Queen of Spain paradcs
her paramour in public, we must endure the rude
ness of such titled backguards the Duke Of Alba
1t was due, if not to the claim OF personal honor
at least to the nsulted dignity of his country, that
young Soule should resent the rudeness of the Span
ish Duke. The promptness and spirit which he dis
played in his treatment Of the case are worthy of
all commendaton.
We can very readily imagine in what manner Mr..
Soue the elder became involved in difficulty with
the French Minister No doubt the Marquis dc Tur-
got thought to propate the favor of his master by
resentine the wrongs of his mistress brother. As
the difficulty occurred at his house, pretext was
not wanting for complaint of the conduct of Mr.
Soulc, Jr, but Mr.. Soule, ST., would slbmit to no
censure of his son. and thus, in all probability, he
was provoked by the French Minister.
The particulars of the duel arc given thus in let
ter from Madrid:
"The duel between Mr.. Soulc and the Marquis de
Turgot took place with pistols at twenty PAGES the
parties meeting at Chamartin, league from Madrid,
at halfpast eleven. The first fire took place with
out effect. On the second fire NJ. dc Turgot was
shout through the leg, the knee; he was imme-
diately removed home in his carriage, and bore the
injury pretty well. The leg is now good deal
swollen, but it appears that the knee-cap was not
touched, and principal artery wounded, it is trust
cd that his state is not one of danger. Mr.. Soule
was not wounded"
Mr.. Perry, Secretary of the American Legation,
was of the seconds of young Soule, in his duel
with the Duke of Alba They fought with swords,
but without either being wounded and it ended in
the seconds drawing up minute of the proceedings
as having been conducted in a manner satisfactory
to the honor and reputation of both parties 1t wa
also agreed that the letters which had passed be
tween them sheuld be mutually withdrawn"