Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-01-25
From the Richmond Enquirer.

We observe disposition in the Who
press to condemn the.conduct of Mr.. SouIa
in his recent difficulty with. the French
Minister, in advance Of any authentic re-
port OF the circumstances which provoked
the recontre. We are not surprise i atthis
exhibition of liberality, but we very much
mistake the temper of the public mind
ltthe conduct of Mr.. soule be not appro.
we'd by the country.
The appointment of Mr.. Soule was in
the tirst instance exceedingly distasteful
to the Court of Madrid, insomuch that
there was some doubt as to his reception.
Tnreats were made by the Spanish press
that he would not be suffered to represent
this country at the Court of Madrid but,
the apprehension, lest such an act of hos
Glity might provoke the dis pleasure Of our
Government, caused the adoption of more
gentle method ofrebuke and annoyance.
The plan suggested by Madrid Journal
was to give Mr.. Soule formal reception,
and then, by a system of petty annoyance
and contemptous demeanor, to render his
position absolutely intolerable. In pur-
suance fthis design, no doubt, the Duke
of Alba awaited himself of the occasion Of
an official reception by the French Minis
ter, to make disparaging remarks in regard
to the dress of Mrs. Soule. Fortunately
the sheer did not escape the observation
Ofyoung SouIe, who promptly resented
the insult in very empathic maner. In
onr judgement, tbs conduct of Mr.. Soule.
Jr. is worthy Of especial commentator.
He did right to chastise the titled minion
tor the insult to his mother and it was
proper that the punishment should be as
public as the offence. The wife of the
American Minister is equal in rank to the
highest of Spanish DANES, while in every
thing that inparts dignity and respect to
the to the character Of woman, she is as
much superior to them as her country. is
superior to the corrupt and decayed Mon
of Spain. The outrage upon Mrs. Soulc
could have occurred at no other Court in
Europe az no other Court would the re-
spect due to her: sex and her position
have been so basely violated. Where vir-
tue is utterly wanting in woman, it is i'm
possible to look for chiYalry in men. At
Court, the presiding spirit Of which in
dulges in all the s andalous excuses Of
illicit love, we will look in vain either for
refinement of sentiment or courtesy in
manners. While the Queen of Spain pa
rades her paramount in public, we must en-
dure the rudeness of such titled black
guards as the Duke of Alba
1t was due, if not to claim of personal
honor. at least to the insulted dignity Of
his country, that young Soule should re-
sent the rudeness of the Spanish Duke
The promPtncss and spirit which he dis
played in his treatment Of the case are
worthy Of all commentator.
We can very readily imugine in what
manner Mr.. Soule the elder became in
volyed in a difficulty with the French
Minister. No doubt the Marquis dc Tur-
got thought to propitiate the favor Of his
master by resenting the wrongs Of his
misstress' brother. AS the difficulty &C.
Cured at his house, pretext was not
wanting for complaint of the conduct of
Mr.. Soule, Jr. but Mr.. Soule, Sr., would
submit to no censure of his son, and thus
in all probability he was provoked by tho
French Minister.
The particulars Of the duel are given
thus in letter from Madrid:
"The duel between Mr.. Soule and the
Marquis de Target, took place with pistols,
at twenty PAGES. the parties meeting at
Charmartin, league from Madrid, at
half past eleven. The,irst fire took place
without effect. On the second fire NJ. de
Turgot was shot through tho.oleg, near
the knee he was Immediately removed
home in his carriage, and bore the injury
pretty well. The leg is good deal swol-
len, but as it appears. that the knee-cap
was not touched, and no principal artery
wounded, it is trusted that his state is not
zone of danger. Mr.. Soule was not woun-
deL."
Mr.. Perry Secretary of the American
Legation, was one Of the seconds Of young
Soule, in his duel with the Duke of Alba.
They fought with swords, but without Ell
Their being wounded. and it ended in the
seconds drawing up a minute Of The pro-
ceedings as having been conducted in q
manner satisfactory to the honor and re-
putation ofboth parties. 1t was SO agreed
that the letters which had passed between
them should be mutually withdrawn.