Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-08-08
For the IntslIigencer.

AUGUST 6. 1855.
EDrroRs INrELLIGENcER:--I wish 10 request you
to publish tile comments of Nh. PRENTICE, on the
letters which you published this morning Letween
him and Mr. ]. B. CLAY, as it is subject in which
all have an interest. There are but few in this
city who take the Louisville Journal, and great
many have desire to see the whole controversy
as it progresses. READER.
The "whole controversy between Mr.. PREx-
TlcE aud Mr.. ]. b. Clay, ended about week
since. We first published the substance of Mr..
Prentce's comments censuriug Mr.. ]. b. Clay for
tearing down the old mansion of his father; we
then published Mr.. ]. B. C's. note sent Though
the hands of Major LEwrNskl, designed to ascer-
tain whether Mt. P. would accept challenge
from MIR. J. B. c., and at the same time published
Mr.. P's letter in reply to this note. We deemed
that these publications gave readers very far
ileu Of the merits and result of the controversy
MIR. ]. b. Clay is personally unknown TO US, he
has published pamphlet containing the whole
correspondence, with his comments thereon, aud
eminently friendly, personally, as we ure to Mr..
Prentice, we cannot in Justice 10 the former gem
tlenau publish Nh P's comments on ills PAM
phtet without fepublishing the whole pamphlet,
which would occupy more of our columns thanwe
eau consistently devote 10 subject, the mann feo-
lures Of which we have already presented 10 omr
readers.
Our opinions on this subject, briefly expressed.
these: Mr. J. B. Clay in demoshing the old
mansion of his lather, whether compelled 10 DO so
from domestic considerations not strictly belonging
To the public or not, did all act at which the en-
Ihusiastc admirers OF the immortal "Hany of the
Vest instinctively recoiled. Mr.. Prentice took
advantage OF popular theme and rather strained
the matter 10 make political point against Mr.. ].
B. Clay. Mr.. J. B. Clay acted unwisely in want
ing TO challenge Mr.. Prentice to mortal combat Tor
severe but by no means personally insulting news
paper comments, and Mr.. ] B. Clay made an ass
of himself in getting himself into newspaper
controversy with George d. Prentice.
We ought, perhaps, to add, in justice to both,
that the controversy ended by NIr. J. b. C's pub
hsI'ing that he cond never. as a gentleman, under
any circumstances again notice Mr.. Prentice, OF
anything which might emanate from him, and that
Mr.. Prentice ende,l his comments as follows:
"Whh all his violent vituperation, he got the
worSt.o the encounter in the field voluntarily
entered by himself, and then he wanted TO know
1t we wouldn't meet him another field. We
Scorn aud abhor the whole infamous code of ,u-
eltstS. fiat our present age we We're 10 allow our
selves to fight duel with Mr. ]. B. Clay on ac-
count Of our comments on his ABUSIVE article re.
Gently published by US, we should feel as though
we had forfeited all claims 10 manEind'S respect
and our own. Yet we do not call ourselves non
combatnnts- II any man feels himself mortally
ogsrieved at any publication OF ours, he knows,
whether we accept challenge from him or not,
where to find US, and he may seek us when and
how he peaseS. We hold ourselves responsible
for what we write. five think we have gwen
any man Just canSe to seek our life, we will eth
ct permit him to take it without resistance, or,
criminal as the act may be, obey his call To the
Held; and, il any recognized gentleman does US so
deadly an injury 10 make thirst for his blood
and we cannot send him to the gallo IS, wewtlI
summon him to the feId-and if. IN such a case
the summons is UNDECIDED, We will pose Ourself
upon "urowu will aud seek redress wherever We
fad it,