Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-22

;,, Ri. .nn Mr.. J. Caleb Smith pcrS'''s III ''''''
-, ..h;s ,,c1 and beloved father had Drch III
I.. ~. -, salient AGGRESSION and proccea" I" pn
:, r,,ur, mn insult switch M ina
rrI ,C bnr,r could or would overlook
,,.;, dam. ,h;. Mr. j. Caleb Smith c"nccires th"
l., ,,. h.cl cr,,cL II debt educ to the S"pl order Z
;.,- u,s coucep,iun Of his duties "to al age
n,a h.,,,od father" and hi, manner OF proinotin
.sc co,1 order Of society,", are peculiar but they ar
r.. ,y, mn, no ono Inns right to complain OF them
m;.,h, have left bis letter unanswered without VIC
.,, the code Of honor By which nc profosses TO gov
.r Ir,s,IC but 70 avoid misconstruction, chose u
reply. 1890,
~, misunirrstnnd., or affects to misunderstood
This reply, and proceed, 10 complete tho vindicAton
a. "aS,L father bya fresh insult TO tho "aSsres'ot'
lie asserts that expressed ID wliu8 guess 10 have III
affair OF honor with hi. father" knowing that n''
yoa.s prevented him from calling ITO the he'' u
honor" and that he had conducted his coTFe'p0N-
dcnce for TWO Years with his left hand
have mover expressed - Willingness TO nav al
affair OF honor with Gov. Smith; ON the CON" o."
declared that ;horo cause Tor H. anu
have very much regretted such nm occurrence -.
stated my readiness To give HIM 'a'is'"'''0"
claimed it ut my hands did not know thai MS year.
nrcyented him from calling mo to the field "i nonof
but thought the contrary, as had ieat"'o '
long since in California GENEROUSLY ns's''o
light, TO the exclusion OF Mr.. d. Caleo "''''n .'-
self Nor had ever heard that he waS ols""'ea u
injured in his RICH, hand.
NJ ro,.h smith next asserts that after expressing
WILLINGNESS 10 meet bis fu,her, changed my sro"n1
,r,, H.,
bouJ., "a an excuse for no, fighting him. As hod
mover been invited 20 fight hun, II "ouiu h"'e oe0'
singular for me 10 excuse myscltirom 1t. nc o'osu'
or,d to provoke challenge, it may be WIKI Tue o'n'
temptibe motive of suhjectinS mo to hea'y poc"i
arv prnaltv The mpOvcrishment "f my la'nHy
,',,,I rr,b,bly have been in his eye fit sacrifice
>, .h, ;r,r,d honor of his father. referred to my
=. b,uJs " NJ one reason why should not challenge
him. and also 10 illustrate his masnanimty III olcr-
iur insult 10 IL man thus embarrassed.
No. did | arse duty TO my family in excuse Tor
not recognizing VI j. Caleb Smith, claim tn call me
ou; bu, 10 reLu a assertion that our responslhIlI-
tica' were c!nal.
In addition IL this consideration and those suS
gcsud in hi NIT" there werc other reasons roatrnin'
ing ME from scn ling challenge. According to
Mr. j. Caleb Smiths own statement he was the i'll
lursd party, Sda lamed the right to punish the III,
socnt a. Srcs u from young inan upon an aged and
beloved lathe vi" WA" tho person to send 'ho ch"
eng" not |, his substitution of insulting language
in lieu OF it, ws agroSs violation OF his code o! honor.
lie prccnds u think that denied tho right OF son
TO punish aggression upon his father. | have denied
no such thing he thinks that his father has boon
1 -. =, II
right but his duty 10 punish the nssressor
And, in my opiuion if such be his belief, ho has
discharged hi. duty in most lame and imp"tent man
uer. Instead Of punshin. tho aggrossor, he has IN
vted challenge from him. deny his right TO do
ths-,o put Inc on the oncusive when my posi-
ton is ono cf defence. lie demanded IN apollo.
~ which refused TO give; according 10 the uhua
routine i'll such affairs challenge should have fol-
lowed; und this had every right 10 expect from the
ton. of hi, ii-s; note. He choose 10 shift his ground
10 put himself on tine defensive. AMI proceeds with
Incompatible GOODNESS TO charge me with change
Of position.
do not wish, however, to DC misunderstood. Had
the challenge conc, should have declined IT, Cir
cn.nstauco, may arise, requiring mo to DIS
regard my family nni my brnd, but they
arc not presented by the cas-, Of Mr. J. Cileb Smith.
hay. done En no wrong, and will no; subject my
self 10 n heavy sacrifice. m-rclyto crafty his falsc
fantastic notions Of honor, or his malignant thirst Tor
revenge. He has boou unniniy enough - Insult me
with illI knowledge ~ my situation, and has II"
claim rpan M, :i-!nily rrlnirn: IA" p"rtIi! rus
OF my family inr lie discharge.
Thee arc also DUTIES 10 my party aHd 10 III? pro
u rl...l An I,it wIll,.
GROSSLY virIatu these du:"s who accepted every Gull
TO the field OF honor An influential press might he
easily sicnccd il il. conductor required 10 fight
every rutiun und bully set upon him by political oppo
uouts. Rnwdvsm would rule the press aud the cou'i-
try il such the principle Of editorial Conduct
On hy Same ground, he ,onid decline 70 meet ever!
person WHO calls him out mere prctc1s OF wrong
and wi,hou, tho shadow OF justc" in hi, complaint
There il distinction betwesn Gov. Smith anl his
sons Cain, 10 roparaton, although the latter Is I'M
able to SOC il. One has hcen the subject OF Iorore
but not Insulting an.uagoi the other has uovsr been
mentioned in tho Enquirer. With tho former, the
question might at least admit Of doubt and' accord
incy, | expressed my readiness 10 make III n" be-
halt III. very helvy sacrifice involved IN al uccept'
auco of his call. With Mr. J. Caleb Sn'ith, the case
is altogether different had never reflected on him
or given him, in any way, the sgh:e'triS to call HE
out II he had thouSht j.. 10 do so, it would have been
in mere wuu,ouncss, and should have 60 considered
it,
Tho public will doubtless think it is O little
singular, That in the intensity Of his passion
for revenge, it never occurred 10 MIR. j. Ca
leb Smith, thu, there Il mode of FURNISHING tue
l.. f,il,, 1,ttby ,,u
hive relieved Of amy embarrassment aud have e'
tablshed something like equality between the parties
to this controversy.
1t ia with unaffected reluctance that obtrudc
my personal affairs into the presence Of tbs
public and would have been content 10 rest Tie uis
pute between Mr.. j. Carb Smith and myself oil tic
correspondence between US, il lie had not Thought
it necessary to attempt misrepresentation OF my po'
s,ion Hnring exposed the miserable sophistry under
which he seeks shelter, dismiss Mr.. j. Caleb Smith
from all further consideration unmoved by his me-
nacos und Indifferent to his insults.
In conclusion, wish it to be distinctly understood
that neither menace nor ruran abuse shall doicr me
from diligont discharge Of my duty my party. l
shall sba,s nothing of tho energy with which have
eudeavorcd TO defeat tho schemes Of tho infamous
conspiracy which seeks 70 usurp control "i this proud
Commonwealth, nor Rhall he more backward ar ten
der in deuouncing the reachcy Of aposutes from my
own party The persistent rnnsnity with which
have been pursued in tho progress Of this canvass
atters mo with the belief that have not been alto
ge,her fa,hess 10 the obligations Of my position and
clecred less by the abuse OF my enemies than b!
the appreciation of my friends, mean {" fight the bat
tie 10 the end, notwithstanding the secret circular
which Mr. J. Caleb Smith scaers ever the State From
his distant retreat in WasIingto and undi-urbcd b,
the bowls Of tcndish delight with which bis scurllit!
is enjoyed by the Know Nothings o! this c!'y.
ROGER a. PRYOR.
Q
ELECTION RETURNS.