The Empire County argus., 1855-02-10

GEORGE ID. Prentice, Eso.-The Democratic
Press, published at Chicago Illinois, says the we'll
known editor of the Louisville Journal has been in
Little Rock, Arkansas, for some time past laboring
to secure the undertaking of a railroad enterprise
in which his own city has direct interest In
prosecuting the object of his visit he took occasion
to express his views through one of the newspapers
of Little Rock In the course of his communica-
ton he reflected with some severity upon views
which had been publicly expressed by Col IIew-
son of that place. This "drew note" from Col
Hewson, demanding an unqualified retraction of
the offensive declarations. Mr. Prentice replied
courteously, stating in substance, that he had no
design of assailng the private conduct and charac
ter OF Col. Hewson, that he knew nothing of him
except from his published writings, and what he
had said was predicated wholly upon these, and
that if his language seemed to bear different con-
struction he (Prentice) disclaimed it as unworthy
of himself and so far as he knew, unjust to Col.
Hewson. But this disclaimer did not satisfy the
latter gentlemen, and he penned o second note to
Mr. Prentice, informing him that nothing but a
direct and unconditional withdrawal of the person.
alites would be accepted by him. To this note
Mr. Prentice replied at length in a manner which
does him infinite credit. Wequotc portion of his
reply:
Presuming that your notes are written to me
with view to duel, | may as we'll say here, that
have not the least thought of accepting a chal
lenge from you. | consider my structures upon
your writings entirely legitimate, and at any rate
the disclaimer that have made ought to satisfy
you.
| came here from distant State because many
believed | could do something to promote great
and important enterprise, and, as | have reason
to think my labors are not altogether in VAN, 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 it on my own account,
do not see fit at present to put it up voluntarily
against yours.
am no believer in the duelng code would
not call man to the field unless he had done me
such deadly wrong that desired to kill him, and
would not obey his call to the field unless had
done him so mortal an injury to entitle him, in
my opinion to demand an opportunity of taking
my life. | have not the least desire to kill YOU or
to harm hair of your head, and am not con-
scious of having done anything to ente you to kill
me. do not want your blood upon my hands, and
and do not want my own upon anybodys. J
might yield much to the demands of strong pub
lie sentiment but there is no public sentiment nor
even any disnterested individual sentiment, that
either requires me to meet you that would just-
fly me in doing SO.
| look upon the miserable code that is said to re-
quire two men to 90 out and shoot at each other
for what one of them may consider violation of
etiquette or punctilio in the of language, with
scorn equal to that which is getting to be felt for it
by the whole civilized world of mankind. | am
not afraid to express such views in the enlightened
capital of Arkansas or any where else. | am not
so cowardly as to stand in dread of any mputation
on my courage. Ihave always had courage enough
to defend my honor and myself and presume |
always shall have.
Your obedent servant
GEO d. PRENTICE.