The Trinity times., 1855-02-10
Geo. ID. Prentice on Duelling.

In recent tour through several of the
Southern States, Mr.. Prentice visited Little
Rock, in Arkansas. He there fell in with a
little book written by Mr.. llewson, which
he took the liberty of criticisng with some
severity in a communication to one of the
Little Rock papers. Mr.. Hewson chose to
consider it an attack upon him personally,
and wrote letter demanding a retraction.-
To this Mr.. Prentice replied that he dis
claimed all intention to be personals; Mr..
| llewson was stranger to him and he had
no thought of assaiing his private character
and conduct. This did not satisfy Mr..
| lIewson, and he forwarded another note
! demanding an unqualified denial. To this
note Mr.. Prentice returned the subjoined no
BILE and manly communication, which was fl
nally decided by mutual friends to be amply
sufficient and satisfactory.
LITTLE Rock, Nov. 81, 1854.
Sir, Your note, dated yesterday, was
handed me this morning. have no other
reply to make to it than that which | made
to you at first. cannot properly say to you
that retract the personalities of my article
in the True Democrat, for do not think il
contains any. have distinctly disclaimed
any such construction of the language of that
article as would imply an imputation on your
personal character or conduct, and | do not
recognize any right or reason on your part,
to ask or expect more Of me. This deem
quite as much due to myself is to you.
PresumiRg that your notes are written to
me with view to duel, | may as well say
here, that have not the least thought of ac-
cepting a challenge from you. consider my
structures upon your writings entirely legiti-
mate and, at any rate the disclaimer that
have made ought to satisfy you.
came here from a distant State, because
many believed could do something to pre-.
mote great and important enterprise, and
as have no reason to believe that my labors
are altogether in vain, 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 &C.
count, do not see fit at present to put it up
voluntarily against yours.
am no believer in the duel,ing code. l
would not call q man to the field unless he
had done me such deadly wrong that de-
sired to kill him, and would not obey his
call to the field unless had done him so NOR
to demand all opportunity of taking my life.
have not the least desire to kill you or to
harm hair on your head, and am not con-
scious of having done any thing to enttle
you to kill me. do not want your blood
upon my hands, and do not want my own
upon anybody's. | might yield much to the
demands Of a strong pubic sentiment, but
there is no public sentiment, nor even any
dsinterested individual sentiment, that either
requires me to meet you or would Justify me
in doing SO.
look upon the miserable code that is said
to require two men TO 60 out and shoot at
each other for what one of them may consid-
er violation of etiquette or punctlio in the
use 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 cap
ital of Arkansas, or anywhere else. | am
not SO eowardly as to stand in dread of any
lmputatlon on my courage. | have always
had courage enough to defend my honor and
myself, and trust always shall have.
Your very obedient servant,
GEO. ID. PRENTICE.
Nj. BUTT lIEwsoN.