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

II nublir bv Mr.. j. Caleb Smith: and lPTint II IN 10
ENQUIRER without addition or cxpurSoton' black
uardism and all, that Imay not be thought to "inc
under lis dcnuncutions, or be susiecfu VI o "''''
: to misrcpre.ent It's conten;s;
o To rYy PrErrc-I recently returned from Caiiof
; md ON the Sd day of this month fort the first TN,
. a,v az, article in the RicGm0rG EHqHrfr OF the l'
day OF March last written ed'toriaiy' oS No"IN "A
pRy,r and headed "Governor Smi'h.
D,,minp II q gross outrage, directly iulPnS'nT w
nr;v.t,. character of my aiher.-Gov Snith-l lei
=, INV duty a. a son, 10 that twas properly re-
dressed; and accordingly, through irienu aoores,
. I'd him, IPryor.) the following mole
W,ssISGrOS CRY. May 9Th, 1855.
RIA. Pryor, ESQ: Sir-Hnyins JUST arrived iron
California did not see tue article IN ne EnqUHH'
March the 18th, headed "Goverior Sm'tn, until yes
t.rday. | understand from your sPeecn III rreuer
;ksbur., and am otherwise satisfied, that you ar
tL ,nrbor of said article, and SO address this not
IN YOU; my purpose being to recall your attention t
IT, with the hope tut your own reflections will hduc
YOU TO repair the great wrong you have done my IA
ther his family, and his friends.
Should YOU think proper 10 repair the injury lnhct
ed in snd article trust YOUR reply Ia this note vii
contain all that YOU can permit yourself TO say, undo
any circumstances rs such course VIII relie'
us both from al undesirable correspondence. $50
! Whatever explanation you have 10 offer, will 6'
expected in writing, either through Mr. io"e' or ON
'r"''F' rs y"" may "N'' j. CALEB SMITH.
To this received the following reply -, ,v..
RICHMoSD MAY YIN i'''
Co. >,- ,,to wa. delivered 10 on the cars
NJ WINS about to Sc, to tuill engagements III T.
ter ,burC auh Grecnsvilie. -. M ,:, ::
" -. a, ~. earliest opportunity. The article III
49,, tEp? m which YOU alule, was q legitimate
r;,ir.n n, th. public position aud political Relations
n Gov. smith, aud ctm!:"t, with any pr"priety, be
considered an assault upon his personal character.
| do not acknowledge thu; have done ethcr''hin,
have no apology explanation 10 offer III regard to
| tho article in tho En2nTt'.
IT. however Gov. Smith feels himself personally
yricvcd u,n ready 10 give him satisfaction; but
recognise responsibility TO any oter person. MAJ
he docs NOT regard the article i'll the EmYn'rer as i-
uuruinr his character, bound 10 infer, from the
iact that he has chosen I" notice il Ill manner III
which gentlemen d" not redress personal insults.
am &c. ROGER a. PRYOR.
j. CALEB SMITH.
In this reply he presents three points
First. That the article in question cannot with
any pguprie,y be considered IN assault upon Gov
Suli,n's personal character.
SECONDLY. That he is willing TO give Gov Smith
satisfaction.
Thirdly. That lie recognizes responsibility to any
other person. ,
As to the first point give few extracts from the
article, sample OF t- general tons and Character
EXTRACTS
There persons VIII" have regarded the promo
ton of Gov. smith dscrriit 10 the Democratic
party. In tho iuSratitudc "t his present conduct,
they may affect TO mud abundant continuation ol INC
reproach.'
Gov Smith is not n disciple oi TINT school OF phi
lusuphy which teaches that honorable COURSE IS us
own sufficient reward. His MUD finds no repose IL
II sample consciousness o: Integrity. lie cannot acal
with the Injustice .: Hell, aud unless he gains the r'
cvmpeusc ii reward, for which he signs, he straight
way rcnounccs the ways oi virtue AUD seeks u
avcu.v hi, wrongs on hls party.
The article throughout = marked ny the same !a!sc
malsn and vIv'iIc:ive spr1i.
Ae IL the second point, have TO shy that my "a,
thor, both hf AMI position" - prtciurn i'"i '"!'
iis young man, VI less ;i"n hail his years 10 '''
field Gt hVuor and WHO """.d' 'c"ic,y' .. s""'"''
Of the wel-n";vn fact, that 10: The last two year
ny father has had conduct bis correspondence WIZ
| Lio lett hand.
a. to tho third point, have ray that sha!! moi
debate the uast.un before Virginia puohc' "!io
tler sou has the right 20 punish nsoleut aggression
from young nlua upon M aged and beloved iather
twill bu observed in this fret letter, that Roget
A. Pryor neither feels himself under tho restraint
family ties, HOT Of public bond" TO keep the peace
towards either myself Or my father denying only ina
he owes Mo any responsibility
Having eye 10 tins letter, ana pcrcciV!n1 US !!
appeared upon the surface, thu the cn wae iu:euiec
to DO conveyed that hc had no objection TO recognize
The cali Of honor. considered ny right 10 "ddres,
him tho folown, note, thus inaa:ns direct persona
! issue between hun aud myself:
CORY No 81
WAsHINGroS CRY, May 10th, 1853
SIR In forbearinS spirit ana III Difference &c
the public sentiments ot tho day, addressed yoa
uotu on the 18th inst, calling your attention 10 an ar
| Gle which appeared IL your paper OF tho 10Th o.
March, and headed "Cor. Smith, hoping that your
own reflection would induce you 20 repair the INJURY
so wautonly inflicted upon that gentleman.
Your reply however, du,ed tine sth inst, and re
coivcd by ne lrte last night, informs ne that you
have "no apology or explanations to oiler-thu you
urc "rcady TO give my father satisfaction, out Una
you Recognise no responsibility to any otner person.
Your unwillinynss to recognize yJur responsibility
to inc for violent, and uuprovoked assault upon my
father eycites my surprise Our respective ages pn
sitou and responsibilities, place us much more nearly
upon an cqurliry. Bat there is period well recoSi
1ei among all rGht-uudcd men at which tue mos
gallant Cease be expected ~ resort 10 the code
Wore il otherwise, those who Rrc ut that age, anc
others restrained by the highest considerations, woulo
evur he EXPOSED tho rutlian tread OF the mean ant
low-.pirtcI. !; II, huwevcr, silly and puerlle to re
fuse to Recognise" my rights. They nre clear ant
uui>pu,able, and shall most usauredy assert then
! in lhi, instance.
In that article. you fur transcribed ul Legitimate
editorial LICENSE, aud grossly assaulted one whose
and position You knew would not allow HIM to chi
Won personally to account. fou knew, also, that hi
| grown sons were in California, and 80, coward-hke
! rioted in your supposed Immunity. w
In that article you maligned his motives ials'he'
his history, aud stated facts; aud all this win
/ full knowledge Of what you were dong.
Justly Indignant and offended at this wanlonnes
of insult deem il proper, deem it due TO the goot
order of society, to address you thr note INTENDING
by il To insult you in way which no man OF coliisS
| aud Of honor can W wall overlook.
| can be- found at No. 4OS. on street, bet"eei
JUN '"' vt" Your CURE - '" j.. CALEB SMITH.
| Roger 4. PRYOR, Esq.
Editor OF the Enquirer. }
To this received the following reply;
RleHMoSo, May 10Th, 1856.
| SIR The temper of your letter releases me- iron
any obligation TO receive or 10 notice II, but choos
both to receive aud reply 10 H. that by tS pub!ica
ton YOU NAV not contrivc 10 place III false posi-
ton. Gov. Sn,h is in the fall v gor of life Is eul
bnrrassrd BY II, lies of family which d" not equal
hiu and Processes II" scr'ip"s o. conscience OF
feeling acans, n resort 20 the field oi honor
Such bcu. the case, he il no: relieved from the oh
legation To redress his grievances, and lucknow
ledge no accountability % my other person TOR VIVA
have written abnut Inn.
Between and me ticrc l. 10 tquai'E oi re
sponsibtics" and | shall not voluntarily hazard
liz, which is essential 20 the supper; OF my iami.
where there by possibility be the same risk y
loss the other side.
Your insults given with Il full knowledge of the fac
that nm under bonds 10 keep The peace, and cannt
therefore scui you challenge without mourning
heavy penalty, shall not provoke Inc to the etc
which your letter invites; will be driven by
impulse of anger into position which honor docs II,
compel me 10 assNne. fOGEh IL. fhIoh'
J. CALEB SMITH.
TN, nublic will note this letter we'll Perfect
nwsr. Of the position which my iather had taken
reference 10 the offensive article and that in profr
sin, readiness to give him satisfaction for il he VT
ncurrinc nn personal danger, lie changes his Groun
from that taSou III his former letter. and talks abot
the inequality m our responsbii,ics-of his life ben
essential tho support Of his ttnily-and OF his b'
ing under bonds to keep the peace. These OF
jcc,i"n' d. not seem to he in his memory when h
: suggests his Willingness to have AFFAIR of homo
with my father, They only come mp an issue wit
n,. hs senior in n. and his equal ut least IN statnI
The distinction which K. a. Pryor has Invented b'
" tween lis bonds, regardless f mh'ch he can fight IN
y tane;' an1 the same bones which do not permit hi
10 tight must excite the smile Of ptv aud COZ