Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-11-14

put him forw ard to resent insults which
you had no excuse to shift to the shoul-
ders OF another. Determined to afford
you no apology for ovading the issue
with myself consented to come down
to level with your son. Having dis
posed Of him, now confront you, and
demand the satisfaction which gentle
men are always ready to tender those
upon whom they have inflicted wrong
and insult. ROGER A. PRYOR.
Hon. JoHx MINOR Boris.
p. S.-By my friend, Mr.. Banks.
RICHMOND, Oct. IL. 1856.
Sin: Your communication Of yester-
day was handed me last night, by your
friend, Mr.. Banks, OF Petersburg, in
which you make a peremptory demand
for satisfaction, for what you allege to
have been "wrong" and "insult" infict-
ed upon you, without stating in what
that wrong and insult consisted. Such
demand, under the circumstances,
would have occasIoned infinite surprise,
except that had heard, from various
sources, that, both in Washington and
here, you and your friends had freely
and without reserve announced such
determination on your part.
l might with great propriety have re-
turned your note unanswered, on the
ground that Il contained IN illusion 10
my son marked with such glaring indel-
icscy, Ito use no stronger term.) under
the circumstances that existed between
you. a. to deprive you Of all claim to
courtesy at my hands; but, as wish now
to put an end to all communication be-
tween us for the future, | proceed to an
swer.
And, first, lest my silence might be
construed into acquIescence, emphati-
cally denounce as unfounded any au-
thority upon which you may have relied
for the assertion that had put him for
ward to resent insults Offered to me-
So far from Il, assumed the response
bility OF withdrawing and suppressing
the publication Of his first card, which
cane accidently to my knowledge after
he had sent IL to the press; and re-
monstrated with him against his inter-
ference, should have felt himself con-
strained by the highest sense Of obliga-
ton and duty to himself, as we'll as to
me, to adopt the course pursued. And
this being disposed Of
In the second place, dsclaim any
and all right on your part to make de-
mand for satisfaction from me, for any
thing | have said or done, which you may
have chosen to apply to yourself; as,
from first to last, have acted only on
the defensive, avoiding all personalities
except where they had been first offered.
That you have given me ample cause
II had desired the opportunity. to de-
mand satisfaction Of you, Is undeniable;
but can see no ground upon which you
can demand IL Of me.
In the third place: Your life could
not be the value of pins point to me,
and am sure should derive no comfort
from making your wife widow or your
children atherless-therefore, / have no
desire to take IL; whilst my own life is
not only Of value to me, but indisponsi-
BILE to the support and happiness Of my
family, and hope to make II useful to
my countfy--therefore, I am not dispos.
ed to place II at your disposal.
In the fourth place: If / were to af-
ford you the opportunity you seek, tho
demands upon me would be without end,
as could not consiste ntly decline to in
dulge one and all OF the editorial corps
whose vitiated tastes might lead them to
allow their political animosities to de-
generate into personal squibbles and
abuse; and there are at this moment
some dozen or more already occupying
that position In this State, to say nothing
Of those elsewhere.
In the fifth place: The disparity In our
ages and positions In domestic lilo would
relieve me Of any obligation to meet
you, unless / was sensible Of having
done you such wrong as could not be
otherwise atoned for; and, In such case,
believe me, would permit no false pride
to overcome my sense Of propriety and
the obligations OF true courage, to pre-
vent my making an acknowledgment;
but, / repeat, that In this case the wrong
was commenced and has been carried
chiefly II not entirely on your side.
In the sixth place: My position has
been already taken before the public,
which must have been known to you, as
l stated, to whom hold myself respen-
sIble, and to whom / did no.. And ]
certainly did not include the press.
have seen no reason to change that po-
sition, now that that responsibility has
been already acknowledged In one In
stance within the last week.
In the seventh place: am free to say
the case must be strong one, and oI
unquestionable claim, that would induce
me to subject my family to the torture
they have endured for the last ton days
under mere apprehension Of what was
then transpirlng. may have the right
TO trine with my own life and happiness
bat the right to sport with or srcrihce
the happiness and health Of whole fam
lily, who havo mono other 20 look up 10
Tor their comfort or support, and that for
light and frlvulous cause, is rather
moro questionable. This may be wha,
Ia called Drawing public opinion, but they
are sentiments I have long entertained
and therefore l have always been care.
ful to avoid giving the first offence, and
have borne with much that, under other
circumstances, | should not. Al more
youthful period Of life, might have
been actuated by less cultivated feel.
Ing.
In the eighth place, You have neither
said, written, published. nor thought
anything OF mo that gives mo one mo-
ments disturbance, (whatever cause
may have to complaint Tor tho truth is
Il has been carried 30 far as TO lose Ia
sting, and. therefore, | leave you TO In
dulge your taste to your hearts content