Daily national Democrat., 1858-09-23
Facts Concerning the Late Duel,

We find the following communication in
the Alta:
EDIToRs ALTA; The friends of the late w
l. Ferguson have called my attention to The
following paragraph, published in the even
ing paper Of the 18th inst, which they be-
lieve should be answered. 1t is as follows:
"Now, in the case Of Johnston and Fergu.
son, the difficulty between them was mere
trifie, which did not justify resort to the
code" The number of shots originally
agreed upon, had been fred without injury
and it was the duty of the seconds at this
point to have refused to allow their princi-
pals to exchange another round. Both the
seconds exhibited either lack of Judgment
or disposition for evil. Mr.. Johnston's sec.
ond, ng weak.minded man, may be pos
sibly excused under the first head Mr.. Fer
guson's second was the infamous Estill. To
him we attribute design for evil. His hands
had already been lmbued in the blood of an
innocent and unprepared victim. The mem
ory of that act. and the many other offences
committed, still haunt his Imagination and
as he considers himself out Of the pale of sal
vation, and under the ban of public opinion
he, Satan.like desires to carry as many as
possible with him to the realms of the damn.
ed Him, especially, the law, were it prop
erly administered, would only consign to a
place which, if justice had been DONE he
would long since have occupied.
To the people of this State, who are con.
versant with the hostility evinced by that
paper towards me for the last two years, it
would need no reply But as they conc Give
the character of the dead may suffer by my
silence, cannot hesitate to give the facts
exactly as they trahspired.
On the morning of the goth of August l
was informad that the Hon. George Pen
Johnston had challenged the Hon. VIM. |.
Ferguson, who was then looking for me to
act as his friend. On meeting him, refused
to act, and gave my reason in full. was
sent for afterwards, and told that no suitable
party could be procured, which finally in
duced me to consent, but not until full DOW.
ers were given me to adjust the difficulty
without hostile meeting, ifit could be done
honorably.
proceeded at once to find the friend of
Mr.. Johnston, who went with me to his
principal
Having been informed by Mr. Ferguson of
the circumstances which had transpired at
the interview at the Bank Exchange, | ma
turally concluded it to be the matter of differ
"
such character. that, in my opinion, it left
the means of adjustment
When | was through awaited the answer
Mr.. Johnston, in reply, spoke of the ether
matters foreign to the cause of quarrel, as |
had understood it, when his friend said the
apparent misunderstanding is not the only
cause of complaint, but we see proper to
make our demand on it.
| had no course left hut tO take NV Lon va
and advise Mr.. Ferguson to prepare for the
meeting. Anxious as | was to adjust the
difficulty we found it impossible to explain
that which we did not understand, or apollo
gize for an offence of which we were not nc
cused
On the ground, l sought two gentlemen of
high standing, whom | requested to stand
by, with the view of taking any advantage
that circumstances might present, for the
purpose Of effecting a reconciliation. This
was attempted, but failed. After the third
fire, l thought it my duty to seek Mr.. John
ston's friend and ask if they were not salts
fed, expressing myself in strong language
against its continuance He said kindly, and
| thought encouragingly, that he would CON
suit his principal When he returned, he de-
manded II written apology or another fire.
Mr.. Ferguson felt offended and ordered all
communication to cease, but to continue to
reload and fire until one or both should fall
At the fourth fire Mr.. Ferguson fell, and Mr.
Johnston was slightly wounded; when after
inquiries and regrets, Mr.. Johnston called to
see Mr. Ferguson, expressed himself satisfied,
and the parties were recOnciled.
From that time to his death, l was con
stantly at Mr. Fergusons side. and feel it my
duty to the living as well rs to the dead, to
repeat: 'hat he died with the hope that no
friend of his should prosecute his adversary,
as he had taken the hazard of life or death
with himself, and had only escaped the latter
by less than half an inch.
The object of the above statement is to
show, that neither Mr.. Ferguson nor his
friends desired continuation of hostilities, a
moment longer than it could be honorably
adjusted, and they are especially anxious
that this fact should be made known to his
many hiends 10th here and in Illinois. 1t
is furt eimore a duty which is due to Mr.
Johnston and to truth, TO correct an impress
sion VII ch generally obtains to the effect
that the terms only authorized three shots.
The number was unlimited, and like the san
culinary accusation against Mr. Ferguson, it
is unsustained by the facts. j. NJ. &.