The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-09-28


only manner 10 which Mr.. Clemens, a. an
honorable and generous man, could approach
Judge Breckenbrough, under the circumstan-
He approaches Judge Brockenbroueh, not 10 de-
mand statement OF facts, but TO avail himself of
Judge Brockenbroughs opinion the facts az
stated. He appeals to Judge Broekenbroueh 70
pronounce summarily his acquittal condemns
tion. No one will pretend that Judge Brocken-
brough was the proper person to select for this
office. By an entire and positive condemnation Of
Mr. Clemens, Judge Brockenbrough would have
been Obliged to manufacture political capital for
himself This consideration, and Judge I,rocken-
brough's honest pride and we'll known spirit of
extreme charity and forbearance towards the
weakness of others, furnished Mr.. Clemens every
assurance that his appeal, in the form present.
edmust be received, not proud demand
for the unqualified severity of justice, but az an
humble petition for charity, If not for mercy
And yet he stopped TO make the appeal. The an
swer Is exactly what sefght have been expected
Judge Brockenbrough cannot be swerved from
positive statement OF facts, but declines issue
a condemnation, which, If pronounced, would
| enure to his own benefit; and, giving Mr.. Clemens
the benefit of single doubt in his favor is chari.
table enough to be unwilling to believe him guilty
Of intrigue treacbery; and escapes the necessity
of attributing unworthy motives, only by srppos-
ing that Mr.. Clemens has acted with degree Of
s'incousiderateness, which would be unpsrdopn.
BILE in quck-wtted urchip, ten years of age 1t
requires only glance to determine that every
charitable effort on the part of Judge Brocken-
brough, is insufficient to mitigate the sentence
pronounced by the facts themselves against Mr..
Sherrard Clemens. Judge Brockenbrough's letter
presents, in spite of his xtreme magpanimity, q
smooth and convex surface, which reflects una
voidabiy the unenviable situation of Mr.. Clemens
| and presents no point whatever which the latter
can fairly lay hold on for his own Justification
And yet, with the evidence against him, thus
increased and multiplied, Mr.. Clemens has the
audacity to present this letter as a complete
yindicatiou of his conduct, presents it In seeming
triumph to the "Epduirer," rendering as at the
same time condescending assurance that he
presumes We do not desire to do him injustice,
and impliedy asserts that NO other comment is
needed from him; that 1t only remains for us to
acknowledge the completeness of his Justification
The Enquirer then proceeds to examine the cor
respoDdence, at length. 1t declares that Mr.
Clemens pleads guilty to the Indictment that he
had published his first communication wito,tt the
express authority of Judge peterborough, not>
withstanding he had asserted in that communica>
ton that he was authorized by the Judge to make
it. For this the Enquirer there 10 no pals
liation urged 1t declares the inference drawn by
Mr.. Clemens from the conversation with Judge B.,
, that be would not accept the Office of Governor,
anr edsonable-that the disclaimer of desire for
an Office is often made by patriotic men who would
not shrink from its duties and responsibilities If
imposed on them. The inference that Judge B.
would not accept the Office of Governor because
he dscaimed any wish to fill It, in connection with
the further inference of authority to publish 1t,
the Enquirer pronounces "unwarrautable" The
article concludes with the following dsnanciation
"Sherrard Clemens is guilty Of an act of gross
| treachery towards Judge. Brockenbrough, perpe>
| trated nnder the euse OF personal and political
| friendship he is guilty of an act of political
trickery, intended to enure to the benefit of
political aspirant, for the accomplishment Of which
he has not failed to to public aud iIfu mis-
representation; he has betrayed the confidence OF
the editors Of the Enquirer and abused the columns
of the paper, by requesting and obtaining the in
serton Of these same Wiliul misrepresentation"
Three days after the appearance of this article
in the Enquirer, VIZ: On the 10th, MIR. CLsNrNs
sent his challenge to Mr.. WISE. The terms and
place Of meeting~ere promptly arranged, aud the
meeting to- k place on the morning of the 17th, at
Fairfield. At the fourth fire, MIR. CLEMENS was
badly wounded and the issue OF his is not yet
settled.
On the day sfer the duel the South published
the following statement, as i. said sat the instance
| Of friend of the Hon. SHERRARD CLEMENS"
Being about to close personal issue raised agans,
me by of the editors OF the enquirer in copnec-
| tion with a correspondence betN cen my self and
serve, in case should not sur, j., the meeting the
motives which ac:uated Inc towards Judge Broken
broush, IN seuoIng 10 Ihe Enquirer the letter which
Is the primary cause CT the present difficulty.
prepare now, under the most soiemn saLction OF my
conscience. this specific and detailed account, in
| writing, for puslication:
| 1 met Judge Brockenbrough at Grafton, on the
evening OF The day before he opened Court at Clerks
Ilod OF our first acquaintance to the present hour
| sny thing but kindness. 1 on inIimate terms
with many of his connexions and the highest con-
\ mote his Interest We walked cut ct the hotel and
prCmenaded up and down the plato In in front OF it.
kxpress train from the West Am pg ther sub.
jeCts upon which veEsed was that of the ,v-
| error ship; and the substance and effect of what
| passed, is as follows:
| told him that had seen his name presented asa
candidate, and asked what his position he re-
Piled. near as can Iecollect follows: that he
| already held a position which was entirely coDge-
na 10 his tastes. studies and inclinaions that bis
TRENDS locking for his promotion in the line
| his profession. and that was much more acceptable
30 hlm; that he did not want wish any Ii ecutvs
OF CO. and not that Of 6oyernor-for he and the Hon.
John Letcher one OF the aspirsnts perfectly under
stood each other; that they good friends that
he desired conflict, especially with him, any
of the zeal which had been manifested towards him.
he app rehepded. sprung from circumstances which
Just before passed into the door Of the hotel
as the hight ttruck his face, said to him. Judge
can state your p9eitlen'" He replied. Il au,hor
ever, mention. that when / called his attention TO
this fact after the publication of bis first letter TO
the Enquirer, he did not recall it, and use 1t now
| merely as one of the inducing causes in my own
mind which controlled my action.
| After We passed into the hotel and stood ct the
counter the Office and in the presence Of an. ther
person from his own town. Samuel Letcher. brother
Of the Hon. John Letcher. Remarked to Judge
Brockenbrough that there was q gentleman Then III
| Uiarksburg, who held Federal Office, and who
se.1ned tV me halting between two op nions bu-
strongly disposed 10 ad yocate bis claims. Ho replied
press any thing of that kind.'
first spoke to him; but the conviction on my mind
was such from hi. whcie tone, and manner and Ian
guage, that when returned home. and found ap
pearances tending to conflict between himself and
| MIR. Letcher. l reflected en- our interview. and
thought would Go Judge Brockenbroush an act OF
kinaDess in defining his position by letter to the
the very result which he himself had so emphatf.
cally deprecated-a rivalry between himself and
his friend This is the only motive which ever in
huenced me; and here so)emnly avow, by my be
lief in God and in view ct nay eternal responsibility
to Him, that never had any ether.
As corroborative Of this, about the time sent my
arst letter to tho Enquirer and before it was pub
then holding Cours at Ciarksburg, apprislng him Oh
what had dope. stating, in terms. that had en-
iie1ed or or hoped it Would @ seeord with bis views. Or
meet his appreciation: that sent him, at the mo-
ment no copy Vi my letter to the Enquirer because
desired to leave him utterly non-committed ss to
its language. until 1t was published that to it WAS
alone Priyy. and ior it alone responsible.
my honor, bnt whatever hope / may have IN the
world to come; and here appeal to Judge Brocken-
broush and to Samuel Letcher. of Lexington. Va,
| ry in so far rs 1t may be implicated by anything
| herein contained, which comes within their own
sHERRARD CLEMENS.
RICHMOND, VA, Sept lG. 1883
The Somth of yesterday contained the following
| communication from Mr.. IRvINs, the friend Of
Mr.. CLEMENS:
| To the Editor Of the So,h:
The communication bolow was prepared according
to- date the day after the meeting between Meesrs
| Wise and Clemens. 1t was, however. withheld for
reasons satisfactory to myself lnow rtQuestits in
sertion.
| 1 dem it unnecessary to make any addition or
comment. a. DO not think any can doubt the juft
cation OF Mr. Clemens in sending tho challenge. The
Justineation for hs subsequent course Is that Of