The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-11

A fracas lately occurred IN Richmond
Va, between Mr.. KoBr. RrDGwAY, OF ti,e
HAig, and D. j. WISE, son Of Coy. WEE,
wherein the latter assaulted the former, on
account Of attacks which bad appeared in
IN the Wing, Of an offensive nature against
the Governor. Subsequently, Mr.. Ride
WAY ngDifed his willingness to accept
challenge II Mr.Wsg chose TO send him one.
Mr.. KIDGwAY, having received blow, how
ever, it was thought that the challenge
should proceed from him, so be despatched
10 Mr. WISE belligerent note, making the
following extraordinary proposition:
propose that you and ! select ouly one
friend each, and with one pair Of pistols, We
shall oil meet In either your Office or mine, at
thus meeting, and the door being locked, you
and shall be securely bitndfolded that then
the seconds shall load one OF the pistols, and
leave the other nnloaded that they shall next
determine by lot the choice Of pistols that the
pistols shall then be handed 10 US, and that
yours shall be placed directly against my
breast, and mine against yours that, next and
pull trigger, and let the consequences take care
Of themselves
To this, Mr.. WEE replied;
must call your attention 10 the fact that, by
the code Of honor, the challenging party il not
entitled 10 prescribe the weapons or the mode
of using them. Moreover, the mode which you
suggest IL one entirely incompatible with the
usage which obtains among gentlemen, since
II would leave the issus entirely TO the decision
OF chance. am not willing to permit yon To
use weapon against me, without Al oppof-
tunity, fully secured 10 me, Of equal resistance.
Still less would consent, under any circam
stances. to use deadly weapon against an un-
armed man.
On rejecting, you must admit these sugges.
lions To AFFORD unavoidable objections to my
assent 10 the proposition which you have sub
mitted. Whenever you shall send me such q
challenge az can accept consistently with the
just sense Of honor and proprety recognized
by established usage, | shall then be authorized
to accord TO yon the satisfaction which you
may desire. Such achalenge must not include
conditions invasive Of my rights N q challenged
party. nor must IL embody propositions inoon.
sistent with the usage which prevails among
gentlemen OF honor.
Mr.. RiDdwaY was not moved by this ar
gamcnt, but Immediately responded:
Under the circumstances. you are not en-
titled 10 any recognition from mo, under the
code. have, therefore, submitted TO you q
proposition outside OF il, which you are at lib
erty 10 accept or not, ~ suits you. II Ii a
proposition which puts us npon terms of per
feet equality. although, ! admit It Is not
within tho limits Of the recognized code OF
honor. hut submit that II IN not for you to oh,
jet to such a proposition upon the ground that
Il Is ''sntrcly incompatible with the usage which
obtains among gentlemen" Your course Of
proceeding certainly had not the sanction Of
such usage" How, then, can you reasonably
object TO my proposition for the reasons as.
signed In your letter In conclusion, have 90
say to yon that have no other proposition IL
make. and, ~ you decline the one have made,
This letter concludes my correspondence with
you.
Judging from this correspondence, VT
should think there was little danger Of the
parties engaging in mortal combat, but telo
cgraph reports that il has been deemed ne
cessary 10 hold them 10 bail in the sum ID
$4,000 each, 10 prevent further hos,ilities.