Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-24
rervonal
h sssrasrdl.ary course psrsusd By Robert


-h.n : br;sf seaasneat in reply ~ his publica-
~ n ~ - inse-; and with view 10 reaching
.h.pun< 1salty between az, ofrsvsrtng facts
s.lineilsah psslimiusry thereto. During > recent
ia 10 fSbsrty, wanton attack was made upon
ma ~ psssa, arusd with bludgeon and pistols.
-s;Iss I ~ Wholly nnarmed. subsequently,
MT this person, and parsasd that course which,
in nv jsdkusna was the only proper one lsit me
"a vindicaAs nv character, and resent the anront
oaered ne. A Geographic dispatch. purporting
a ,;,, N account Of tho AFFAIR, but which was
,r..lv untrue, and represented me in the worst
no,.;ble lishk was Immediately forwarded to tho
Rerublican. whose editor, unin6uenced by the
law. Of oomity and professional courtesy and with
u,ter disregard for my feelings and character
published in his paper. twill not do tor GLASS
10 .lleee, in justification Of this violation Of the
ordinary rulss Of the profession-tths rule upon
which acted whom but few days previously.
declined Publishing an article rejecting on tho
responsibility Of that journal and its conductors
for the insertion Of which money was ohered'l
that the dispatch came from "a respectable ana
reliable gentleman" for, though 1t even claimed
..respectable" paternity. which deny, and which
Robert H. Glass cannot be 30 ignorant OF pub'ic
op;n;on n 10 bslievs--it did not relieve his con-
duct from the ssmblance and reality OF deliberate
dscourte.y; and when, on the next morning alter
the publication Of the dispatch in question. there
.pnesred in the column. Of the Republican, (ata
time II ia presumed, when Mr. Glass had learned
all the facts in the casc,) letter from the same
s'respectahle' gentleman. aud, a. have reason 10
believe written In this city, and most probably IN
tho Renublicnn of6ce-dictated in the same spirit
Of unkinduess towards me, and studiousy with
holding tho main facts necessary to my vind'ca-
ton, was moro fully impressed, If possible, with
A sense of the propriety Of my course. and of the
persistsnt determination u Mr. Glass to do mo in
jury.
Under these circumstances. I deemed myself
fullv justified in advertug did to the editorial
conduct Of Mr.. Glass. l intended 70 insult MIN
in manner 20 open and direct in its character
that felt assured If his craven spirit would
allow him 70 resent any sort Of indignity, he
would At onee on its appearance, attack me on
the street in a way which would relieve mo
Of the trammels Of the law.
Instead of pursuing the only course which could
have received the assent Of truly courageous
heart, be took advantage Of my position. and re-
sorted to the cowardly pretsxt Of sending chal-
lengs 10 man whom he felt assured could not
meet him 10 the mode indicated. His message
came and determined At once to accept his invl
tstion, il could do 90 without involving my
friends. consulted two Of the ablest lawyers in
this State, both Of whom assured me that meet
ing oxts,de of the State would be much for
fixture Of my bonds o. il it occurred in the State
With this assurance. end acting under the advice
Of those whose opinions and counsel was bound
70 regard, I declined the meeting leaving MIR.
Glass 10 pursue any other course that might v'ndi-
cate his courage, and place US upon equal terms
- the bond by which am trammeled does not I'M
pair my right Of selfdefence. Mr.. Glass saw his
advantage. and determined To make capital for
courage BY pressing an issue which he thought
could not, and would not accept. Accordingly no
cent me . second message, which at once decided
TO accept. trusting that the affair might come of
without any witnesses except those concerned, who
being porsiceps crimins in the eye Of the law.
could not b witnesses against mo. My reply. so
far from being "vague and unsatisfactory" as
Glass falsely alleges. was in tho words following
LYNcuDURo, Nov 10Th.
Sir--Your note Of yesterday was handed me at
. late hosr Of the afternoon. l gave my word Of
honor to appear before the Grand Jury Of Bedford
on Monday next, and shall do 40, but ~ soon
thereafter - circumstances will admit, will ac-
commodsts you with meeting in the vicinity Of
this city. On my return from Bedford all ueces.
ssry prsiininarss can b arranged.
Respectfully,
Jos. BurroN.
This. the reader must admit was an unqualified
acceptance Of his challenge, and it was solely upon
this ground that my friend declined to deliver it,
and gained FIRST the consent Of Mr.. Glass and
then Of his friend, that it should be sent through
the Post OAics. More than this. a message was
sent from the depot by my friend Mr.. Semple,
(who had just then met DR.. Owens,) through one
of Mr.. Glass clerks, TO the effect that it was all
right" Mr.. Glass therefore, could not have mis-
understood the matter. and regard his untensblc
plea FOR the return of my letter As II paltry sub
terfuge. unworthy moments consideration. Al
tor that letter had been returned which regarded
as 6nal and conclusive far a. the acceptance of
his hostile message was coneerned--it remaining
only for our respective friends to arrange the de-
tails Of the meeting-self respect forbade my send
ing any farther message. If Robert II. Glass is
sasished under these circumstances that he has
"vindcatsd his HONOR" I have only to say that he
possesses . much smaller share Of that quality
than have even given him credit for have not
Stunned him; shsll not do so and though hold
in supreme contempt the character of a profsssed
dusllist and despite this sort Of vulgar notoriety
into which nothing but combinations against
ny honor could forcs mel shall hold myself
ready TO meet any demand he may make upon me
On the 6sld or in the Streets and afford him ample
opportunity to vindicate that courage for which