Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-26

then without. as may suit your necessities or your
'ancy. Ii, within the code, them az the agpritved
party, u was your duty TO havs demanded satisfsc
on ot me- IN accordance with the requirements of
that "code."
But you thought proper 10 net otherwise. to put
yoursei outside OF the code and utterly disregard
't the usage which obtains among gentlemen" In a
word you sst out with deliberate violation of the
'code,' and now claim 20 have conceded TO YOU al,
the rights, privileges and advantages which the icode
accords 10 tnose VINO recognize it, and regulate their
conduct by It. This unlus and extraordinary conces
sion am not disposed 10 make you or to any other
msn Under the circumstances, therefore, You are
not entitled TO any recognition from me under the
code" have, therefore, submitted 10 you pro.
position outslds o! 1t, which you are at liberty 10 &C.
cept or not as suite yOu.It is proposition which
puts us botn upon terms of perfect equality although
admit you It is not thin the limits of the recognized
code of honor But subnt that il il not for YOU 10
object 10 such proposition upon the ground that
entirely Incompatible with the usage which obtains
among gentlemen Your course of proceeding Ger.
tainly had not the sanction of such usage :" how,
then you reasonably object 10 nv proposition for
the reasons assigned in your letter?
ln concuaon. have no other proposition to make:
and as decline the one have made this letter
concludes my correspondence with you.
Respectfully,
.. JENNINGS WISE, ESQ. r. RIDGWAY.
-.ss--------
From the Richmond Whs JAM 23 1855
TO THE PUBLIC.
While sitting IN my oitca on Yesterday engaged in
writing. some knocked Il; the door and i'm nv
usual manner, iIrlted him 10 come in Unon his
entering the room, spoke To him. arose, and offered
him seat. While in the act of Thus seating him and
Offering him the civties due to visitor, he mutered
Out something about my incidence to his father, which,
he said, he could not stand any longer. l asked him
in return, who ho was, and who was his father, and
what the cause Of offence was-io neither Of which
questions did he return any reply; but Immediately
k.t,a
which was aimed at my head. Immediately closed
upon him, AMI struck him several light blows with
nv fist and then seized his etck, which bald, while
he seized hold of my coat COLLAR and cravat with his
lef, hand, nether of striking the other in th. at.
titude but trying TO take the stick from him, and
he endeavoring 10 hold on TO il.
During all this time, had no conception on esrth
who the man was, but was under The impression
that whoever he might me, he WAS intoxicated, and
was probably 10 some extent unconscious of what he
was doing. II oacurred to ms that hs was perhaps
the son Of sons gentleman at 3 distance, who, being
in the city and laboring under the excitement Of
drink, had hOughlisssly formed resolution 10 re-.
vengs upon me what he supposed to be q wrong done
his father by me. This idea was confirmed by the
fact that he did not give his name. and his face
was evidently very much flushed. Under these i'm.
pressiOns, felt no anger and had no disposition to
hurt him. and therefore. The door being closed and
both of being against it, called to the Local Ed
tor, MIR Crane, who l supposed was in the opposite
put him out. AZ have sad felt no disposition TO
infict injury upon one whom thought Was in q con.
dition Of intoIicston; Ii had had ample opportu'
nifty to do 30, az n large sword cane was in arms
length Of me, when he commenced his assault, but /
touched il not, for the that thought could
manage him without it, Gnd having no idea who he
was. 1t was not until several of the employees in
the office, in Dir. Gremes room opposite, who heard
call the latter gentleman, had come into my room.
that was made aware OF the name OF the person
plsF
vious warning, without telling me who h- wac, aud
without stating the cause of offence, the time at
which It was given or anything about it. was then
told, after We had been parted, and had told him To
leave tue room, that it was Mr.. o. Jennings Wise.-
Hearing that name | Immediately caught up my
stick and was about to let it fall upon him with all
the vigor possessed when he asked me, in what
appeared to me TO be mploring tone, not to strike
him; and Instantly recollecne that several of my
own friends were then present, and none of his, |
calmly remarked 10 him that would not, and re
joiced am that did not, under the circumstances.
He then retired, turning his head occasionally as ii
he apprehended as cowerdy IN attack upon himself
as he had made upon me.
Such the circumstances in detail of this affair,
which am sure have given with entire accuracy,
and which, know, have given without the elightest
wish or purpose to vary hairs breadth from the
truth. now leave 1t to An impartial and fairdeang
public to judge whether Mr. o. Jennings Wise has
exhibited in this transaction particle of deoency,
msnln-ss, or true courage.
Let me ask, in passing, why Mr.. %. Jennings Wise
has just thought of avengiug my inSo.ence to his
father7 What have l sod done iatterly to arouse
his wrath, which have not been saying and doing
during my entire connection with the Richmond
"Whig1" Have MOI been habituslly insoept 10 his
father for four long years, and not whit ess so for
hs lsst sx or eight months during Mr.. U. Jennings
Wise's residence in this city, than bsforel Why.
sn. this suddenness of purpose to svenge hs fathers
wrongsi
I recognise the right Of any con to hold me to a
personal responsibility for any insult wrong which
the father may receive at my hands; and when
sion requires it, account the justified and risht
in assuming the protection Of his fathers character
Recognizing and always ready 20 act upon this prlE'
cpls myself, there has been no period IN the past
when should not have freely accorded to Mr.. U.
Jennings Wise any satisfaction which he might have
desired in behalf OF his father consistently with
what obtains among gentlemen. i'll fair and honorable
combat. He had only to make his wishes known
and my past career is guarantee enough that should
not have shrspk from responding to his summons.
only wish to observe. in conclusion, that it It was
the purpose of Mr.. o. Jennings Wise. to arrest me
10 my usual Critioisms upon the political course oi
his father he will find himself mistaken. shall pur
sue the ordinary tenor of my way. and comment
upon his fathers conduct when, and how choose
claim 10 stole insensihity TO fear; j am human as
all men arei but this l will say that cringe nor
trucke to nothing OF "woman born' ! bow the
knee to God alone.
With these observations, made necessary by the
unprecedented circumstances of the case, | take
leave of the subject X. RIDGWAY.