The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-06-15
DIFFICULTY BETWEEN JUDGE ELLIS
AND MR.. McRAE

On Monday the 7th inst during the discussion at
Beaufort, difficulty occurred between Judge Ellis and
Mr. McRae which resulted in blows The fullest
counts that have of the ARRAY by political
enemies of Judge Ellis and suppose they coored
more or less to favor McRae. Every know nothing
paper, be expected, blames Judge Ellis and
puts him in the wrong.
The editor of the Kinston Advocate, friend and
supporter of McReas present and gives extend
ed account of the affair from which quote follows,
it containing particulars than any account that
have seen
ITO get at the connection in which the occasion of
the fight occurred it is necessary to state the fact
that Judge Ellis led off in the discussion. He had,
as usual in that portion of his Speech contended that
the course ofthose who opposed the adoption of the
Lecompon constitution, as the question first came be-
fore Congress, gave encouragement to the Abolition
sts they also oppose i-that the election of his
competitor would be claimed by them Il triumph
that although not basng his opposition on the same
grounds did the AbolitioniSts, yet they would
overlook his grounds of opposition viz: the large
amount of public lands granted to Kansas. This,
and other points were managed by him in the usual
way when we have heard them.
Mr. McRae, in his reply when he TO the discus
sion of the public lands and the practice of granting
those immense quantities to the Western States among
other objections stated he urged the of giving it
any and everybody who chose go upon them by the
thousands and millions of And in reply to
Judge Els idea that his election would encourage the
Abotionists here turning towards the Judge just rs
lie had repeatedly done before and the Judge had
also done during their discussion, he eloqucntly
and may add, wildly protraying the evils of
this practice, utterly condemning it,'gving these
lands said Mr. McRae, ''the common property of all
the States, to any and every body except the old
Statesmen to strangers and to enemies-ayc,
| to these very Aboltonists which my competitor
speaks of my encouraging; yes, pouring millions Of
acres of these lands into their laps enrching them,
and then talk about my election encouraging aboli-
tionists' Encouraging Abotionists' indeed! How ~
Here Judge Ellis Tin his seat) said, IL say it would
encourage them" and at this point rising and advan
cling towards Mr. McRae in very excited and threat
cning manner, with clenched fists, making some re-
mark which could not hear, which Mr. McIae
replied II say is false" whcreupon Judge Ellis struck
him. the latter returning the blow, when they cnched
for regular set to. BY the time they had cnched
however, the friends of each had seized and drawn
them apart.
When order was restored Mr. McRae said the whole
house would bear him witness that he had done moth
ing provoke this affair. He then went with his
speech, and finished the unexpired time of only few
moments.
Judge Ellis complained that his competitors
speech had been insulting-that it the manner
of his competitor to which he objected, while he was
turned to him, and in asking the question He felt
called to reply. lie said that Mr. McRae had
spoken of him being 'slippery eel" He
had said word, personally, of his competitor
in all their previous discussion and expressed his
gret at the occurrence.
Mr. McRae said that an apology due from both
to the audicncc-that lie regretted exceedingly
that he had always treated his opponent courtconsly
as he had always been personally friendly with him
and had so treated him. He stated that his manner
addressed entirely to the argument he pursu-
| ing the audience In reply to the Judges
''eel allusion he asked if he had not compared him
| CIcB) to ''fecs &c? He had spoken of the Judges
''teco sides" and in reply he had put him 'hree
Sides He had given blows and had received blows
| and expected to continue to do
The above is the only ineligible explanation of the
affair that have been able to procure-wheher it is
fair cannot say for certain, but the Editor
says he present suppose he has given the
main points correctly.
Since the above put in type have received the
Standard containing the following card by which will
be seen that the difficulty has been settled:
NEwDEEx, June It'll, 1s5s-To THE ED1roRs THE
SrANDARD You will please give the following an
| insertion in your next paper:
Being authorized by the highly honorable gentlemen
concerned, take great pleasure in stating that the
personal difficulty, which sprung up suddenly in the
heat of discussion at Beaufort the It'll inst, upon
mutual misunderstanding between the Gubernatorial
candidates, Hon. John w. Ellis and Hon. Duncan X.
McRae has been promptly, amicably and satisfactorily
| adjusted. These gentlemen take the stump again,
with mutual and ardent wish, they Hreply feel the
overpowering ofthe obligation, that the
be conducted to its close the principles of true
Christian feeling and gentlemany courtesy, which their
respective positions before the public mperativcl
demand. T. ID. HAUGHTON,
ID. WHITFORD.