Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-27
The Madensbarg Dueliing Ground.
MASON AND M'cARry.

One Of the most desperate of those mel
,ancholy encounters which have made TIL
place SO memorable was that of the 9th 0
February. 1919, between Gen. Armistea,
T. Mason, previously . Senator in Con
! gross from Virginia, and Col. john nj
M Carly, a citizen Of the same State III
difficulty between them existed for SOM
time. It originated in that most prolif
, source Of personal onmity, politics III
) parties were second cousins; but notwstthh
; standing this, their quarrel appears to hav'
, been prosecuted with luminosity as unspar
ing as their relationship was intimate. =
Several mouths previous to the final meet
ing, violent alteration had taken plac,
, between them at the polls at Leesburg. il
consequence of Mason's having questioned
NJ Carty's right to vote. M'Carty at ono,
challenged Mason, but in the challenge h
prescribed the terms and conditions Of th1
duel The dictation Of terms Mason would
not submit to; and consequently, by til,
advice Ct his friends, he declined the chal-
lcnge. At the same tilne however, he sen
word to HI Carly that he was ready to &C
cept regular challenge, in a proper form.
M'Carty paid no attention to the message
but forthwith published Mason as coward
Mason then sent challenge to M'Carty
which MCarty declined on the alleged COW
ardice of Mason, as shown by his refusal tc
fight in the first instance At this juno
tute number of Masen's friends united IL
a letter, begging him to take no further no
ltice Of M'Carty. Although Mason was
burning under sense of the wrongs he had
received, he yielded to their entreaties, and
the affair, was to all appearances, at az
end
Some months afterwards, however, while
riding to Richmond in the stage, with a
gentleman Of high military and political
standing Gen. jackson, he was told that
he ought to challenge n Carly again. This
he decided to &c as seen as he reached
Richmond 1t vas il vain that his friends
low endeavured 70 dissuade him. HI
would not listen to their appeals, in the Ian
guage II the card subsequently published
by thcm, he had resolved Oh challenging
Mr. ii gasty, p opposition 10 all advice
(which they gave, and all the efforts which
they used 10 3lssuade him. 70 free him
If from til, embarrassment $ ane. restraints
imposed BY the laws Of Virginia or duel
Ling, or Influenced, perhaps by Il desire no;
to violate Ter statutes while holding her
commission, lie resigned his commission as
General Of Militia, made his will and adj
dressed MCaTty All Invitation to the field
In this note, which, better chan any des-
cription, portrays the spir;s i'll which the
controversy was conducted. he says: 4
have resigned ny commission fer the spe-
,clal and sole purpose Of fighting you and
am now free TO accept OF send challenge,
and fight duel. The public mind has be-
come Tranquil, and all suspicion of the
further prosecution Of our quarrel having
subsiIed, We can HON have it terminated
Without being arrested by the civil authori-
ty, and Without exciting alarm among our
frlends. /. | am extremely anx-
'ious to terminate at once and forever this
quarrel isy friends --- an.!
are fully authorized to act for me in every
particular. Upon receiving pledge from
|you TO fight, they are authorized and in
slructed al once to give the challenge for
ME, aud to make immediately every neces-
isary arrangement for the ducl, on any
terms you laay prescribe"
This note, which fully botrays Mason's
Iinaexlbility of purpose, and which it is sta
ted, was auver read by MCarty, was writ
ten before any interview hal taken place
between Sen. Mason and his seconds, and
was enclosed to them in letter containing
positive instructions for their government.
LIE writes them You viii present the
enclosed communication to Mr. John Near
ty, and tell him at once that you are au J.
thorized BY me to challenge him, in the e.
| vent of his pleaging himself to fight Ii lie
| will give the pledge, then desire that you
viii challenge him in my name to fight a
Duel with me-
Agree to any terms that be
iaay propose, and to any distance three
feet, bis pretended favorite distance-or to
three inches, Should Lis impctuous and rash
courage prefer it. TO any species Of fire
arms pistols, muskcts, OF rifles agree al
once"
Acting under these instructions, Mason's
seconds called on M'Carty, as bearers Of his
challenge, u Garty agssa recessed to re-
Iceiyc any communication from Mason, fol
the same reason as before. \ violent per.
sonal alteration took place between NJ Car
'ty and one Of Muson's seconds, the latte,
insisting strongly thai the challenge should
Ibe accepted and received, and the forme,
obstinately refusing to receive it. The
quarrel became SO violent that the parties
were near fighting. At last, Mason's Sc
l'conds having threatened to post NJ Carly as
Ia coward unless he accepted the challenge
Nj Carty agreed to fight It would appear
!, from this, that though Mason's friends il
general, and even one Of his seconds, strovs
to prevent the duel, it was forced upon
N Carly by the other.
! IF the spirit which animated Mason in tn,
unfortunate controversy was headlong ane
uDconrromising, that which impelled NJ Car
ty was apparently none 4he less 50. It i
said he would consent to nc meeting Tia
afforded any possibility for the escape 9
, either Reckless Of his own life, he deter
mined that if be fell his antagonist SHOULD
fall with him He you'd therefore consen
to meet Mason only on saeh terms as must
in all probability, result in the destruction
Of both
With this object IN view in accepting ta
challenge, his first proposal is said to hav'
been that he and Mason should leap togeth
Ter from the dome Of the capital. This wa