Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-10-01


of his justification"
The Enquirer then proceeds to examine the
correspondence, Mt length. Itdeclares that Mr.
Clemens pleads guilty to the Indictment that he
had published his first communication soith0ut
the express authority of Judge Brockenbrough,
notwithstanding he had asserted in that commu-
nicatlon that hewas authorized by the Judge to
make it For this the Enquirer asserts there
is no palliation urged. Itdeclares the Inference
drawn by Mr. Clemens from the conversation
with Judge B., that he would not accept the
office of Governor, unredsonu6le-that the dis
clalmer ofa desire for an office is often made by
patriotic men who would not shrink from its
duties and responsibilities ifinposed on them.
The inference that Judge B., would not accept
the office of Governor, because he dsclaimed
any wish to fill 1t, in connectionwith the further
inference ofautliority topubish it, the E7id5irer
pronounces "unw arrantable." The article con.
clndes with the following denunciation
Sherrards Clemens is guilty Of an act of gross
treachery towards Judge Brockenbrough, per-
petrated under the guise of personal and politi-
cal friendship; he is guilty Of an act Of political
trlckery, intendedto enure to the benefit Of some
political aspirant, for the Accomplishment Of
which he has not failed to resort to public and
wIltul misrepresentation; he has betrayed the
confidence of the editors of the Enquirer and
abused the columns Of the paper, by requesting
and obtaining the insertion of these same wilful
Misrepresentation" !"
Three days after the appearance of this article
in the Enquirer, viz: on the 18th Mr.. Clemens
sent his challenge to Mr.. Wise. The terms and
place of meeting were promptly arranged, and
the meeting took place on the morning of the
18th, at Fairfield. AT tbe fourth fire, Mr..
Clemens was badly wounded and the issue of
his case is noty yet settled.
On the day. of the dnel the South published
the following statement, as It said t'at thein-
stance of a friend of the Hon. Sherrard Glenn
ens:"
STATEMENT
Being about to close a personal issue raised
against me by one of the editors of the Engui1.-
er, in connection with correspondence between
myself and Judge Brockenbrough; and being
anxious to preserve, in case should not sur
yiye the meeting, the motives which actuated
me towards Judge Brockenbrough, in sending
to the Enquirer the letter which is the primary
cause of the present difficulty. l prepare now,
under the most solemn sanction Of my consci-
ence, this specific and detailed account In writ
ing, for publication:
met Judge Brockendrough at Grafton, on
the evening of the day before he opened Court
at ClarkSburg. He has never receiver from me,
from the period of our first acquaintance to the
present hour, anything but kindness. I am on
Intimate terms with many of his connections,
and the highest considerations were and are ope-
rating upon me to promote his interest, We
walked out Of the hotel and promenaded up and
down the platform in front of it. 1t was night,
about the period Of the arrival of the Express
train from the West. Among other subjects
upon which we convresed, was that Of the Gov.
ernorship; and the substance and effect of what
passed, is as follows:
| told him that had seen his name presented
asa candidated, and asked what his position
was. He replied, as near as can recollect as
follows: that he already held position which
was entirely congenial so his tastes, studies and
inclinations; that his friends were looking for
his promotion in the line Of. his profession, and
that was much more acceptable to him.; that he
did not want, or, wish any Executive office, and
not that of ofGoyernor-for.h he and the Hon. John
Letcher, one of the aspirants, perfectly under
stood each other; that they were good. friends;
that he desired no conflict especially with him,
nor any other person who sought the place; and
that much of the zeal which had been manifest
ed towards him, he apprehended, sprung from
circumstances which shall not now repeat.
just before we passed into the door of the
hotel, as the light struck his face, said to him.,
Judge, can state your positon?" He replied,
II authorize, you to do so.''4 In justice to him,
his attention to this fact, after the publication
of his first letter to the Enquirer, he ddEn6treL
call it, and use itnow merely as one of theIin-
ducing, causes in my Own mind which control
led my action.
After VIC passed into the hotel and stood at
the counter ofthe Office, and in the epresence of
another person from his own town, Samuel
Lctcher, brother of the Hon. John Letcher,
remarked to Judge Brockenhrough that there
was a gentleman then IN Carksburg, who held
a Federal office, and who seemed TO me halting
between two opinions, but strongly disposed to
advocate his claims. He replied, 81 will see
him when 1 get to Clarksburg, and repress any
thing of that kind.''.1s % 1Esa 3thi!7
had no idea of the press, oriof publication.
when | first spoke to him; but the conviction on
my mind was such, fron his whole tone, and
manner and language, that when returned
home, and found appearances tending "a. "A con-
fct between himself and Mr.. Letcher, Il trefiec-
ted on our interview, and thought L would do
Judge Brockenbrough an act of Kindness in de-
filming his position BY letter to the Enquirer;
because, in doingso, was preventing the very
result which he himself had soemph aticallyidep.
rivalry between himself and his
friend. This is the only motive which ever in
flnenced me: and I hero solemnly avoS, bytmy
belief in God, and in view of my eternal respon.
sibility to Him, that never had any other
Asscorrob oborntive Of this, about the time sent
my first letter to the Enquirer, and beforei il was
published, i addressed letter to Judge Brock
enbrough, then holding Court at UIarksbnre.
apprising him of what I had done, stating. IN
terms that I had endeaYored to define his nosi.
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