New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-02-01
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The Fitch ana Dousiss Correspondence,
TFrom the Washington Union, zsshI
WAsHrscros. jan. n 1850
Sir--Today, in secret session Of the SENATE. vou
offered me an afront 20 wanton, unpT0yoked snd an
justifable, that am obliged to infer Il must have
been the impulse Of momentsry passion, and not d
deliberate generalization. This note Is written for
the purpose Of a6ordDg you an opportunity Of saying
whether Or not my conclusion j. correct; and further,
Of sfiordiDg you an opportunity Of retracting the
offensive language which you thus gratuitousIy and
fundamentally applied to me.
"'' s. "a DOUGLAS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. q, 1859.
Sr-Your note Of yesterday was handed me this
made charge sbss the lately sppointed federal III
GERS In Illinois we're corrupt, dishonest men-or words
to that effect Y0u knew my son to be one Of tfioss
officers, and you could not expect me TO bear such
nounced 1t to be, 70 your. knowledge, untrue. You
subsequently nodded 1t as to satisfy me that you
excepted my son from the general charge, although
yoa did not name him, and made no further issue
with you on that subject. When, at subsequent Pc
Rod Of your remarks yon attributed 10 me statements
which had not made, l requested that In quotipg
me You would do 90, truthfully. These remarks were
certainly not deliberately premeditated,n but they
mentary passion The first was prompted by . de-
termination to defend the honor and character Of ~
SOD, as dear 70 me as my OWL, against attack 80
and the second was the exercise of my right to rect
q misrepresentation OF my own remarks.
Hon. s. A. DOUGLAS a. N. FITCH
Co., v,... :. y, WA.Hseios, Jan. a. sK.Pn.
ST-fOur note OF this date has Just been placed In
my hands. admit, without hesitation, your HIGHT
and duty to do justice TO the reputation Of your sou
At the same time maintain my right. in the dis
charge Of my duty as Senator to comment freely and
fully on the character Of Executive appointments
especially in my own State. i deny, however, that
my general remarks in relation TO the list Of Illinois
appointments, confirmed by the Senate during my
absence could be fairly Interpreted to embrace your
son. When you seemed so TO- construe them,
promptly replied that what had said of the Illinois
appointments was true as general rule, but that
there we're exceptions, among whom recognized
come of my own friends. Abiding particularly to
your son, added that had nothing to say in regard
TO the merits OF his appointment, choosing to leave
that question where placed it by my remarks to the
Senate during the last session. il your presence at
you understood this explanation to exempt your SON
from the application Of my general remarks and yet
You have failed to withdraw the offensive language,
but on the contrary at subsequent stage Of the de-
bate, when apologizing for q breach of Senatorial
decorum, you expressly declared that you had moth.
ing to retractthus appearing, in my apprehension,
to re-affirm the Objectionable words.
As to the other ground of offense admitted jn YOUR
reply to my note, have to say that Ibid not under
stand you TO assume to correct me in quntaton of
your language. as was unconscious Of making any
such citation, but 70 repeat the original ofense in
| another form: otherwise would have made a
proper response on the instant.
This explanation, which is due alike to us both, on
| the points presented in your reply, affords yon
| another opportunity Of Withdrawing the offensive
words which you admit you applied TO me in yester.
days debate.
Respectfully, ETC., 8. A. DOUGLAS
WASHINGTON. Jan, 49, 1859
at IL NJ, to-day. Your explanation in regard to my
son being explicit have no hesitation in saving
that il You had excepted him from your charge, or
self warranted in repeing it in The ,cords of which
you complain offensive, and which, in consequence
of your eIplanation I now withdraw.
am also informed BY your note that, il you had
subject Of your Misrepresentation Of my sentments
1 you would, at the instant have made proper re.
spouse. This likewise enables me to say that, in my
share in exciting debate upon subject not rele
want to anything before that body and the RESPONSE
bty for the introduction Of which rested solely viii
you, ! should have Withdrawn, as now do, the
second offensive remarks, if you had made the SAINT
satisfactory explanation then you have now made.
4 Respectfully, ETC.,
Hon. S. A. DOUGLAS. -. - s III
Sr-Your note of yesterday has been received
and while accept your withdrawal of the words Il
which have taken exception, owe it to myself t,
protest against the idea you seem to entertain, tina
my note OF Saturday intended as precedent ant
inducing condition Of the redress which solicited
instead of being, as certainly designed it, merel,
responsive to the specifications in your reply to mi
first communication. :
In regard to the introduction and relevancy of tn,
matter in debate out of which the difficulty arose.
cannot think that proper subject of discussion il
the present correspondence. ts
Hon. es4u41 hsss 4. F,4on ETC.. s. DOUGLAS
Sr-Your note of to-day was received at III A
NJ 1t is not for me to judge the motives which die
tated yours OF the I'D can only say that my answer
was predicated upon the explanations it contained
II your explanations are disavowed, my withdraw
| must likewise be disavowed. r.
Respectfully. etc.. q. n FITCH
Hon. s. A. DOUGLAS.
55. ~. III. WASHINGTON, Jan. "a. 1850
after gaining the substance Of my demand but
cannot close without responding to your last note By
saying that it is immaterial to me upon what yot
predicate your withdrawal, since have guarde,
against misapprehension of my position.
Hon. GRAHAM N. FITCH. - A
sThs word is Union. II rot ital!cissd
the original of DR.. fi.ch's letter c5s ~
FATAL DUEL IN BELa1UM.-The Union CONNER
cial, of Antwerp, of the 2sth of Dec. contains thu
following:
A fatal duel took place yesterday, in the environ
OF st. Bernard, between two officers Of the 1st Regi
ment of the line, belonging to detachment at tn
Mnsou Penitentiare Subjoined are the detail
which have been furnished US by person connecte,
with the locality. On the evening before the duel
! warm discussion arose between the two officers il
, question. Insulting words having been exchanged
the captain of the company ordered NJ. b. one Of th
individuals in question, to withdraw. On the fol
lowing day. the quarrel becoming still more bitter
the two officers agreed to meet, accompanied by
! sous.oficer and soldier in neighboring wood
and to determine the matter by a duel according
the American system, with the fusl or musket. Al
rived at convenient spot the two adversaries place
themselves at distance from each other, as on
party said, go PAGES, but as another alleged of onl
! | 40 PAGES. -ls--
They took the fusis from the hands of the witne
SEES, who, having Withdrawn for some distance, N.
T one of the principals although the offended party
fred his gun in the air. His adversary however,
appears, took deadly and deliberate aim, and lodge
his ball in the abdomen OF the officer p, causing
frightful wound through which his liver and inte
tines protruded. The unfortunate man, after abou
twenty minutes of excrueiating suffering expired
4 the arms Of the sous-officer who had accompane
him. He had previously uttered a few words int
Il mating that it had been his fixed determination I
spare his adversary The latter, however, as it III