The Nevada journal., 1859-12-16
Eoren nup,s-InF Fornev,s Pres,

NOTED DuRLs.-In Forney's Press
under date of November 1st. we find
the following comments on duels and
duelling. written by the noted Wash
ington correspondent, Occasional"
1t is surprising upon what slight eau
ses most of the duels between public
men are fought. From the day when
Burr killed Hamilton down to that
when Terry killed Broderick, there
is hardly one of these, meetings that
has resulted fatally That might not
have been amicahly settled. Public
opinion is at fault in this, for hcwev-
er the Pulpit and the Press may thur
der at the practice. it requires man
of peculiar reputation and peculiar
faculties to refuse challenge. Even
those who rail against it. when thrown
into a position of accepting or declin-
ing hostile meeting, are in most ca
ses greatly embarrassed. General
Houston refused to fight Commodore
Moore some years ago, but irasmuch
as Old Jacinto had proved his pluck
he could afford it.. Mr.. O'Connell af-
ter he had shot D'Esterre. did the
same thing. This was Political du-
el, and O'Connell said on the ground,
II am obnoxious to party and they
adopt false pretense to cut me off,,
an expression which recalls, ana
which may be applied to the case of
poor BroderiEk with overwhelming
effect. But notwithstanding Mr.. o.
Connell refused to fight, after meet
ing with, D'Esterre, he continued to
speak of his opponents with unexam-
pied bitterness, and in 1885 provoked
Disraeli greatly by using the follow
ing remarkable language II can
not" said O'Connell, ":divest my mind
of the belief that if this fellows
genealogy were traced; it would be
found that he is lineal descendant
and true heir at law of the imperti-
nent thief who atoned for his crime
on the cross" There is no excuse
for public man who has adopted
the rule never to accept challenge,
when he employs such. language as
this. The threatened Conflict be-
tween Breckenridge and Cutting in
1854, was arranged after much diff
Guilty, and grew out of a debate IN
which there was very fittis aErim0ny
OF either side. Everybody now be-
lieves, that the Cilley duel ought new
er to have been fought. But. of all
these conflicts, the most causeless was
that between Randolph and Clay III
1926; Randolph saying that he would
do nothing to disturb the sleep of the
child or the repose of the mother of
his adversary" and Clay expressing
similar feelings. Edward Stanley,
of North Carolina. now. believe,
preparing for the ministry, has had
more than one encounter of this sort.
That in 1S47. with Hon. S. w Inge.
now of California, then a member
from Alabama. was fought near this
city with pistols. After an exchange
of shots the affair was ahicably set
tied. The present Senator Gwiu, of
California, fought with Hon. j. w.
McCorkle, then a member of Con-
gress from the same State in 1853
The weapons were rifles, at thirty pa
ces, the combatants to wheel and fire.
A number of spectators we're present.
After three Intellectual shots the par
ties agreed to shake hands and re-
turned to their homes. Gen. Jack
sons duel with Dickinson, which re-
suited in the death of the latter, was
forced upon. the former, Dickinson
being one of the most expert duelists
in the Southern country. 1t is stated
that although jackson was wounded
by Dickinson he behaved with such
GOODNESS that his seconds did not
know he was hurt uutif he got into
the carriage. The duel between Gen.
Denver, late Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, and former Representative in
Congress from California. and Hon.
Edward Gilbert. in 1852, resulting in
the death of the latter, grew out of an
article in the Alta California. of which
Mr.. Gilbert was the editor. censuring
John Bigler, then Governor of the
Sta:e. They fought with rifles, and
on the second fire Gilbert was struck,
and expired in less than five min
utes."