Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-11-05
[corresrondynee of.the press.l
ofthe PhiIaaelphia Amsrlcan.l

WASHINGTON, Nov l, 1850.
1t Is surprising upon what Slight cause most
OF the duciS between public men are fought
Frowt the day when Bur. El!e,l Hamilton down
TO that when Terry killed BYoaerick, there is
hardly one OF these meetings that has resulted
fatally That might not have been amicaby set
tied. Public opinion is at fault in this, for how
ever the pulpit and the press may thunder
against the practice, it requires . man OF pccu,
cuilar reputation and pecuiiaE faculties to refuse
challenge. Even those who rail against it.
when thrown Into a position with the al.crna
tive Of accepting or declining hostile message,
are IN most cases greatly embarrassed. Gencr-
nj HGuston refused TO light Commodore Moore
some years ago, but in;S.nuch as old San Ja-
cinto ha! proved his plncli nc could afford it
MIR OEVnnei!, after he shot D'Esterrc did the
san.u thing. l'l!is was 81 political duel, and
O'Connell said, on the gron;:d, ~ am obnoxious
to party, and they adopt false prcteuce to
cut me oil; expression which recalls, and
which may be applied to, the Gaze Of poor Bro
derrick with overwhelming effect. Bat, notwth-
standing Mr.. q, GonEe refused To fight, after his
meeting with DEStcr'c, hc continued to speak
oil his opponents with uneXampleu bitterness,
and in 1885 provoked Disrae greatly by
using the following remarkable language al
cannot" said O'Connell, ''Givest my mind Of the
belief that if this fellows geuealngy were ira
ced, il would be found that be is Il lincal de-
SCcndant and true hCir.at-!aw Of the impcuitcnt
Ib!Ct VINO atIhSEt lUf us crimes Upon the cross
There Is no excuse for public man who has
adopted the rule never to accept a challenge
when he employs such language this. The
threatened conflict between Breckenridge and
Cutting in 1884 was arranged after much diff
Guilty, and grew ont OF debate. in which there
very little acrimony either side. Ev-
crybuCiv now believes that the Cilley duel ought
never to have been fought. But, of all these
conflicts, the most causcieSS was that between
Randolph and Clay in 1626-Randoiph saying
"that he w0nld do nothing to disturb the sleep
of the child Ur the repOSe OF the mother Of his
adversary" aud Clay expressing similar feel
ingS. Edward Stanley, Of North Carolina, now,
/ believe, preparing for the ministry, has had
more than one encounter of this sort. That III
SAT, with Hon. Samuel w. Inge, now of Ca!ifUr-
ma, then member from Alabulua was fought
near this city with pistols After an cxchanSc of
Shrtsthe affuir was amic"hY adjusted The pres
Senator Gwin. of California, fought with Hon
j. W. NcCorklc, then member OF Congress
from the satire State, in91S53 The weapons
were rifles, at thirty PAGES, the comhatautS to
wheel at the word aud fire. y number OF
Spectators were present. After three incfFtc.
tual shots the parties nGreed to shake hands,
and returned 10 tIeii homes. General jacksOuS
duel with Dickinson, which reSUl- cd III the
death .thr latter, was forcedfuPon the former.
Dickinson being one OF the most expert dne-
lists in the Southern country. 1t is stated that
although jackson wounded by Dickinson,
he behaved with such GOODNESS that his seconds
did not know he was hort uDtil he got into the
carriage. The duel between Gen. Denver, late
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, aud 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 AIR. Gilbert was
the editor, consuming John Biglcr, then Govern
or Of the State. They fought %irh rifles, and
ON the second fire Gilbert was struck, and OK.
PRED in less than five minutes.
Knight extend this list through columns, but
Ii forbsar. Ny attention is called to the subject
III. tncnnt evnnIs- and BY The nnnr.. llcnsinn