Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-13

is 50 well written, and presents 80 calm and
corrcc: view of difficulties which have occu-
pied prominent place in the Enquirer that
think it ought 10 appear in your paper. II
you with me. please give It all Insertion.
Yours, truly.
From the Boston Courier. sept :. l-5?.
We feel satisfied, on pcrusa Of the whole
CORRESPONDENCE connected with the recent con-
troycrsy between Mr. Old and Mr.. Jennings
Wise, and also that appcrtainins to the contro-
vcr>y between Mr.. .tylctt and Mr.. Wise, that
in commenting on the matter some time since,
we spoke with undue severity Of all these gen
tlc,nrn, and especially Of Mr.. Wise.
Whatever may be said or thought III differ
mt quarters, on the subject Of duelins as
practice --how>oevcr il may De stigmatized by
The law-and although duc!S be in their attend
ing circumstances frequently ridiculous, and
not unircqucntly Notwithstanding all
this. certain il is, that the emotion which leads
4 man to peril his life on point Of honor, is in
Itself an emotion 10 be respected; and equally
certain il is that occasions arc liable to occur,
in any mans lie, when he might as well COM
nit suicide at once as TO shrink fr0n or to fail
To invite. this final arbitramcnt Of controversy
or Of wrong. Nay. it may happen that public
considerations Of paramount importance shall
enter into the moral elements OF such question.
There is in point Il remarkable letter from the
Duke Of Wellington to the Duke Of Bucking-
ham, regarding his duel with Lord Winchitsca.
which well deserves To be pardoncd in this re-
laton
Without going into that general question.
however. 1t suh, to say, rs 10 IT, that, in
Z -, r ti, nF IN
,hcm and their surroundings together and arc
10 appreciate their impulses according To the
atmosphere in which they live and move. On
these premises. we think the conduct Of Mr..
Wise deserves to be considered not only manly,
but honorable and high-mindcd, as we'll in pre-
vious affairs Of this nature. aS in those with
Nr. Aylctt and Mr Old.
In this case, Mr.. Aylctt was the challenger.
Mr.. Wise received Mr. Aylctts fire, and de-
clincd to return it. lie exposed his own life;
he refused to cndangcr that Of his opponent
And 80 the duel cndcd. In that, surely, his
conduct was generous and humane. And, after
this. in declining Oh the field to enter into rcla-
tionS Of personal cordiality with his late advcr-
.arv, hc manifested, -, we conceive, in the ac-
tmaI circumstances .s he regarded them, true
and elevated sense ot propricty and Of honor.
\ duel fought between friends on mere mis-
understanding may well, after suitable cXpla-
nations, terminate in mutual expressions of
Goodwill Not so, Of necessity, if not fought
between friends. or if there still remains OH
either side a sense Of wrong. or other indcpcn-
,lcnt cause Of alienation. In such Il contin-
ycncv. the profession of sudden friendship is
not seldom false and hvpocrticn and some
time undisnificd and in bad taste.
We make, in this no reflections, expressed
or implied, on the conduct or character of Mr.
ivlctt. Far otherwise We remember no.
thing in this respect to find fault with on his
part All We mean to say is, that sentiments,
or at any rate expressions Of personal cordiai-
tv, are roluntary things, which, within the
bounds Of courtesy any gentleman is entitled
TO accord to or withhold according to his own
conscience of right that the reciprocal express
sion of such sentiments is not the necessary,
and sometimes not the appropriate, sequel,
even Of duel amicably terminated; and that
Mr. Wise. might in his discretion, withhold
this. and in siipposable circumstances would be
entitled to commentator for withholding it,
without involving anything derogatory to the
honor Of Mr.. Aylctt
In the second case, also, Mr. Wise was the
challenged party, and could not honorably, as
he felt, on the premises Of the rules Of honor,
decline to accept the challenge. Mr. Old adj
dressed to him letter, i'll substance to ask
h,m if Inc was the author Of certain editorial
articles Of the Enquirer" and to notify him,
if he was TO expect an immediate challenge. -
Mr.. Wise replied, suggesting with truth that
the letter was one which did not request, and
by its language precludcd, explanations, and,
therefore, indicating his readiness to receive
hostile message In the long correspondence
which preceded, attended or followed the duel,
it seems to us that Mr.. Wise exhibits conspicu-
ous GOOD sense and good temper, with striking
traits of generosity and humanity. Thus, he
reouired of his seconds that, in consideration
of the weakness Of Mr.. Old's eyes and general
health. the advantage Of position should be
conceded 10 the latter--so mich so, that his
own principal sccond. Col. Davis to justify
hayinr asscn,cd TO this. insisted, after the
/ second exchange Of shots. on taking the place
Of Mr.. Wise if the affair was to proceed. Hap
pilv. at this point, suitable and effectual open
! ING was afforded for the explanations, which
might, as We conceive, without any compromis'
Of courage or honor on the part Of Mr.. Old
have been requested by him at the start, and be
fore the exchange Of the initiatory letters and
the commencement Of action thereon, had rem
dcrcd it difficult 10 tender or receive cXpiaha
tions on either side without previous ex
change of shots. We say, rc Mi'k such a re- =.
quest might have been made at the start. art Da. e0,
Of this, Mr.. Old had the right to Judge io'
himself; as Mr.. Wise had, to judge of the e1l
rency, to which he thus became subject
Happily, We repeat, for both, the time arrived
on the field when there was % honorable able. oppor ss
80 md received under circumstances salts
tactorv to the honor Of both parties We d
% not mean, therefore, to be understood as i'm
nIyinr nv, r anything in the slightest degree dsre
ssnsectfnl rsR to Mr. 0ld-for he certainly bore him
self honorably ushout-wc mean, there
fore. no disrespect to him when We say that
in our opinion, the incidents of the affair re
dound to the credit Of the intelligence and tn
discretion, as well as the honor, Of Mr.. Wise
We do not accept all the political doctrine
Of the Enquirer" Moreover, as Ar advocas