New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-10
NeiaIlnris Daflu Gtribnare
TIE CODE OF HONOR.

To ne E21.s, eJ Tie ~ Y. Tyiss.e.
SIR: In your article of this morning headed The
Code Of Honor" you do Mr. But,srsortn gross in
Justice, to which Is a friend Of far play, ask per-
m',ion 10 reply briefly.
You s.y that "it is very interesting question in
Ga social and moral point Of view, and II msy yet
"become a very grave one in legal point Of view
WHIST did Mr.. But.erworth intend by his reply to
Mr. Sckles, you need no. advice as q man Of hon
or you know what to do Z ard then, ss if in reply
10 your own question, you seem TO INFER that what
Mr.. But,erwoIih meant Mr.. Sckles 10 do was exactly
that which he did because Mr.. Butter~erth happened
to be present when Nj Slcklss killed Mr.. Key, AID
did not interfere 10 prevent the asssult. non you
know that Mr. Bntterworh has d',iDctly and solemn
" asserted over bic signature that he did not know
or think Il ut Mr. Sickes would make The attack when
or in the manner he did that he said nothing 10 Mr.
Sickles 10 the wsy OF advice or otherwise, IA 20 the
way in which he should punish the grevous insult
which rad been pat upon him-whetner by clsllange
or stack. with or without notice; that be believed
tina. Mr.. hey and Mr. Sckles were bot, armed when
he raw the latter Advancing 10 attack the former, and
that wac not until after the tragedy that he discOY
ereo that what Mr.. Key drew from his pocket aud he
lButervOrthl believed to be d weapon, was but an
opera glaze.
| did think that Mr.. Butterworth's statement was =
sufiicenty explicit refutanon OF the charge that ne
advise asslsed IN what you are pleased TO desig
nate "the sssassiration Of Mr.. Kew" You were
clearly of this opinion yourself, for IN your editorial
comments on that statement on the day OF its pubca-
ton yon express your unqualified opinion that 1t re-
lieyed Mr. Butterworth from every unworthy imput&-
in regard to the affair. Whas naa occurred since
70 alter your Judgment Nov, Sir, | have seen aud
conversed frequently with Mr. Buttervorth since his
return to this city IN relation to the painful event OF
Sunday the &1th of February. He HIS stated 10 me
more than oBce that what he meant by his answer to
Mr.. Slckes, and which you base the injudicious
Hypothetical assumptions Of your article of this mora
- NJ of hftpn
bound TO punish the Insult "a publicly as u mad been
offered, and that he meant to offer any advice
nor he invited TO offer any 10 the raturc OF tue
ppnshu ent OF the mode Of liz iuiictioc.
A great deal has been said as 10 Mr. Bnttsrvorth =
compofure on the occasion, and for the purpose Of
reprOach, Mr.. H. bss been given credit for c0onese
which no ore can honestly believe that he possessed
in the startling situation IN which he was unWtuogiy
placed Before he could have hsd any time Tor reec
ton the fatal deed was accomplished and do not
believe that any man, however naturally stoicsl or
philosophic wonld have been able to display either
quality under circumstances such as those IN which
Mr.. Il. found hmself. Another accusation against
Nj. Butterworth is that, after Slckles had killed the
seducer Of his wife, Buterworth took Sckless arm
sDd led him away from the scene, that be- might give
himself up 20 the officers Of justice. Whst else could
Mr. Sickcs do or wha, other could Mr. Butter
worth adopt To have Turned bis back Dir. Sckles
ard W. ked away, would nave been an act OF mean
eded oLly by it, oowardiee, Of which even
| eremy Of bis can suppose ham capable.
IL hGs also been imputed seTlous iault commit
ted by Mr. Butersortn that he declined TO enter into
detail Of all the fscts Nth his nosiedge before
the cOroueTs Jury. Mr.. ButteTwor.h stated that
occation the only fact which il important for
! cOroDer's jerry 10 know, namely, that be saw Mr.
Sickes XII Nj. hey declined 10 enter into further
detail, giving reason that he expected to b. eI.
amiBed before Judge Crawford the next day, on an
application for hGbeas corpus. In reply 10 t0e
question whether lie knew that Mr.. Sckles intended
to attack Mr.. hey he replied distinctly tina. he ald
MOI. la. he there AK you, which any " can
dor can find 70 Mr.. Bl.tersoIths condu ct
a. have correctly Represented T. uness Il be his hey-
ingirtmatedt TO Mr.. Sickes thai, in hi. opinion he NJ
81 Was bound TO punisb the seaucer Of hs vile And
what man who j. a husband, father, OF brother,
will venture to cersue Mr.. Bdtterworth for this
ksr York, March g. 1859 TRUTH