Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-05-27
From the Nashville Banner, Nay %.
Personal Difficulty.

\ CAO11AtsA LAAAGIA&rTs
We stated yesterday that the circumstances lead
ing to and attending the personal difficulty which
occurred on Friday would be given in our issue to-
day At the request of friend of Mr. Pondexter,
made on his behalf we agreed that statement
should be made and signed by mutual friends. In
pursuance of that arrangement and still in compl-
ance with the request of Mr.. Poindexters friend,
we drew up the following statement for publication.
1t was objected to on the part of Mr. P's friend as
too detailed and as not giving the whole CONVERSE
ton that occurred at the Banner Office. We have
added the only remark suggested as an omission,
and have endeavored to make the statement impair
tial:
The personal difficulty between Mr.. T. w. Beau
mont, of the editors Of the Banner, and Mr.. G.
G. Pondexter, of the editors of the Union and
American, originated and resulted as follows:
In the leading editorial of the Banner on Friday
morning, written by Mr.. Beaumont, occurred the
following;
"The Southern politicians are in the habit of
abusing Seward and Van Buren,, Greedy and Dix as
the enemies of the South; but the worst enemies of
the South are in the Southern Democratic party
These Northern fanatics are so far off their voices
would never reach the ears of the slaves, bnt that
they are caught up and re-echoed by Southern
Democratic partsans. They are really powerless
of themselves and it is only through the means of
such journals the Union and American and such
ChnduhteS ms OON. tlalrs lnat lncy are aDe 10 40
any harm. The real enemies to the South, the trail
tors who ought to be most severely punished are
those Democratic leaders
About 10 o'clock Friday morning, Mr.. Poindcx-
ter called at the editorial room of the Banner. in
pursuance of a mutual understanding between the
parties that all grievances growing out of their ed
toral duties should be personally presented one tc
the other and fairly canvassed with view to an
amicable settlement if practicable, ian understand
ing which had been repeatedly acted upon previous
5 ly,) and asked to see Mr.. Beaumont privately.
Both parties stepped out upon porch, when Mr.
Poindexter complained that the word "trator' in
the above extract personally offensive. MIR
: Beaumont replied that the word not used in
f personal but in an argumentative sense; was no
intended to be personally offensive; and that h'
willing if necessary TO state it in the Banner
He further stated that he not responsible fo
j the introduction Of that term into the newspape
vocabulary. 1t had been repeatedly used by thu
Union and American and other democrats
journals in reference to the Opposition part,
and its leaders. Mr. p. replied that he considered
the term personally offensive, in whatever sense
= was used; that he had never applied it to the Ban
ner and expressing his dissatisfaction with this ex
panation demanded an unconditional retraction o
= the offensive word. Mr. Beaumont refused to MAKE
t it, and Mr.. p, said it would have to be settled som
n other way. Mr. b. replied that Mr.. p. could choos
ed the offensive statement in the extract as g
falsehoodn Mr.. b. asked Mr.. p. if he was prepares
$ to defend himself then. Mr.. p. replied affirma
% lively Mr.. Beaumont then struck Mr.. PoiudexeI
! scuifle ensued both parties fell, Mr.. Beaumon
overpowering Mr.. Poindexter, and in the act of in
C flictng blows, when he pulled of, and the par
o ties separated. Mr. p was then invited into the edi
! torial room with view to an amcable adjustment
Before any preliminaries could be entered upon
however, Mr.. p again denounced the statement il
the editorial. Mr.. b. replied that he had heard am
., resented that denunciation once, and would motto
e il farther--that he surrounded by politics
n friends, and would not to avail himself of an
advantage growing out of that circumstance. MI
" p replied TO it in violent and still oflensiy
r terms and said he would repeat it in his paper Mi
e b. said he had no objection to that. Mr. p. contin
- ued TO repeat it, until Mr. Beaumont seized can
: seat chair and aimed blow at 4lr. p Mr.. p dreN
pistol and attempted to fire it. but failed Mr.. l
seized and turned him, when parties present too
Al his pistol and Mr. Beaumont again overpowere
=" him, struck him several times and again pulle
10 off. Mr.. p. was then persuaded to retire.
=, Subsequently, both parties met on Cedar street i
IL front ofthe Capitol. Mr.. Beaumont approache
l. Mr. Poindexter from Inc street, the latter sttin
near the steps leading to the Capitol grounds. A
soon as a mutual recognition took place, both par
ties approached to within about thirty steps
each other. Mr. Beaumont requested Mr.. PoindeS
n ter to change his position to get out Of rang
s of some aborers working in his rear which reque:
ID he complied with.
e The parties continued to approach until they wer
I within about fifteen steps of each other when the
l. halted and the firing commenced. They exchange
d three shots apiece almost simultaneously. The SEE
N ond shot from Mr.. p took effect in the left leg
l. Mr.. b., inhicting slight and simple flesh wounC
&c After the third shot, Mr.. b. attempted to advance
N when his leg gave way and he sank into a reelir
+ ing position. The firing Immediately ceased Nj
p. laid down his weapons at his feet, approache
L Mr.. b. shook his hand, expressed his regret for tn
lie whole occurrence his pleasure that it
he and thus the affair ended. All parties concerned
E with a view of preventing misrepresentation, hay
as deemed it proper that this full statement of the
- fair should go out.