, 1859-01-29

G1h' 3pAr note ol yesterday Was banded me
this morning. In reply, hsve to say that you
yesterday mada charge that the 1atelJ:ap-
pointed federal officers in illinois were corrupt,
dishonest men-or words to that effect. }uu
knew my son to be oue OF those officers, and
you could not expect me 10 hear such charge
without prompt denial Of its truth. psonou1c-
ed it to be. 10 your knowledge, untrue. You
subsequently 50 modified it as to satisfy that
you excepted ny sou from the general charge,
although you did not name him, and made no
turther issue with you On that subject When,
at subsequent period Of your remarks, you
attributed to me statements which had rot
made, requested that in quoting me you would
do 50 truthlu1ly. These ks were certainly
not deliberately preneditat=d," bu. they csn-
not be qualified correctly as the "impu!se of
momentary passion" The first was prompted
BY determination to defend the honor and
character Of my son, ii dear to me as my own,
against an attaek 80 general in its terms ~ ne
ceaas1iiy to include him aad the second was
the exercise Of my right to reclify mis.epre-
sentatiou Of my Own remarks.
Respectfully &C., G. N. FITCH.
Hon s. L. Douglas.
"AsHtSoros, Jan. 3-sh P. II.
S,a: Your note Of this date has been placed
in NY hands, l admit, without hesitation, your
right and duty to do justice to the reputation Of
Jour son. At the sa1s time | montain my
right, in the discharge Of my duty as kenator, to
comment freely and fully On the character of
executive appointments, especially in my OWL
State. l deny, however, that my general re-
marks in relotlonto the list os Illinois sppontees
confirmed bY the Senate during my absence,
could be fairly interpreted to embrace -FOUR son.
When you seemed 50 to construe them,
promptly replied that what had said of the H.
Hnols appointments was t1ue as 3 genk7al rule.
but that there were exceptions, anlong whom l
recognized some Of my own friends. Alluding
ma irr1u I'll fr T r1A Aaa fhatf had
nothing to say IN regard to the merits Of h;s
appointuent, choosing to leave that question
where placed it bJ ensrks to the Senate du-
ring the last session, In your presence, at the
time Of his confirmation. You now admit that
you understood this explanation to exempt you.
marks; and yet, you have failed to withdraw
the offensive language, but, on the contrary, ut
= subsequent stage Of the debate, when apollo
giz:ng for breach of senatorial decorum, you
expressly declared that you had nothing to re-
trsct-thus appearing. IN ny apprehension, to
reafiirm the Objectionable words.
As to the other ground Of ct-ncs admitted in
your reply to my note, | have to say that did
not understand you to assumo to correct me in
q quotation Of your language, as l was uncou-
sc!ous Of making anT such citation, mt to re-
peat the original offence in another form 9th.
erHise, would have made proper response On
the instant.
This explanation, which is due alike 10 Us
both, on the points presented in your reply,
affords you another opportunity OF Withdrawing
the offenaiye words which you sduis you ap-
piled 10 me in yesterdays debate.
Respectfully. &:., 5. a. DoreLAs.
Hor. Graham n. Fitch
W1sHl1Groy. Jan. 9. 1852.
SlR: Your note Of last evening wls handed
ne at IL u. to-day. Your explanation in regard
to my son being now explicit. l have no beslta-
tlon in saying that if you had exec 2ted him
from Jour charge. or not made it general, i
pellin9 it in the tcords of which you complain as
Offensive, aud which, in CONSEQUENCE Of your IT,
p11aati2n, now withdraw.
am also informed By your no!e that, it T"u
had rot been mistaken ia relation +, my re-
marks Oh the subject Of your misrepresentation
OF my sentiments, you would 1t the instant hare
made proper RESPONSE. This likewise ena:les
me- to say that. in my closing remarks exp.pe-
tory to the Senate Of my adare IN an exciting
debate upon sui ject not relevant TO anything
before that body. upd the responsibility tor the
introduction Of which rested solely with 5ou.
should have Withdrawn, os now do, the second
offensive remarks. if you had made the same
satifacto-ye explana,ioi, then you hare no'0 made.
Respectfully, &c, e. n. Fsrcu
Hon. S. 4. Douglas.
WAsa1s61os. Jaa. q lsi'
Sra: Your note OF yesterday has been rece:v-
ed and while accept your Withdrawal of the
words to which have taken exception. owe it
to myself to protest aga.ns. the idea you sem
10 entertain, that my nota Of aturday WIS it,
tended 81 precedent and inducing condition Of
the redress which solicited, instead Of beng,
as certainly designed it, merely responsive to
the specifications IN reply 10 Jour first comnu.
ncatlon.
In regard to the introduction and relevancy
of the matter in the debate oct OF which this
difficulty arose, l cannot think that proper
subject Of discu:slon in the present correspond.
enee. Respectfully. &C.,
S. L. DorGLAs
Hon. Graham n. Fitch.
WAsulSGToS. Jtn. - fsEa
SIR: Your note OF to day was received at II =
/. Il. It is not for me to judge the motives
which dictated yours Of the 23d l can only say
that my answer was predcatcd upon the ex-
plantations it contained. II rour explanations
are dieavowed. my Withdrawal must likewise be
disavowed. Respectfully, &:.
L. n F17ca.
Hon. s. 4. Douglas.
Il AsuxCruS. Jl1. a. 1853
SIR: l au ayerse 10 prolong,cg 10 this con-
trosersy after gaining the substance Of my de"
mand; but cannot clone without responding
to your last note bT saying that it is iaimaterial
to me upon what you predicate your wi'hdEAwul,
since have guarded against 1isapprehension
Of my position.
Respectfully. &c, a. DorGLAs.
Hon. Graham \. Fitch.