The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-03-31

ron as to draw from him the following
letter, which was the first Of a series
oflong COMMUNICATIONS between them
marked with great asperity on both
sides, and finally resulting in the mem.
orabIe meeting ofthe 22d Of March
following:
HAMPTON, Va. JUNE l2, 1919
Sir.--l have been informed in Nor.
folk that you have said that you could
insult me with impunity. or words to
that effect. II you have said SO, you
will, no doubt, avow it, and shall
expect to hear from you.
JAMES BARRoN.
To this Decatur replied, "Whatevcr
may have thought or said IN The pery
frequent and free CONVERSATIONS haze
had respecting you and yow' conduct, |
feel thorough conviction that lnever
could have been guilty of so much
egotism as to say that 4 could insult
yen (or any other man) with impu-
nifty"
Barron apparently accepted this as
a general disavowal, for in replying
he says, "Your declaration, if under
stand it correctly, relieves my mind
from the apprehension that you had
so degraded my character as had
been induced to allege." But Deca.
tur was not disposed to have his reply
construed as a general disavowal.-
lie therefore writes, al request you
to understand distinctly that meant
no more than to discaim the specific
and particular expression to which
your inquiry WAS directed. AS to the
motives Of several gentlemen, they
are matter Of perfect indifference to
me, as are also your motives in max
ing such an inquiry
This note WAS dated June 90
Four months now elapsed, and the al
fair appeared to be at an end But
during this period Decatur had sent
the correspondence to Norfolk, where
it had been read by Barron's friends
and commented upon. This caused
, a renewal OF the communications be-
tween the parties. Barron, under
, date of October 23rd, speaks OF the
: ''rancor' exhibited by Decatur toward
| him: of the "cruel and unmcritcd sen
/, tencc" pas ed upon him by the cour
of which he had been member; an'
A of the hopes he had entertained, alte
: an xilc of nearly seven years, lha
i Decatur would have now suffered
+ h,m to enjoy the soIace that his LAGER
: ated feelings required. lie adds, "
c am also informed that you have
: tauntingly and boastingly observed
: that YOU woald clleeriully meet me IL
e the field, and hoped would yet ac
\ like a man." lie characterizes snc|
|, conduct toward one situated as he is
e and oppressed as he has been ch'ell
' through Decaturs means, as unbe
IL coming an officer and gcntleman.-
Y He considers Decatur rs having giN
en- the challenge, which he accepts.-
= # hatter myself says he "irom you
r known personal courage, that yo
l. would disdain any undue advantae
C Which your superiority in the use
n the pistol, and the natural delect
; my vision, increased by age, wouI
l. give YOU"
It Decatur replies in letter OF grei
length. lie had not sent the CORES
J. pondcnce to Norfolk, he says, unt
l. three months after its conclusion.
/. il had alienated his friends from hlI
IS such effect was to be attributed to TIL
in correspondence itself. The pape
N spoke for themselves; he had SET
)r them without written comment.
in lie declares that there has ncv'
to bcecn any personal difference betwee
II, them; but that he entertained, an
I'd still does entertain the opinion, thi
ct his conduct us an officer, since the a
es fair OF the Chesapeake, has been sue
cr as ought forever to bar his re-adni
r. sion in the service. He then Civ
TX the facts on which he grounds tn
- opinion; that Barron had stated
De the British Consul Pcrnambuco, tn
e; if the Chesapeake had been prepare
,h for action he would not have resist
ly the attack of,he Leopard, as he kne
ry there were desertcrs on board ]
Id ship; that the President of the Unit
n States knew there were deserters {
ne board, and of the intention of t
mt British to take them; and that I
as President caused him to 60 out in
sr. delenseless state, for the express pt
to pose of having his ship attacked a
y" disgraced, and thus attaing the fay,
ir. ite object of involving the Unit
nc Statesin war with Great Britain.
in Decatur's informan. added, 81 am NJ
-. / .l,t d.. 10 fraitnr.