Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-04-21
The Difficulty Between Messrs. Pryor
and Potter. y


limore Sun, of Tuesday, is occupied will
the correspondence between the Hon
Roger A. Pryor and the Hon. John F
Potter, in relation to their late threatened
affair OF honor" As we have already
given the main points involved in hi:
"importanI" CORES pondence, and as We
don believe the fate Of the universe de-
ponds on giving il 10 the reader al length
we subjoin few extracts.
After some preliminary correspondence,
Mr.. Pryor Through his friend, Mr.. CHS
man, demands of Nj. Potter 1.-the salts
faction usual among gentlemen" Mr.
Potter replies by referring Mr.. Pryor to
his friend, Col. Lander, 10 make the ne
cessary arrangements. Now comes a
leller from Mr.. Lander,in which he says /:
81 have TO state that my principal, Hon.
John F. Potter, disclaiming the particular
rules of the code, will fight Hon. Roger
A. Pryor with the common bowie knife,
at such place. private room or open air,
in this District, as We may agree upon;
at time TO be fixed within the next
twelve I2) hours by you and myself; dis
lance four leet al commencement Of en-
gagement. Two seconds TO be present
10 each principal. Seconds restricted TO
one navy revolver each. Knives Of prIn-
cipals Of equal weight and length of blade.
Fight TO commence at the word three,
49, The calling Of the tally and word as
between principal seconds to be decided
by turning piece OF money.
TO this proposition to fight with bowie
knives, Mr.. Chisman (Mr. PryOr's friend
responds {:
mot recognizing this vulgar, borbarous
and inhuman mode Of settling difficulties
as either usual among gentlemen orcon'
sislent with the notions of civlilzed socI-
ETY., must, without referring your com
munica,ion TO my principal, Tor even see
ing him. emphsticaIy refuse to allow
him TO engage in it. Whenever your
principal will reply TO MIR. Pryor's de-
msnd in such way as may seem TO &c
consistent with any fair and even most
liberal construction Of the rules OF the
code'-whether particular or general
shall be most happy 10 communicate 10
my principal such response"
TO ibis Mr.. Lander rejoins that his
principal deiesIs and sbhors the barbarous
and inhuman mode of settling difficulties
'usa among gentlemen, termed duellng
He then adds
"CaIIed upon by note to reply TO your
principal, he has made hi- statement. As
his friend, have presented it. You OBJ
iecl TO the terms. They were such as
would Tone enable my principal, who is
unscqusinled with HE usual weapons oil
dueIsls, 10 meet yoUr friend on equal
terms. He will not go Oni OF this Dis
trlcl to fght duel. lie waves the usu-
al last resort Of tho WORCESTERSHIRE asser
Jon thai he will def, nd himself wherever
assaied. lie even goes so lar as to be
willing TO name Time, place and UedponS,
when al this Stage of The affair you appeal
10 the strict terms Of The code, and express
yourself dissatisfied. There is bu, one
result. disclam any Of the srrupIes
which have acluated my friend, Mr.. Pot
Ter. Differing with him as much as
man can in politics, | believe with him
that every American citizen is entitled TO
The full expression of opinin. there
fore present myself in his place, without
restrictions.
TO Mr.. LanJer's offer, Mr.. Chisman
replies tina, Mr.. Pryor nor himself have
any quarrel with Mr.. Lander. and, there
fore, respectfully declines to take him as
a substitute for his principal Mr.. C'ter'
terminates his correspondence win Fegre'
that they have been unable to adjust me
matter between their principals IN HE
manner usual among gentlemen which
manner, "though your principal 'de'es's
and abhofs it, as 'barbarous and lnhnmsn,
would seem to men Of PLAIN sense not more
so than fight with bowie knives.
Mr.. Lander, however, again writes,
saying:
81 beg TO assure you, without consult
ing my principal, lhathe will protect him
self with honor wherever sssaIled. II al
so becomes my duty to inform you that
Hon John F. Potter did not know Of my
offer to appear for him."
Thus closes the "ofic4l" correspon-
dence between the two congressional he
roes. but Mr.. Cb;sman adds asa sort OF