Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-04-26
The Pryor-Potter Difficulty.

The Northern papers are making great deal of the
affair of honor between Mr.. Pryor and Mr.. Potter
Protesting profound knowledge of the subject they
review the matter by the column and delight to charge
Mr. Pryor with cowardce and dishonor while uttering
hallelujahs over Potters valor. One would suppose
really that tythe of Mr.. Pryors mpugners understood
something about the code of honor and the position of
gentlemen with respect to it. 1t would be WELL how
ever, for these amateur critics of dueing to keep in
mind thing or two beyond their ideas Dueling is
preventive remedy Its rules not ordained to produce
fighting but to avoid fighting and enforce justice and re-
spcc between gentlemen Instead ofimmediate and brutal
violence mediators inteposed between parties diff
erlng In the form OF seconds who responsible for
the result to obtain peaceful redress. Then the weap-
Ons, distances, &c all ordained to produce equality
and secure honorable adjustment TO talk of settling
an affair OF honor by sitting powder barrels or using
bowie knives &c. is to turn sayages or worse than
ages-to become backguards and bullies without the
rss conception of either the intention of the code of
honor or the usages of gentlemen. No gentleman would
make such proposition and gentleman should heed it.
Mr Pryor committed great mistake, for which he can
not easily atone to the country Of the South at eas
in having authorized his second to accept of Mr. Pot
ters terms to fight with bowie knives In butchers
pen or low GROCERY such system of settling diff
Guilty might be expected, although despsed as brutal
and vulgar but for one pretending to be gentleman to
propose such method of fighting is to dsrobe himself
at once of the attributes of gentleman He is onv a
coward or backguard, or both for either he knows
that gentleman would compromise his position bv fight
ing In such way and therefore, must propose it, expect
ing to be declned or he little understands the feelings
OF gentleman and his motive il ghtnga to be beneath
notice In our opinion, gentleman has right to
violate the code of honor He breaks down. by his ex
ample those safeguards which gentlemen have devised to
produce equality in contests and to obtain redress with
out the last alternative of blood He makes quarres
hghts-anI fights fatal. He exposes the weak to the
insults OF the strong Civilized forbearance is substu
ted by brutal violence and society itself loses its cour
teSy ts peace It's purity Honor, which is only high
sensiby to indgnity loses its grace and lustre when
INDICATED after the fashion of beasts and backguards
10 be sure as mere political move Mr.. Pryor may
have been right in the desire to accept We have no
doubt that Potter would have got out of scrape even
then, without fight. He would forthwith have l,.en
arrested as be was when street fight was on the apis
The game was one transparency and entirely of bluff
and Mr.. Pryor's suggestion would have exposed it
thoroughly. But such course would have demoraIzed
Mr.. Pryor from his position and been an innriou a
precedent, wholly unworthy of imitation. The ratings
OF the 6lackguards of the Northern press should be
esteemed as the idle Winds kndIing only the sentiment
OF profound contempt Any other feeling would be
supertiuous and morbid Charleston Mercuru.