New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-26
THE WALSH CONTROVERSY
SENTIMENTS OF THE PRESS
Governor WarmOth Sustained

We reproduce from our exchanges con-
ments Of the press on the recent CORE
spondence between Mr.. j. A. Walsh an,
Governor Warmoth:
From the New York Tribune.l
High tone is declining even in Louisiana
man can refuse to fight in that State, ant
it he does it neatly and cleverly, his neigh
bors still continue to recognize him. Gov
ernor WarmOth has just passed with fyina
cOlors through this ordeal. He stated !
month ago that Mr. Walsh had offered hin
10000 to sign the Nicolson pavement bill
MIR. Walsh promptly replied that the Gov
ernOr had asked $75, 900 and o share of the
stock. The Governor said this was false
The issue was made up and the quarrel q
pretty one. Sir Luclus O'Walsh then con.
cluded to fight, and sent Warmoth chal
lenge in due form, asking him to name 1.-TWO
friends in the usual euphemistic form
WarmOth with a touching affectation of in
nocence, accepted this cartel as an invita-.
ton to submit to arbitration the question OF
veraclty between them; whereupOn Walsh.
thoroughly disgusted with such trifllng on
90 reverend a subject, said, brusquely, IL
90 not want arbitration. want to
fight" Governor Warmoth then responded,
with dignity betitting the occasion, that
he would not fight him, giving as his reasons
that the governor of the State has no right
to give or receive a challenge; that the
circumstances Of this case did not warrant
Dir. Walsh in sending him one; that Walsh,
in admitting that he offered the Governor
bribe, confessed to a wrongful act, that
puts him out Of the pale Of that social
| position which entities him to the privileges
| OF the code. He who seeks to vindicate
| lnanIfpn hnnnr mi ahov hat
| out blemish; the code recognizes the right
| OF no one to assume its protection in re-
venge OF q defeated criminal purpose The
Governor also tells Mr.. Walsh that the
latter knew when he challenged him that
he could not accept. and had elected from
inquiry among the Governors personal
friends the fact that he would not. 1t is
Governor Warmoth could have gained
more credit by cutting the throat of Walsh
than by writing this direct and cruelty
candid letter.
The Donaldsonville Chief publishes the
correspondence between the parties and the
statements of parties to whom Mr.. Walsh
had communicated facts indicating the in
teyrity of Governor Warmoth. and adds:
We venture to say there is no right
minded man in the community who can read
the foregoing testimonials and not feel that
Governor Warmoth has been signally vim
dicated from the principal charge of official
corruption used against him by his enemies.
ground, so will the others follow when the
light Of truth is thrown upon them BY ex.
animation into the facts Of each case.
While rejoicing heartily in the Governors
triumph, we wait expectantiy to see if any
OF his enemies will be just enough to retract
the SANDER they have so vehemently urged;
now that it has been proved beyond doubt
to be slander.
From the Chicago Post
Mr.. J. A. Walsh is Louisianian, of Latin
extraction. and he believes that he can
show whether he or Governor Warmoth is
liar by taking shot at Warmo+h, and
permitting that gentleman like opportuni-
ty on the same occasion. The Governor
thinks that one or both would fall in the |
encounter. not to rise again. and thus the |
question Of veracity would never be settled. |
Since the dispute is Of too much consequence
to the interests of the Stste of Louisiana to |
be thus summarily ended. WarmOth acts |
the part of the modern statesman, and sug- |
gests an arbitration committee. This is |
much the wiser method.
From the Richland Beacon.l
After all that has been said about the
Walsh affair. If We never see |
else in the actions of the Governor
to commend, we must express our hearty
approval of his action in this instance He |
could have acted in no other manner, for
two reasons. First, as chief executive of
the State, he had no right to set such bad !
example as accepting a challenge. to say
nothing Of the violation Of the law he is
sworn to execute. Second, if he had recog.
nized the false code of honor, if he con
sidered himself gentleman, he could not
have accepted challenge from man who
had, according to his own declaration, for.
feited all claim to the title Of gentleman,
by an action that should send the actor to
the penitentiary-the offering of bribe to
the Governor. How man could unblush-
ngly state publicly that he offered bribe
to governor, and then fall back upon his
honor and challenge man for giving him
The lie. ls mystery to Us. We had as lief
'ather, for it Is worse crime to bribe than
lie, in the first YOU do both to the injury of
he whole State, the latter alone scarcely
.ver Injuries go many people, when INDUCED
n by single individual.
From the vidaa Herald
GOVERNOR wARMo1H.
This gentleman has recently added an
'ther to the many evidences he has al
CdNy ouO"u, tu0I uc Is CmlueuCly ul(eU |
or the high position he now holds
We refer to the line of conduct he OBJ
erved in the late controversy with Mr.. j. |
\. Walsh. 1t is source of special gratiti-
alton to us that our chief magistrate DOS
esses sufficient amount of moral courage |
o defy popular opinion, and come out in
bold, clear and comprehensive letter,
Vhich to every mind (uot diseased by mis-
AIKEN idea), as regards honor, will at once
nstify his course.
It is, moreover, q deadly thrust at the
allacy which has, for so long time, ruled
upreme in the higher circles of Southern
ociety: It has only required some such
Ugh official to decline a hostile meeting,
nd decline with reasons patent to every
lind, to give the blow which will ulti- ,
lately result in the entire obliteration Of :
le barbarous practice of dueling. Popular =,
eminent in the highest civilized countries ,
as for years set it's face against dueling,
lille in all the great kingdoms and empires :
the old world IA ia nrohihitad nth hooaur |