New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-15
TIE PEOPLE WANT PROOFS, NOT A FIGHT.

the State, by the gentleman who has jus
senta challenge to Governor Warmoth t,
tight duel. We are aware of the reluc
lance on the part Of our judicial officer
to enforce the law against dueling, bu
there could be no exception made whe,
the oath Of Office was taken to supper
the constitution and laws, neither ough
there be any in practice. The time ha
passed in this community when a ma,
may invite another to the so-caiied fielt
OF honor, and by the death of one or tn,
other settle affirmatively in favor of til,
survivor a question of veracity between
them. Not only is this absurd relic O.
barbarism forbidden by our laws but it is
strictly prohibited in Europe both tc
civilians and soldiers. Even in the
French army, a duelist is disgraced. In
TACT, We do not know of any community
with any claims to being called civilized
where it is not forbidden under severe
penalties.
The code of honor, as it is often used,
Is simply code of dishonor It is fire.
quently invoked by an expert, as the
easiest and safest way to gain an advan-
tage over a novice in the use Of arms
And while the case in point does not pre-
sent any such phase, for We believe the
two gentlemen are both somewhat unused
to handling deadly weapons, yet it does
present that other Objectionable phase that
it could not even if lawful, settle the
question which the public are concerned
in having settled. No possible result of
a duel between Mr.. Walsh and Governor
Warmoth could have thrown any light
upon the question at issue. 1t would not
have raised the character of either of the
gentlemen in the mind of any man Of
correct judgment. And as it is entirely
useless for any such purpose, and a
breach of the law, it should never be in
voked by man, at least until be has ex-
hausted every other means of indicating
himself from supposed insult or indig-
nifty. We grant that man who is ready |
to risk his life before the pistol of an an
tagonist may be physically brave, but yet
IN majority OF cases those who resort to
the code are deficient in that most exalted |
md noble attribute of manhood, moral
courage And this question of fact
raised between Governor Warmoth and
Mr.. Walsh will be examined and decided
oy impartial, reasoning men by the light
If surrounding circumstances. Let US
examine these briefly:
Mr.. Walsh admits that he offered Gov
'rnor Warmoth bride of $4,000 to sign
he Nicolson pavement bill. But he
tates, on the other hand, that the refusal
vas based upon the inadequacy of the offer.
lie says tie Governor was of the opinion
hat his signature was worth So, 900 and
wo and half per cent of the net profits
rising out OF the contract under it. The
Governor did not see proper to reply at
nee to Mr.. Walsh's counter charge, but
tier it had been referred to and adopted 20,
y Speaker Carter, and subsequently by {
lieutenant Governor Dunn, he felt it due
the public and himself to give it an {
nphatic denial. He did so in very de- {
lded language, characterizirg it as S
willful and malicious falsehood," and {
ave the names Of number of gentlemen ,
ho, he assured the public, would estab- r
sh tie truth of his denial So far as We
now, Mr. Walsh has never called upon t
~ OF the gentlemen named for contra a
elton Of the Governors allegations. Z
ne of them, Mr.. Taylor, has published n
rd, over his own signature, which u
rongly corroborates the Governors tes- a
nony. Mr.. Taylor declarrs that Mr. i,
alsh assured him that the Governor re- n
sed to sign the bill, and that no con- b
leration, pecuniary or otherwise, could a
duce him to sign it. I
Again: When this offer of fifty thou "
nd dollars was made by Mr.. Walsh, be IL
ted in representative capacity. He c;
az have had a small interest in the BILL ii
It others had greater. And beyond Il
estion he had their full assent for the O,
er. When it was refused, the agent id
doubt reported the fact to the other
'orporators Of the bill, and probably
We the whole conversation that passed
tween him and the Governor. Now, La
he tell any one of these gentlemen at vi
: time Of the alleged demand? If he nc
! produce one of these gentlemen who re
l testify that Mr.. Walsh informed him al
that time that Governor Warmoth co
reed to sign the bill for seventy-ive M
'usand dollars and two and half per OF
It Of the profits, it will 60 a great way pr
to break down the Governors evil tn
ice. Or if he can make it appear that tn
informed his co-incorporators that the
vernon named Or limited at any price as ms
Ely to bring success to the measure, he me-
have pretty strong case. So far as no
have heard from these gentlemen, I'M
say the report made at the time by pr
Walsh was, that the Governor would ne
sign the bill at all. sal
low, these are questions of fact and tina
ience, and can not be settled by bull Gu
). The community does not care No
ether Mr.. Walsh will fight or not The pie
bic will probably concede that he will. say
4 they do not want to know that Gov bee
Nar II G-l> |