The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-09-23

body by witnesses of unimpeaehahle
veraeity that it was "a willful and
malicious falsehood.
As to the alternative which is un-
derstood to be to fight you, you knew
when you made it, | could not except
it, and ascertained the fact by inquiry
of my personal friends from whom
YOU elected the information that |
would not | refuse to accept this
new tribunal to which you invite me
for several reasons:
/. If | should accept it and go out
with you to fight, when we returned,
whether dead or alive, the question OF
veracity would still be unsettled. Ii
you were to kill ME it would notprOve
/ that I stated a falsehood, or that you
told the truth, or vice versa.
g. The civilization of the day con-
dennis as barbarous and immoral the
practice of dueling, and it can only be
excused or palliated when there is no
other possible means OF yindicating
ones honor.
B. As Chief Magistrate of this great
Commonwealth, | am charged with
| the faithful execution of the laws, and
my oath of office, however much !
might be irritated with you, and
desire this settlement, would prevent
me from indnlging in it.
/ In conclusion, | reaffirm my willing
ness to submit the question between
! +hs,I ,,f
selected as before indicated, or to the
courts of the State, whose doors are
always opened at the knock of men
fancying themselves suffering from
wounded honor.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
H. G. WARIoTH.
Here. the correspondence ceased,
and nothing more occurred in relation
to the matter until the 18th instant,
when Mr.. Walsh again resorted to the
public print, and addressed card to
Governor Warmoth through the col
umns of the New Orleans Times Of that
date. In this card appears this para
graph:
The point at issue is as to whether
I ever stated that You would not sign
the Nieolson pavement bill for any
pecuniary consideration. | most emf
phatically deny that ever said any
such thing. | reiterate the charge
that You were not willing, at first, to
sign it for fifty thousand dollars, but
demanded seventy five thousand dol
lars, and two and 0ne-half per cent OF
the profits, for your signature. ] adj
mitted to some gentlemen that | had
offered you fifty thousand dollars, and
YOU declined, but the balance not be-
ing in your favor | made no mention
of it.
This persistency of Mr.. Walsh's in
insisting upon the truth of his libel,
determined Governor Warmoth to
place before the public such undeni-
able evidence as would settle the mat
ter at once, and prove himself to be
the slandered person and Mr.. Walsh
J the slanderer.
Whether he has accomplished this
the following testimonials viii show
NEW ORLEANS, September, i6, 1871.
His Excellency Governor H. C. Warmoth
Si'-About two years ago | happen.
ed to be in the office of ID. G. Hitch.
cock & Co., who where at the time
trying to negotiate with parties t.
, purchase the right to lay the Nicolsor
pavement on ST. Charles street, wher,
! | met Mr.. j. A. Walsh. Mr.. Hitch
cock was figuring for Walsh wha
, amount Mr.. E. j. Hart, president o
the company, would take for his con
tract, and what it could be sublet for
the figuring showing little over 800
600 profit. Nh. Walsh thereapon salt
/" I will go and offer the Goyerno
. S30, 000.n He left, and shortly -afte
returned Upon Mr.. Walsh's return
he said " offered the Governor $50
600 to sign the bill. He reprimanle,
: me, saying that he was surprised tina
/, knowing hiGa as did, should max
L him such a proposition He said
, "The Governor told me that he wouli
take pleasure in signing the bill TO
: me if it were right to do, SO withoa
l any consideration, but that it woul'
l be like the State paying for the pave
1nent of the road in the parishes" II,
. said the Governor could not be in
J : dueed to sign the bill, and that lie, tn
j Governor, was right in his views o
the matter.
Respectfully yours,
= = w. l.. CATLIN.