The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-09-23
Correspondence between Gov. War
moth and J. 4. Walsh.
The New Orleans papers publish

Mon, involving question OF vera
city, having occurred between us, as
more fully appears by your card in
the New Orleans Republican Of the
Sth inst, l am of the opinion that it
would be best for all parties con-
ccrned, that you be kind enough to
name two friends of yours who will
please call upon Inc with the view of
properly adjusting those differences !;
all of which Iprcsume, Judging from
the tenor of your card aforemen-
toned. will be agreeable to you.
Hoping that you will oblige me, L
remain,
Yours respectfully,
J. A. WALSH.
No. 20 Customhouse street.
This letter was placed i'll the hands
of Mr.. Joseph Lula, as the friend
of Mr.. Walsh, for delivery to the
Governor.
Mr.. Lula finding it impossible to
deliver this to the Governor in per
son, gave it to his doorkeeper for
delivery. In answer the following
was sent to Mr.. Walsh by Governor
Warmoth, General Heron, Secre
tary of State, acting as his friend.
1t reads as follows:
New Orleans. Sept II, 1871.
Sir-fout communication of this
date is received. You say: " Certain
differences of opinion, involving a
question ofveracity, having occurred
between us, as more fully appears
by Your card in the New Orleans
Republican of the Sth inst, am Of
the opinion that it would be best for
all parties concerned that you be
kind enough to name two friends Of
yours who will please call upon me
with the view Of properly adjusting
these differences: all of which, |
presume, Judging from the tenor of
your card aforementioned, will be
agreeable to YOU
In reply | have to say that [ am
perfectly willing to submit the ques-
tion of veracity between us to the.
determination of two respectable
gentlemen to be selected by yourself
and two be chosen by me, a fifth to
be selected by these four in case they
can not agree. And if you can prove
to these arbitrators that [ demanded
of you seventy-fye thousand dollars
.d two and one halfper cent of the
net profits of the contract arising out
of the Nicolson pavement bill, or
any other sum or consideration, |
will admit that [ have committed a
breach of veracity and that you have
told the truth.
This on condition that if T can
establish to the satisfaction of the
gentlemen named-by statement of
yours, made at the time and sub
sequently, to gentlemen Of known
character for truth-that you had
approached me with an offer of fifty
thousand dollars as an inducement
for me to sign the said bill; that /
refused it, and told you no consi-
deration, pecuniary or otherwise,
could induce me to sign it-then you
are to admit that the statement as
above given is false, and that the
breach of veracity was committed by
you.
Respectfully your obedient ser
want, Fl. &. WARMoTH.
j. A. Walsh.
T. j. Heron, Secretary Of State,
was the bearer Of this to Mr.. J. A.
Walsh. After carefully perusing
this letter, Mr.. Walsh remarked to
the bearer that Mr.. Warmoth had
entirely misconstrued his communi-
cation that he was surprised very
much indeed that he should have so
far mistaken his meaning; that he
intended and meant it for a chal-
lenge. Mr.. Heron remarked that it
was not a challenge, wherelpOn Mr..
Walsh asked him if he would pro-
mise, as the representative Of Mr..
Warmoth, not to take advantage of
the law if he challenged him in writ
ing in so many words =? Heron re-
marked that he could make no such
promise. Mr.. Walsh then informed
the Secretary of State thathe would
refer the question of answering this
communication to his friend, Mr..
Llulla.
When Mr.. Lula met Heron he
informed him that Mr.. Walsh's mis-
sive was meant as challenge, and
if it was not sufficiently explicit,
which he would not admit, he would
have his principal challenge Mr..
Warmoth directly if he would waive
the law in order that he might not
take any advantage of him. Mr..
Warmoth's friend stated that he was
not authorized to do anythingof the
kind; that he thought it best that
Mr.. Walsh should answer the COM
of his principal, inasmuch
as there appeared to be some mistake
as to the meaning of the same. After
some hesitation Mr.. Llulla agreed to
this, and his principal wrote the fol-
lowing, giving it to Mr.. Heron for
delivery to Mr.. Warmoth:
New Orleans September II, 1871.
H. c.. Warmoth:
Sir--1n response to your commu-
nication of date Of eleventh instant,
I will state that [ requested Of you
that you appoint two friends, intend
irn that they should meet two Of