The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-28
Interview i'm Washingt0Rs City with
the Rev. q. w. Carter.

N"'hSt. iuC ldSb IL, Il NhS TalScu very
nicely, but the devil got the advantage some
way. Some people call me scalawag, but
not TO my face, mind you; but I am not q
scalawag. was born in the South, it's true,
but am not scaawag. am native of
Virginia; and own plantation In that
State now. l was educated in the South
at the University of Alabama. 1 received
| my degree there"
"What dcgree."
"Why, Doctor of Divinity
Then YOU are ID. d., are you!"
"Well. was; don't know whether l de-
served it or not"
AFTER you graduated, where did you
go?"
| ooh, was professor in the Mississippi
| University. iii the University of Petersburg,
Va. and others. When the war broke out /
was president Of the University of Texas"
Ibid you ever preach?" l asked.
"Oh, yes" he answered, 81 was very
good preacher once"
"Why didn't you remain in that profession
and continue to be n truly good man, like
Deacon Smith, of Ohio:"
| "Well,' he answered, rather sorrowfuily,
Il withdrew to fight a duel, and never re-
turned. Yes" lie continued, noticing my
surprise, II left the Methodist Church to
challenge man-Judge Grey, Of Texas"
! "W hat for!"
"He called me ses,lawag. l was making
reconstruction speeches. and while l went
into the Confcdracv rebellion with NIL the
ardor Of n Young lover, aud all the patriot
ism which possessed. and although never
loved a cause SO well in all my checkered en-
istcnce, yet when we were whipped and
| beaten, | for one was ready to submit. We
made as gallant fight as was ever made, and
! when one does the best he can and is fairly
whipped, it is no disgrace. SO went in for
| reconstruction. That was the only challenge
| | ever gave, but don't allow anybody to in
suit me. l am very pcaccable man, but it
| is generally understood in New Orleans that /
allow no man to insult me-"
FIGHTING CLEAN SHIRT.
Did you ever accept challenger"
"Oh, yes he answered, very deliberately
"you ought to know that. Don't you re-
member the duel between Badger and my
self? never refllSea challenge. l will fight
any man who has on q clean shirt, without
! inquiring whether Nhe is a gentleman. He
must have gentlemen for seconds, however"
"Do YOU believe in duelling 2"
"Yes, on purely economic grounds. In
| New Orleans it saves time and trouble. The
chances of being killed are very few, and if
| people know you are ready to fight they are
| careful not to misuse YOU. Il man in my po-
| sition in New Orleans who would refuse to
| fight duel would be driven out Of town in
| month. So accept all the challenges that
| Gomez
Did YOU ever kill your man"
| "No, | thank God, never did. have
fought Il great many duels, but l never
fought fatal one"
| thought this was strange, for Senator
Kellogg, a day or two before, had told me
that Carter was the best shot in the country,
either with rifle or pistol. So | asked him
| how it was that he never killed anybody,
how many challenges he had received, and if
he was a good shot.
YES" he answered. . am very good
shot; can ring the bell at the word at sixty
PAGES, with a rifle, nearly every time. have
had. during tue past twelve months, fifteen
challenges. Some were arranged ut once.
some were arranged OH the ground, and, in
some. shots were exchanged. In nine cases
out OF ten, wien a man is on the field for
The first time, he will not shoot within ten
tect Of his opponent. If his opponent is IN
experienced shot, of course lie would have
great odds, but nobody but a rufiian would
take advantage of such n thing. \ person in
the field for tie first time invariably shoots
too soon. Then an experienced dueliSt has
him at his mercy. But you will get very
.bad impression Of me, tear" he continued
81 am not bad man, and I'm not duelst
ard it is bad business, and all that but
accept challenge in order to maintain my
peace of mind"
| TIE BADGER DUEL.
How about your fight with Badger?"
T. "Well, we were driven into that. We
didn't either of us relish the idea of shooting
at each other, for we are both splendid shots
but we were rather forced into it by oul
friends. As it was, one shot only was eX
changed. Badger intended to kill me, that
l knew. l knew it from my friends and
from his; so, to protect my own life, was
determined to take his. But he shot at the
word, and his aim was bad. The ball die
not come within several feet of me-"
"Wh hat do you mean by this word?"
why, 'the word is Ready-Firc! One,
two, three Badger fired at the word Fire:
aimed at his heart, but when had received
his shot, / changed my aim from his heart tc
his left arm, just above the elbow. shot be-
tween the words One and 'Two,' but in
changing the aim so quick l missed his arm
and my ball went between his arm and his
/ body. My Object in aiming at his arm was
; to disable him and prevent second shot
| But the seconds interposed and arranged that
we should meet in the centre OF the ground
and shake hands. Well, that was probably
the best way to fix it."
What was the cause of all these challenges
: during the past year, Colonel-wlat shall
call you, Colonel, Professor, Doctor, or Mr.
Speaker"
"Call NE anything you like; it makes nc
: difference. Most of the challenges were
given in consequence Of articles in my pa
per, the National Republican, in New Or
leans, scarcely amy OF which l wrote If
had not accepted them would have beer
called a coward, and accused of trying tc
place the responsibility on my editors. Their
| would have had to send the challenges
and would thus have lost the choice of arms
and the odds which l thus secure. DO you
more trouble I'll whip them and refuse the
challenges"
PICTURE OF wARMoTH.
What do you think of Warmoth, Colo
nel?"
"Oh, Warmoth is u thief, q traitor, and @
liar! He has stolen himself millions OF dol.
lars from the ruined, war-ridden people OF
Louisiana. He deserted and betrayed every
friend and principle he ever had; and as for
lying-woIl, he is the most artistic liar that
was ever in New Orleans, which is saying
enough. lie knows my opinion Of him. But
his power is broken there. The people are
beginning to understand him, and his end is
nigh"
'How long will you he here, COLONEL"
asked, as he rose to go.
| "Ob week or two. I'll come in and see