The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-23
THE PRESS On HUGHEs-CLARK.
SON-EOWLER AFFAIR.
INTERESTING COMMENTS OF REPUBLICAN,
CONSERVATIVE and INDEPENDENT
CIV 8 = F'.sT. > 2 = w 8 z = . z
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN.

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.gssFy aa<st-. 800 , = --cTEEssr8a
| DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN,.
!. New York Herald independently, 2Istl
| If this charge shall be established, Hughes
may be counted among the dead men,. In
!, any event, the probabilities appear TO be
against him. .s9 ..s,.s.'ssg i e5..T,a
: THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION SHOULD BE
| ~ ENFORCED ,.<.-r. 8
| Iphiladeiphia Telegraph tRepubHcanl 2lstl :
1t Is to he hoped that if Colonel Hughes is
| guilty that the constitutional provision will
be strictly enforced, and that he shall not be
allowed to escape the consequences of bis
act by any bubble. DueIlipg in these days
| Is both ridiculous and .disgracefui; but as
there has been decided effort lately to re.
yve the practice, II is we'll that sternly re-
prcssive measures should be resorted to. 1t
has been abundantiy proved that duelling
(: cannot be put down BY means Of ordinary
| punishment, but the average fre-eater can
! be reached il means can be discovered for
making him ridiculous in the eyes of the
community, or Of placing him under serious
disabilities for the remainder of his life.
Most of the duels that have occurred Of late
years have been between politicians, and il
a politician is prohibited from holding Office
| in case he engages in duel, the prospect of
! finding his occupation gone will make him
exceedingly, cautious about participating
either as principal or second in such barba.
| rous encounters. Cardinal Richelieu en-
deavored to put down dueling by inf1icting
severe punishment, but he failed entirely,
| the law having no terror for the men who
stood in awe OF the ridicule Of society. Lord
| Bacon, we think IL was, suggested that III
! stead Of hanging q duellst who had killed
! his man, it would be better to put him in
/ the pilOry. This was an idea worthy of
i"the large-browed Verulam," for as it is q
| dread of 1idicue that tempts most men to
| fight duels, SO a similar dread will prevent
them from fighting them. We think, how
ever, that in this age and country disquali-
) fication for holding Office ought to be suffi-
| cent to restrain the ardor OF bloodthirsty
gentlemen, and if an example is made of
| Colonel Hughes the moral effect will un-
! doubtedly be excellent. -
DISASTROUS TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Philadelphia Bulletin (Republican) 21st.l
| It is impossible, of course, not to antici-
| pate for the Republic party of Virginia
| disastrous results as q consequence Of this
| exposure. The election will occur on the
4th of November, just two weeks from to-
| dry, and it will be difficult to nominate an
| other man and organize an active campaign
| during the next fortnight. The party is dis
| hcartened and demoraliZed by the overthrow
| of its leader, and it will be little less than
miraculous if the organization RECEIVERS it.
self in time to do its whole duty at the
polls. Colonel Hughes has acted in the mat.
ter in fashion witch should expose hin to
the contempt of every just man. He knew
that he was ineligible, and thlt sooner
or later the fact would be- disclosed. His
acceptance of the nomination, therefore, was
unmanly and dishonorable. He has betrayed
his partg, and showed himself to be un-
worthy of the confidence that was placed i'll
him by the people. But the exposure and
| its results will not, we trust, be wholly hurt.
| full. Colonel Hughes is probably the first
man in the South to suffer conspicuous and
overwhelming disgrace as a punishment for
| his participation in the practice of duelling'
Public opinion in that section is still SO
| strongly favorable to the duello that where
actors in tragedies that are conducted in
| accordance with the code are mere
| ~ brought into court they are like
ly to escape the just reward of their
crimes. But in this instance large
and powerful party has the strongest pos
sible interest in enforcing the law, and the
criminal is in such position that infection
OF the penalties involves complete and
very terrible sacrifice, under the most pain
full conditions Of position, political prospects,
personal reputation, and of all that seemed
best and most valuable in bis career. II
may reasonably be hoped that the moral
effect of such q punishment will be very
wholesome, and that the utter ruin of Colo.
mel Hughes will cause other men who are
tempted to make themselves parties to duels
to hesitate and to endeavor to procure some
other and less barbarous settlement of their
disputes. The loss of the State of Virginii
by the Republican party will not be wholly
disastrous If it shall produce such conse'
quence.
DEVICE TO PREJUDICE COLONEL HUGHES.
Washington Republican, 22d, organ of Virgins
| Repubucans.l
The charge is simply used as device t
prejudice Colonel Hughes as a duellist witt
religious people. He is as bitterly opposed
to duelling rs any one can be; and wber
the circumstances of his affair with Mr.
Cameron are recalled, together with the
fact that he acted as 4 peacc-maker Wher
| Messrs. Clarkson and Fowler came into con
tact, the effect will be to benefit his prospects
as Il candidate. If bis enemies fail, as they
will if justice prevails, to bring more sub
stantiaI objection to him than this, he vii
certainly triumph. 49,. Pc. u
| HUGHES DISQUALIFIED, But BEATEN ANYHOW
Petersburg Appeal, Cpd, Conservative
1t will be seen that the State journal;
answer to the charge is eyasive ard irrele
want. 1t assumes that Colonel Hughes would
not have taken hostile message to q mar
who had said that he would not fight. This
is too thin. It will be seen that Mr.. Fowler
did not decline to fight duel till afte,
Colonel ClarkSon had demanded meeting
and authorized Colonel Hughes to arrange
for it. THIS was the challenge which it ap'
pears Mr.. Hughes delivered.
Whatever we may think of the Justice Of
] the clause of the Constitution which disfran
| chises those who send, receive, or deliver
! such cartels, there seems to us to be no doubt
| Of the fact that Mr.. Hughes is amenable to
| the operation of that disfranchisement, and
cannot hold office in Virginia even if elected
| The Radicals, so pious and so lovely, pu,
| that clause in the law organic, and their can
| didate is caught by it. It is, however, nc
! funeral of ours; and if Mr.. Hughes were as
eligible as anybody in Virginia he would
still be doomed to utter and overwhelming
defeat. AS it stands, the case seems to be
| that every vote cast for Mr.. Hughes in No.
yember will be virtually thrown away.
| .s..4t.sy PROFOUND SYMPATHY.
ILynchburg News (Conservative), 22d.J
| This is an awkward dilemma for oul
friends the Grads" to be placed in at this
stage of the contest, and we sympathize with
them most profoundly. -
THE BEST WAY TO SETTLE THE MATTER.
/ "a I