The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1873-03-09
One Wow of tho "Code DuolIo !,

"A personal correspondenee has been 60
ing on for some time between Major NJ. J.
Wicks, of Memphis, and Mr.. Wm. Rule. OF
the knoxville Chronicle, growing out of a
ptnolicatlon by Mr. Rule in relation to the
memphis Savings Bank, and the Memphis
and Charleston Railroad under the Wicks
management. Major Wicks proposed a
duel in the eighborhood of Dalton. Ga.
but Mr.. Rule declined to stand in an omen
| neld as O target, and returned the follow
ing spicy response:
o. KNOXVILLE, Feb. Is, 1873.
Su-iou ask me to meet YOU at Dalton Ca
on the 18th inst, to discuss the business about
which we have heretofore correspondent l
! nave no business to call me to Dalton on til at
day, and decline your invitation Nv refusal
| to answer your commu nicatious as ahove
should nave satisfied you that, so far as was
concerned, the time to discuss tho matter
| further had passed.
am not familiar with the so-called "codo of
honor" but l suppose your communication
means and was intended to lead to a chalIenre
to fight duel
With such au affair I refuse to bavs ,,1
connection l recognize no heathenish,. So
called code of honor" am opposed to duel
ing 1or the reason that it is contrary to the
spirit of the enlightened age in which we live.
am opposed to it because it is contrary to the
laws OF my country, to the laws of humanity
,.n ana to the laws of God. You might take nv
OF ,i.Snt take yours and yet not single
teatnfe OF the publication complained of would
pe changed by the result. If that publication
were false, it would be false still. IF it. were
trpei II would remain true. Hence nothing
can Dc gained by either of us losing our lives
IN the manner proposed.
:, My friends who have been approached on
thls subject by your friends have uniformly
expressed it as their opinion that would not
tight you in this way. 1 have good reason to
believe that you knew this fact before you sent
your challenge.
,, en- sinGe eth this publication was made, have
made inquiry as to the truth of the facts con
tanned therein. My Investigations have con
hrmed me in the belief that the statements
t .naue arc true. Hence I cannot make a re-
traction. 1t ls legitimately n part of my duty
as journalist to make public ali such infor-
nation, if fairly obtained and given. I nnb |
asas, asned the news affecting you just as do
every day news affecting other officials and
business men to whom are confded imuortant
trusts i'll the faithful discharge of which the
public are interested.
you may, and perhaps will, "postn me as n |
coward, because / refuse to murder you or
give You an opportunity to murder me. For |
xnaG l nave the most supreme contempt |
heaiiy, N. 30 not know whether am a coward |
IN the sense you may choose to apply the term
or nor. have never been tested in the way
You propose. l do not seek a reputation for
courage gained in that way. If you are more
anxious 10 investigate the matter of cowardics
than am, you are at liberty to make the iu-
vestlgation in yeur own way and until you are
tully satisfied. !! do not propose to leave tho
mate business, going wherever and whenever
my business calls me. While / do not re-
cognize tho so-called code of honor,"I ,rish
you 10 undersfand that fully recognize tho right
Of sey y-dcfenee. do not court, but on the con
trary, avoid, personal difficulties with my fell
lows, put when attacked shall not hesitate to
defend myself as promptly and enectualIy as
may seem to require.
You ask me to fight yon q duel And for
what7 Because have made statements con-
cerning you, the truth of which 1 can prove,
and the falsity of which you do not not offer
to to show. SHOW do not propose to pander to the
oarDarous preJudices of dcprayed minds by
setting myself up a target TO give YOU the
por opportunity Of so-oalled yindioation of your
honor. have no respect for any such foolish
notlons They may be in accordance with
your ideas of honor and courage, but they are
not with mine. Words cannot express nv
contempt. for such folly, 1t is not proof Of
courage. but of cowardice! 1t is not evidence
ot manilness, but of weak concession to "A
1eathenish and brutal custom. 1t is not the
way to defend a gentleman's honor, but a
practical confession of his inability to defend
{ { IN the manner prescribed by an enlightened .
public sentiment and the laws of
civilized people.
Respectfully, WM. RULE.
% Major NJ. j. Wicks, Memphis Tom ;
II