The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-22
TEHE CLARKsoa-RowlEB AFFAIR.
MIR. HUGHES REFUSES TO SPEAK
:ts.t gi t@ersG OF IT. r '.2;E. aod tsy d
HIS PART I'm 1T AS EyPLAISEDiBY,
~ f2iE- HIS FRIENDS. IrsEsTf-s. 5a
WHY SHOULDN'T HE? =,
rs HIS THE sTL EyCE OF PENITENcB FOE
Id WING VIOLATED THE HUII1NE AND
PIOgS AN7T-D UELLITf LAWS OF ~. (
HIS RADICAL SUPP0RTERSlrn a.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch. ]


WASHINGTON. October 21.--The Dispatch
correspondent called upon Colonel Hughes
this evening for the purpose Of obtaining
some expression from that gentleman with
reference to the statements that have been
made concerning his course in the difficulty
between Messrs. Clarkson and Fowler.
L found the Republican candidate for
Governor OF Virginia in company
with two or three OF his friends who had
called to see him, and without any delay ac-
quainted him with the object Of my visit,
assuring hinl that the Dispatch would be
glad to have his views regarding this widely
talked-of affair. Colonel Hughes was, how
ever, 10th to hold any conversation
upon this topic, and though exceed
ingly courteous and urbane in manner
was, nevertheless, positive in declining to
make any statement whatever in regard
thereto. The next best thing to do was to
talk The matter over with gentlemen known
to hold intimate personal and political rela.
tions with him and in this your correspond
ent met with more success, as there was no
disposition on their part to refrain from con-
versing freely upon what certainly must,
| and does, seem an awkward subject.
Their sentiments, any one would natu-
rally correctly infer. are not at va
rance with those Of Colonel Hughes. The
authority upon which the following state
ments are made regard as the very best at
foip,h1o hot do iiraptlv from
the lips of the gentleman to whom they par.
| ticularly relate. In the first place, Colonel
Hughes does not consider that his action in
this matter disgualifies or disfranchises him,
| for the reason that even had he been the
bearer of Il hostile message the fact that
the whole proceeding was outside the
limits of the State Of itself prevented
| any disqualification; but Colonel Hughes
does not consider that there was a challenge
| in the correspondence, and there was none
| intended. Had his participation in the affair
been such as to diSqualify him Colonel
IIughes), those who speak for him say he
would not have been permitted to register as
a voter and bis view of his rights in this re.
spect are based not only upon his own legal
knowledge, but also upon eminent legal au-
thority. But the gist of the claim Of legality
as q candidate for Office lies in the denial,
which is strenuously urged, that Colonel
| Hughes went to Bristol in a belligerent ca
pacity.. 1t is insisted that, on the contrary,
he visited that place in the interests of
peace, and knew from first to last that there
was to be no fighting between Mr.. Clarkson
and Mr.. Fowler. Colonel Hughes further
expresses the opinion, as your correspond
ent learns, that he is in no way disqualified
by the part he took In this affair. 80 ,,,f ~,
The subject has been one Of great COM
|ment here to-day, and it evidently seems,
despite the good face put upon the situation
by the warm supporters Of Mr.. Hughes and
those who reflect his opinions, that the
dilemma is one which is apt to occasion some
trouble. One prominent Virginia Radical
was asked to-day what would be done about
it, and he responded that he could say no.
thing except recall Mr.. Lincoln's homely
remark about the danger of swapping horses
while crossing the stream-t. e., it wouldn't
do to put new man in the field at this late
day. TIHoN.
| Associated Press telegram.l -
The disqualification Of Mr.. Hughes
| Denied by HIS + fricnds.
| WASHINGTON, October 21.---The friends Of
Colonel Hughes deny that he is disqualified
for the office of Governor Of Virginia. They
say he went to Tennessee in July, 1870, to
| compose q quarrel; that he failed to make
peace, but found there would be no fight !;
| that he delivered no letter understood by
him to be challenge leading to duel, and
| that if he had delivered q challenge it was
in Tennessee; and although the Constitu-
ton of Virginia applies to principal send
ing or accepting challenge outside Of the
State, 1t does not apply to one delivering a
challenge unless it ls delivered in the. State.