The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-03-06
The Code Of Honor in Tennessee.
From the Gallatin Examiner

the Gallatin EXamincr.l 9
The Knoxville Chronicle, in Deem }
er, published a letter from Memphis, '
riticizing the official acts o. Major u, Z
Wicks. the President Of the Savings
Bank Of that city. A correspondence
,nsucd between Major Wicks and
Messrs, Rule and Kicks, the proprle'
tors Of the Knoxville Chronicle, The
former demands the author aud the re-
traction Of the statements IT, the letter
The reply states that Mr.. Rnle, the ea
itor, was the author, and that
at was written when on n business
trip 80 your city, upon Information
furnished to him by reliable gentle
men, and solely rs a matter Of news
Mr., RUic has never, to his knowledge
seen You: has never had any inter
course Of any kind with you, and his
letter. therefore, was not written from
any malice or i'll will toward you, or
with any desire or intention Y 40 you
any Injustice. II you feel Wat any
wron1 has been done you IN that let
ter, and viii inform US in wha. partIcn'
lar. We will promptly and cLccr'nI'y
make Gll corrections and TclaralIon
Justice demands. 1t has always been
our practice 10 open our Columns
free Of charge, TO every person VINO
feels that Injustice has been done INN
by any statements in our paper, ana
we now extend this privilege to you
Mai Wicks then addressed n lctterto
Mr.. Rule demanding an unconditional
disclaimer Of ans intention on his part
to reflect upon his character for lnteS
rity or as a gentleman. Mr.. Rule ne
piled, declining, as follows:
"Wrat wrote was upon information
obtained from reliable grhllr'neii' hot
through malice. but as Il matter OF news
when I am convinced that the statements
made i'm the letter are erroneous. VIII
most chccrnuIly make any correction de-
sired necessary to do you justice. The
propositions for correction contained in
The letter to you from Rule q Kicks, dated
bee. eth. are hereby rcncwcd.'
Major Wicks notifies Mr.. Rule as
follows
81 will be at the hotel opposite the de-
pot aL Dalton. Gao, nj 10 o'clock. A.. W., ct.
Wednesday. 18TH inst, when and where
shall he pleased to see you, in order llial !
may discuss with you the matter aboUt
which We have hitherto correspondent
Mr.. Rule replies as follows:
"KNoXyflLE, Feb. Is. lS13.-SlR; IOu
ask me to meet you at Dalton, Ga, on the
10Th inst. Cd. to discuss the business about
which wc have heretofore correspondent
| have no business to call me to Dalton on
that day, and decline your invitation. My
refusal to answer your communication n
above should have satisfied you that rs far
as | was g ,nccrncd. the time TO discuss
The matter further had passed.
am not familiar with the so-raIl"d
'rodc OF honor but ! suppose your com
muuication means and was intended to
lead to Il challenge to me TO fight n duel.
with such an affair rcfiscto have any
connection. | recognize no lratllcniSh
'O-callrd "c0dc Ofhouor.' am opposed
dGclling for the reason that ii Is contra
rs to the spirit of the enlightened are in
We live. am opposed to 1t be-
'ausc ii is contrary 10 the laws Of my
'Uuntry. the law Ut humanity, rnd the
avs OF God. You might take my life. or
mi4ht take yours, ami yet not II single
caturr of the communication complained
would be changed by the result. lflllat
were false IL would he false
,till If il were true it would remain
rue. Hence nothing can b" gained 10y
either OF ~ losing our lives in the manner
proposed
My friends who have been approached
on ihi- subject by your friends have UNI
iorm.ily expressed it rs their opinion that
| would not li9ht you IN this way. ! have
good reason to believe that You knew this
fact before you sent your challenge.
Since the publication | made. | have
made inquiry rs to the truth OF the facts
contained therein. Nv Investigations have
confirmed me in the belief that the state
mcnts made are true. Hence ! cannot
make II rctrartion. 1t is lrgitimatrly II
part of my duty AS n journalist to make
,lpllir all such intoI nation, if fairly OBJ
.r II, pl given. I published the news
on Just rs ! do every day news
% 'NlH no other officials or business men to
.t rp rucrca conlidcd important trusts IN the
I.t II, ocharSc OF which the public are
'"& OF :, and perhaps will, post me
.u.. ur uf Il, because | refuse to murder
. r..cyou an opportunity to murder
that ! have the most supreme
'''l' '' .' Really. | do not know whether
l ain Il seward in the sense you may
choose to apply the term or not. | have
never been tested in the way you pro-
pose. | do not seek II reputation for cour-
age gained in that way. If you are more
anxious to investigate the matter OF cow
ardice than ] am, you are ut liberty to
make the investigation In our wi way
and until you are fully satisfied. | do not
propose to leave the country, but will con
tinuc to pursue my Legitimate business.
going wherever and whenever business
calls me. While | do not recognize the
sO-callcd code of honor | wish you to