Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-29
THE RHE1IS-
THEIR STR ANGE DUELiAN"
FATALITY.
Famous Family-Remln1sce
The Massachusetts Adasnses 80
carolina IIhetts of the So
BLOOD.

. Famous Family-Renainiscences- I
ri. massachusetts Adamses ana Y
1,.rol;uu T1hetts of the same 6
Blood. :
While the fatal termination OF the 1
1a+e dnel between Barnwen Rhett, Jr., {
and Judge Cody is sad, 1t REEVES
otber memories-some more palhIui
still. and yet some very pieasan
Which concern the famous Rhett Ian-
;i1, First. one cannot help recurring !,
10 the Iamentable fate of the accom-
nlisbed Tabor, who fell in a duel WIN
McCrath. Hewas editOrof the Charies,
ton Mercury. An editorial appeared
in the paper rejecting on Judge Mc
Gratb an older brother of the comoat
tant. It was written by Edmuno
Rhett. a brother of Barnwell, Jr. ne
acknowledged himself the author, anu
signed his willingness to respond 70
any hostile message, but Mce1ra1n II
manded satisfaction OF Tabor only. ne
accepted the challenge and was Kielea
mon the field. Tabor was q nfst
oansin of Rhett. He ranked among
the first. if not the very first, OF the
intellectual Young men of South Caro-
lima He gave promise of glorious
| fnture in the world of letters and poll
tics. and was universally admired as
we'll as loved. His early and violent |
death caused a general lamentatlon,
and to this day it is, to all who admire
oenius linked with virtue, q most pam
full memory.
There is still another tragedy asso-
c;ated with the name of Rhett. Du-
ring the war, and for causes not re-
membered. Ransom Calhoun fell IN
dneI at the hands of Alfred Rhett,
another one of the Rhett brothers.
These "reminiscences of the Rhett
brothers bring to mind their distln-
onished father, Robert Barnwell Rhett,
Sr who at one time had national
fame. He was Democrat leader In
the United States House of Represen-
tatives during the furious days OF the
abolition excitement. Combined Win
a lofty intellect, he had form which
one would say was the 1mpersonat1oh
of gentlemanly refinement. LIZ was
surprising to friend as well as foe, that
beneath such a placid exterior there
: shonld be such firmness of purpose.
steadiness of nerve, and fiery eio-
ouence. His style was always terse,
! incisive and fluent, and sometimes
truly eloquent Sincerity in all he
=, said was stamped upon his brow, and
this, supported by an earnestness OF
. mann err, carried conviction to hearers
= and dismay to adversaries.
This famous gentleman has so long
. been in retirement, that when the late
= duel suggested his name, we could not
say positively if he was yet among the
- living. On inquiring we were told
. that he is vet residing in his beloved
- but oppressed Carolina, a confirmed
- invalid. In that retirement we fee
IL I, sure he retains the confidence and sym
-. pathy of his admiring countrymen.-
= What though he and his cause nave
" both failed? The memory of truth
y though PROSTATE, IS sweeter than tht
~ present enjoyment of reward whlc.
n follows or accompanies falsehoOd
~ There is Il tradition connected will
60 the birth and career of this distin
~ guished gentleman. At the time whel
~ he was in the United States House o
- Representatives, the champion of tn
t' Southern cause, John Quincy Adam
" was his ablest and most consplcuou
~ antagonist. We had often heard tina
~ these gifted men were descended from
y a common ancestry, and that ther
Il consequently coursed through the'
~ veins a kindred blood. We deeme
M the report mere idle rumor, but subse
~ urent inquiry has satisfied us of 1t
80 truth. 1t is curious piece of Amer
"a can family history, worthy of pubilca
~ tion and is briefly this /:
',a Thomas and James Smith, brother:
=, were EnglisEmen, who followed tn
ia fortunes of Cromwell They WEI
~ prominent as political writer's on tia
~, side. They came to the Province {
i South Carolina i'll 1871, beng attracte
1,n thther by the restoration OF Charlie
- the Second. Thomas remained III IL
~. Province and became ruling man.
-. I'm 1851 he received from the Births
nd Crown patent of forty-eight thonsan
In, acres of land, situated IN South an
=! estate in lands he acquired the title
49, Landgrave Smith, and by that nan
-. he became most generally known. 1
=, 1853 he WAS appointed Governor
the Province of South Carolina.
~ rarnwell Rltett is il descendant III I'll
Il, Il rect line from this man. He b
-, |, ngs, we believe, to the sixth genef
al Ton of his descendants.
10 James Smith, the brother, was
FL. dissenting clergyman. He soon move
60. to the Province OF Massachusetts,. III
,m grand dagghter Cor, it may be, h
n;r great grand=daughterY married " o.
La- John Adams in October, Itch. Jol
at Quincy Adams is therefore line
w. descendant of James, the brother
a. ..Landgrave" Smith. Abigail Smit
- the mother Of John Quincy Adam
+I1, was one of the most remarkable wome
on. this or any other country has produ
-Lo ed. A mind free from prejudice CO
fa, scarcely read her history without cor
no ing to the conclusion that she was tt
10 | ~, 1f who ba,
;r1 been mistresses of the White House
;nh Tbe descendants of Thomas Smi
nv are very nHnaefca.s in South Carolln
tba and there are many @Aas ip Georg1
&c General Screven. who Was klfie4 ne
ion Midway, Liberty county, during tt
US revolution, and after whom Screw
county in this State is named, was
o, the maternal side descendant
-, Landgrave Smith.
ojI The intellect of these ancestors ha
a. through many generations, been tran
tho mitted Many of the ablest men
civ South Ga1q4ra, of the present al
MD past generation, trace thor origin
DIV Landgrase Smith. 4 !copsiIfkersble p
he he cent. of the oldest and lAost famo
families of that State aye of his bloc
The Adams family, for intellect of t
highest order, associated, too, wi
Will the best moral worth is perhaps an e
liar ception to the whole world, in t
ate transmission of intellect from father
ogs son. and from generation to generate
,m- AS we began this article by referen
,gs. to duelling, and to duelling in t
Rhett family, we could not better &C
/ of clude, than by remarklng, that VIII
ere ever OF PRAISE or censure there may
are in the praetlcSs t44e &QnS of Barnw
by Rhett never acquired that, either fro
on his precept or example. When invit
nds in Washington City to mortal CONT
T of by Jere Clemens, the Senator fro
The Alabama, he declined, and in expla1
abb ton said he was a member of
lrge church and 2orincilolcd against dueli,
rye Observation teaches us that certs
the fatalities fql.qy certain families, o
on it may be that aueiipG j. the mirf'
wal time of the younger khetis.-S!qUt