The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-01

INVITES A ,CHAI1ENaE.-The political
feud, which had it's origin twenty-five
years ago between Jefferson Davis and
Henry s. Foote, both then OF Missis-
sippi, and warm political opponents.
and which lived through successive
party campaigns in the State and in the
country, did not abate one lot, exoept
for brief aud delusive truce, when Mr..
Davis became President OF the Confede-
rate States. and Mr.. Foote O member of
| the Confederate House of Representa-
tives, and survived the wreck and ruin
OF the war and its defeats. It seems to-
day to have increased in intensity and
bitterness, in spite Of their gray heads
and growing wisdom and the thousands
Of examples of party and personal recon
ciliation that have occurred while they
perpetuated their quarrel. Recent pub
locations of Mr.. Foote in Washington
papers affecting Mr.. Davis have added
fresh material to their mutual wrath.
and now it is reported that duel is
actunlly being arranged By which to ont
the feud forever. The following letters
| form the present climax OF the trouble.
the first appearing in the Washington
Capital, and being private letter writ
ten last fall:
MEMPHIS. TENN. November 25, 1873
MIR. -- DEAR SIR: Yours OF the Goth
instant has been this day received. I
have not seen any of the articles which
you inform me II. S. Foote had written
in abuse of mo, nor have had any de-
sire to read whatever he might write.
In the year 1851, 1 published him as
constifutiondAy liar, and his subsequent
career only served to confirm me in that
nnf k1,0k Il A..
L have taken no heed Of the utterances
of said Foote. His fnttery, when he
was seeking political preferment in the
Confederacy, aud his abuse when, faith
less to his trust as q Representative in
the Congress of the Confederate States,
he was preparing for his subsequent de.
sertion to their enemy, wore alike disro.
garded by me-.
You are at liberty to use this us you
think proper. l remain, respectfully
and truly, yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
| The following cnrd is published in
tho Washington Chronicle by Mr.. Foote:
."As Il portion or the community NAV
possibly expect from mo como notice of
the insulting and grossly aspersive let
ter over the signature OF Jefferson Da-
Wis, which yesterday morning made its
appearance in the columns of the Capi-
tai, trough the glnring mendacity of all
the allegations OF faos contained therein
might we'll justify me- in treating the
letter itself and ;.s Infamous author
with cool and passionless contempt, vet,
for certain reasons, not difficult, I
imagine, to be OWNED. [ have thought
proper to take Il somewhat different
| course.
IL shall not now go into detail of
past occurrences. with q Wow of nv
own vindication. 1t is not possible for
the ruinod and disgraced champion of
dlsnnlon to say aught of me, or Of nv
public career, which could in the least
degree disturb my equanimity. He has
cherished all nndying hatred for me
ever since his own presumptuous arro-
gance, ON very noted OCCASION, com.
pelled mo to slap his jaws in this CITY,
in the winter OF 1S47-4S. The hostility
thus engendered was aftorwnrd much
Heightened by my defeat Of his treason
able aspirations to the Office of Go
vernon OF Mississippi, as secession
candidate, in 1861. My constant and
unylelding opposition to him aud his
nefarious schemes in Richmond during
the war Of the rebellion for three Years
was not ut all calculated to assuaea his
enmity. My free, but unanswered, and
venture to say unansweruble, exposi.
tions. last summer, of his indecent and
seditious attempts to keep alive, in tie
bosoms OF his countrymen, feelings of
irritation aud alienation which ought
never to have been brought into exist
ence, have doubtless much inaamed the
malignity which was siumbering in the
reoesscs OF heart capable of nll mis-.
chief. rejoice to know that the blight
ing curse of Mr.. Davis commentator
it never can now be my i'll fortune to
incur. But [ bid this mighty man of
Cath, who writes 30 blustronsly for
publication in the newspapers, that do
not live ia absolute conceaIment: nv
whereabouts may be easily found by
him or his idolizing Confederates. lie
knows, rs thousands of others know.
that for full twenty years I have stood
ready to accord to him such satisfaction
as he might deem necessary to his
deeply-wounded honor; and TINT, what.
ever general views 1 may entertain
touching the propriety of settling such
issues as have arisen between him and
myself i'll the mode referred to, vet
that. from special Difference to him. I
1kFr. .1tI