The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-28

this time had been unable to satisfy himself
that the matter complained of by Judge
MAJOR was false and unwarranted. He could
make no retraction without investigation.
He had been unable to communicate with
parties to whom he was indebted for the in
formation upon which the articles complain
ed of were based. He could only reassert the
proposition made by him in his note to
Judge Major. He, therefore, informed the
punctilious Gen. Hodge that he had
NO REPLY TO MAKE
TO this last communication, and would re-
fer his friend, the judge, to the columns of
the Enquirer of Saturday morning. Tne bel
licose general insisted upon a written reply
TO the communication which be had Just de-
livered. 1t then became apparent that the
general and his friends across the river were
conducting business under "the CODE" and
that there was TO be vast amount OF corre-
spondence, out Of which some gentleman
would reap bountiful crop of glory. AS
the editor of the Enquirer had done
all that could be demanded of him under
the rules of gentlemanly intercourse, he de-
declined to receive any further communica-
tions from Judge Major, and declined to
furnish MIN with the names of the gentle
men who had placed the Enquirer in posses
sion of information relating to The judicial
and social proceedings at Burlington. Gen.
Hodge desired to know whether the editor
of the Enquirer held himself responst bic for
what appeared in his columns, and was
assured that he did. He wanted
to know, then. whether gentleman
was to be assailed without the oppor-
tunity to obtain satisfaction. Ee was
informed that Judge Major would receive
satisfaction through the paper if il could be
demonstrated that he had been misrepre
sented. General Hodge then drew from one
of the pockets OF his immaculate linen coat
4. a.. n IL
Enquirer, which he said he was instructed
to deliver in the event that an immediate
reply was not Youchsafed his second epis-
tie. We declined to receive it. General
Hodge grew very indignant at this stage of
the proceedings, and said that he was famil-
lar with the contents of the note, and
that it was peremptOry demand for satis-
faction; in other words, a challenge. As we
had already assured him that we didn't pro-
pose TO indulge further epistolary pastime,
either with himself or his high toned
friend, he returned his warlike message to
the receptacle from whence it came, and,
with a shade OF disappointment marking
his highly intelligent face, took his depart
ure. In summing up this matter, we desire
to say that at this writing we have
NO REASON TO RETRAcr ANYTHING
that may have appeared in our paper cou-
cerning Judge Major and his conduct at
Burlington. Ii it could be eshown US that
we have done him injustice wewould read
lily give him the benefit Of free and frank
apology. The course pursued by him yes
terday was not exactly the proper one tor a
gentleman who believed that he had suffered
an outrage at the hands Of newspaper. he
started in with an assumption of bravado
and determination to hold somebody
amenable under the "code." He was
not willing to- accept the friendly as
| surances of one Who certainly desired to do
| him simple justice, and who would at this
moment be glad to wipe away the bitter
criticism complained of If he econscientiously
believed that his duty apublic Journalist
demanded it. IL was we'll understood at
this Office yesterday that the band OF digni-
fled gentlemen who rescued Mr.. Terrell from
the Jail at Burlington were closeted with
that individual-skilled in the delicate uses
OF words and the usages of the code-plot-
ting for the murder of the editor of the
| Enquirer, or some one who was
instrumental in giving their recent shameful
| conduct to the world. 1t was all to be done
| under the CODE" When we feel called
upon to recognize the 'code" we shall do So
and until we do the duel hunters on the
other side of the river will have to obtain
their satisfaction" in methods not pre-
scribed by individuals who spend their time
in caTousing, card playing and advertising
themselves as gentlemen" If their public
conduct is such as to demand newspaper
criticism, they wil receivAit at our hands
fearlessly and honestly, and they will finC
us at all times ready to defend ourselves in
the fashion which prevails on this side o.
/ the river.