New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-19

THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA REoPESs The Dis
PUTE AND SAYS THE SENATOR FROM NEW-foRh
INsULTED HIM.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: A striking instance of " Southern Falth IL
the course pursued by Senator Gordons friends since
the assumed settlement of the difficulty between
him and Senator Conkng.
The paper relative to the " so-called mlsuhueI-
standing y between Senators Conkling and Gordon,
while stating that one party used the lrs' OMEN
siye words decided that there should be mutually
and simultaneously withdrawn all the remarks OF
both. This decision. if binding. was clearly
waiver of the right of the party % whom the hrst
offensive words were spoken to require in order to
settlement that those words should be first with
drawn. Such waiver clearly left no right to the
party who first offended, to publicly insist thar ne
was first insulted by the other, and was proceeding
70 notice and resent the insult and demand Satsiac-
ton when friends intervened.
Is not this being done by Senator Gordon OF his
friendsf The Washington Post OF Saturday asserts
that the insults of Conkling, systematically gwen
10 Southern Senators for the deliberate purpose OF
stirring up bad blood eliminated IN executive ses-
sion the day before and then gives an account Oh
rho transaction which represents Senator Conking
"a first insulting Senator Gordon, while the latter
only "rebuked the insult" and firmly aud dis
ton Post Of Monday has an interview with Senator
Gordon who - represented saying that the ac-
count IN Saturdays Post precisely accurate, and
char true account of the matter could be obtained
from his friends and then follows an account OF an
interview with n Southern Senator, who Is repre-
scented as asserting that Senator Gordon was entirely
right Senator COukng i'm every way wrong and that
had not the matter become personal Gordon would
undoubtedly by large vote have been sustained
by the Senate IN lis position Senator Gordon felt
that he was right; he also felt that Mr.. Conkling's
remarks could be construed in no other way than ~
an insult to him. and his friends felt This YER
sion of the facts ls being spread over the whole
South and also, to a less extent, in the North Now
if il should be true as | assert It IS,
l. That Senator Gordon uttered the first offensive
words,
2. That Senator Coullng replied in justiable par
liamentary language, and, therefore,
3. That Senator Gordon was all wrong and Sena-
tor Conklng entirely right.
Should not Senator Gordon, if responsible for The
Posts utterances or his friend be requested to re-
fran from giving out untrue statements OF the
affair and should not the correct statement he gwen
TO the world in as authentic form as has the settle
ment whereby Senator Conkllng has waived that
which was first due TO him, namely, an apology from
Senator Gordonf
1t is of some importance to know whether this
first attempt to renew plantation manners IN the
Senate is TO he understood as based upon the old
Southern plan First insult your Northern man. If
he resents it in any way insist that he first insrlted
you, and either knock him down. shoot HIM on the
spot or challenge him. W. L. CHANDLER.
Washington, Dec. L. 1877