Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-21
From the New York Tribune.
Gordon VS.. COnkling.
LETTER FROM W. E. CHANDLER.

THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA REoPENs THE DIS
pUrR AND SAYS THE SENATOR FROM NEW
YORK INsULTsD HIM.
To The Editor Of the Tribune.
SIR: A striking instance of Southern Faith
is the course pursued by Senator Gordon's friends
since the assumed settlement of the difficulty be-
tween him aud Senator Conkling.
The paper relative to the "so-caled misunder-
standing" between Senators Conkling and Cor
don, while stating that one party used the often
sive words decided that there should be mutually
aud simultaneously Withdrawn all the remarks of
both. This decision, if binding, was clearly a
waiver Of the right of the party TO whom the first
offensive words were spoken to require, in order
to a settlement, that those words should be first
Withdrawn. such waiver clearly left no right to
the party who first offended to publicly insist that
he was insued by the other and was proceeding
to notice and resent the insult and demand salts
faction when friends interviewed.
Is not this be ing done by Senator Gordon or his
friends The Washington Post Of Saturday as
selts that the insults Of Conkling, Systematically
given to Southern Senators for the deliberate pur
pose of stirring up bad blood, eliminated in ex
ccutve session the day before, and then gives an
account of the Transaction which represents Sena-
ator Conkhng as first insulting Senator Gordon.
while he latter only "rcnuked the insult aud
"frmly and distinctly" repeated his remarks. Next,
the Warrington Post OF Monday has inter-
view with Senator Gordon, who is represented as
saying that the count IN SATURDAY Post was
precisely ate, and that a true account of the
matter could be obtained from his friends ana
then follows an account of an interview with
Southern Senator, who is repres ented "a asserting
that "Senalor Gordon entirely right, Senator
Conkllng III every way wrong, and that had not
the matter become personal Gordon would un-
doubtodly by large vote have been sustained by
the Senate in his position. Senator Goldo felt
that he was light he also felt that Mr.. Conking's
remarks could be construed in no other way than
as all insult to HIM, aud so his friends felt. This
version oi the facts Is beng spread over the whole
South, and also, 10 q less extent, IN the North.
Now if it should be true as assert 1t is,
l. That Senator Gordon uttered the first often
siye words,
9 That Senator Coukling replied in justifiable
parliamentary language, and, therefore,
3. That Senator Gordon was all wrong and SeE-
ator Conk ling entirely right.
Should not senator Gordon, if responsible for
the Posts ulterances, OF his friend be requested
- refrain from giving out untrue statements OF
the affair, and should not The correct statement
be gwen TO tue world in as authentic form
has the settlement, whereby Senator Conklng has
waived that which was first due TO him, namely,
an apology from Senator Gordon
1t Is Of some importance to know whether this
first attempt to renew plantation manners in the
Senate is to be understood as based upon the old
southern plan: First insult your Northern man.
If he esents it IN any way, insist that he first in
suited you and either shoot him on the spot, or
challenge hun. w. f. CHANDLER.
WAsHNGToN Dec. Is, 1877.