Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-22
Cause OF the Difficulty.
Washington July l9) Special to Chicas


Washington July 19) Special to Chicago
Times.
The talk of all circles here to-day is the chal-
lenge of Eppa Hunton to Columbus Alexander,
Of this district. to fight duel The history of
the affair is us follows. Toward the close of
the last session of Congress g II. Hunton, who
is member of the committee on District
affairs reported bill lesslizing assessments
made by the board of public works, which only
little while before had been reported to
Congress in an official communication by Judge
Began, one Of the CO mmissioners Of the dis
trict, to be false. fraudulent and corrupt. The
bill passed without any particular objection.
On the following day Mr.. Springer rose to
personal explanation and asked for reconsider
alton of the bill. having read Bryan's report.
Gen. Hunton, with others of the district COM
mittee, insisted that the bill was proper, and
the motion to reconsider failed. The only
| parties benefited by the bill are the First
| National bank of New York. and other institu-
tions which held certificates of assessment
issued by the board of public works, and
which were bought at low figures.
Columbus Alexander, president Of the
Tax-Payers association, has fought in the
courts for several years the enforcement Ut the
collection of the assess ments suits being now
| pending for sums to the extent Of nearly
81 OUO, 900. This bill, it is alleged threw these
cases out of court and legalized the assess
ments. The collection begins tomorrow. the
bill having also passed the Senate Recently
Gen. Hunton, in joint discussion in Alex
andria with s. G. Neal. rival candidate
for the Democratic nomination for Congress,
answered the charge, accusing him
of being one of ring in this district Gen.
Hunon explained that the occasion for this
statement was his vote in favor Of bill for q
correction of assessment, which had been
brought to him Endorsed by Commissioner
Bryan, Judge Wy.i,, and Columbus Alexander.
Mr.. Alexander, in communication to me
41eran01ia Gazette, denied the statement OF
Gen. Hunton 80 far q it applied to him, and
charged that Hunton was member of ring.
Capt. F. G. Shepherd, of Warrenton, Va. in
the interest of Gen. Hunton, then called on
Mr.. Alexander with letter from Gen. Hunton,
inclosing the paragraph and demanding re-
; traction. Mr.. Alexander replied that he hao
no answer to make him, but would answer IN
the press. Mr.. Hunton, through Mr. Shepherd
replied in substance that he could take nc
verbal answer from Alexander. 6u
wanted in writing. To THU
Mr.. Alexander replied You will take just
what give you, and nothing else" Mr.. Alex
ander. in letter to the Alexandria Gazette O.
recent date said he could not be bulldozet
+ by Gen. Huntor or any of his district APP
p pointees. The letter contains some very plail
= statements, and as Mr.. Hunton considered, OF
fensive language. He felt that his honor hae
been assailed, and sent letter under date o
:, July l6 to MI. Alexander, containing chal
lenge. To make sue that it would be receiYe
: he had the letter registered. He said that b
- had given Mr.. Alexander an opportunity to COZ
rect an error he had made, but this he had nc
70 done, and then continued in the following lar
guage: You have replied Extensively throug
% the press, and been guilty of such aliusions
1t my friend, Capt. Shepherd, as justify the al
l. prehension that you would avail yourself c
s the police of the district to subject any frien
" of mine to arrest under certain circumstance
f am thus constrained to resort to the mail as tt
:, only safe method of communicating with yo
~ Relying your declaration in your secor
d card that you are Virginian, ask that "
g will indicate some place beyond reach OF ii
ly District police, where a demand for reparatle
which Virginians accord in such cases can
IN made upon you. To be sure that you recei
this, I send it us registered letter. An answ
In reply to this Mr.. Alexander again resor
=. to the Alexander Gusette, in which he reptile
ID. Instead of writing and correcting the wro
3rs done me. you send me through one OF your
no pointees under the radical District governme
a letter in which you attempt 10 bull-dose r.
ue Well, that you cannot do. am free cltlze
ms and shall always avail myself of the gre
oy privilege of such CITIZEN to-Y1t. to defend n
me self and citizens and property agar
ns. such infamous and confscating ring acts as
ant. one in question. and for which you not mer,
-, voted, but for the passage of which you
cIlCu JOuASCAA pVAGouoAAy3 ooA'SsAAhS "A
or you do not dare to deny. That it Is a ring
ger of the most atrocious character is shown by
ut. recent opinion of District Attorney Ride
at who cannot Lelp excusing himself for the b;
to features of that law by exclaiming that he
not make the law. You have been our ener
and for that reason and other we ask
ION. Virginia Democracy not to return you to c
.a~ gress."
en- Mr.. Alexander, in an interview, says in
de- gard to the challenge that he has neither
ion. cepted nor refused it. He says:s'It is agai
the law of Virginia to send either challeng
less an acceptance, and / never knowingly vic
the any law. / thought Gen. Hunton was stro1
ling man thai, he has shown himself to be. 1
,ish not tell yet what it will all result in.''
ona 1t ia understood that the commonwealth
80 torney for Alexandria county will take off
l'eo notice of the challenge, and that steps
IS being taken to prosecute Gen. Hunton. s.
ing challenge, under Virginia law, disq
6es a. yone from holding al y public of6t
int. that State.
so Gen. Hunton sends to the WASHINGTON
,'S the following card, which will be publishe
Inc morrow morning:
the have thus given this individual an Of
tunity to show that he is q gentleman, a
aeiue man OF courage, but he has not done m
coz Justice Of the one or been willing to sccor
eracs The raayeas Of the other. He refuses to
xssaa sAs psetsattaa ps The pesiss b s6s;