Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-13

principle. but also for the reason
that upon "bigh moral grounds" you oueht
not and wonld not consent to such determiu-
alton. l am sure that the proposition must
have come from some of your own jealous
friends. who, when other arrangements fail, re-
sort to gambling. Respectfully yours,
WILLIAM BARRETT.
MIR. DAVIDSON BUBBLES.
William Barrett, Esq.-Dear sir: Your last
letter in substance declining to meet me to-
night and discuss the issues In this campaign,
Is received. My challenge was so plain and
distinct that there could be no misunderstood.
ing OF 1t. am entirely willing to discuss the
fitness and ability of Hon. w. d. Washburn
and Gen. FL. II. Sibley to represent this dis
trict In Congress, and to do it tonight, which
shall do, but fifteen minutes is enough to
cover that issue, and as the Democratic party in
Congress has virtually acquitted Mr.. Wash
burn by refusing on wholly one-sided case,
to convict wholly vindicated. am here to
discuss the general issues of this campaign
and as you decline to do so at this present
time, shall pursue the original programme,
| and discuss them myself. shall ''say my say''
tonight in reference to the merits of the two
| candidates for Congress, and you
can say yours at your
leisure. have authorized the Republican
committee to make certain appointments for
me in other parts of the State of which will
be advised on my return to st. Paul. l can
not, therefore, name any date in the future
when / can meet you here in joint discussion,
although it would please me very much,
assure you. to do so.
Regretting more than can express that You
decline my challenge to joint discussion of
the issues of the campaign. L have the honor to
| remain, very respectfully your obedient SER
want, JAS. 81. DAVIDSON.
MR. BARRErT's REMARKS.
The last letter was received by Judge
Barrett, in tue hail, just before the opening
of the lecture.
The joint debate which was to take place, be
cause the champion of "the champion bride
giver and bribe- taker" did not desire to meet
the gentleman whom he very foolishly, with
| a view to little political capital, challenged
to meet him in joint discussion, did not take
place.
Col. Davidson "got black eye," as the
| correspondence given above, with the re-
marks of Mr.. Barrett at the opening of the
meeting, will fully disclose.
The letters which passed between Col.
| Davidson and Mr.. Barrett fully explain the
status of matters down to the time of the
| opening of the meeting.
AS soon as the Republican meeting was
organized by the appointment of James s
| Person, Esq, as chairman, and the letters re-
ferred to had been read, Mr.. Barrett arose
| from the middle of the audience, where fol
some minutes ne had been seated, and hold
ing letter in his hand, said that
| Some two minutes since, and after he ha6
come into the hail, the letter which be hello
in bis hand had been given to him by par
| ty representing Col. Davidson. That he had
4 A1l H.. Gu1x
the few lines he had had time to read he haC
come to the conclusion that Col. Davidson.
who was present, and whom he was glad tt
meet, had intimated that the challenge h'
had given was not accepted. Mr.. Chairman
and gentlemen, am sure. you could have
not, after the reading of the letter, come tt
any such conclusion. l am here now fol-
the purpose, and am prepared to discuss the
issues involved in the proposition suggested
by me last evening. Col. Davidson, in hi
letter which hold in my hand. says that We
can discuss those issues in fifteen minutes
I am free to admit that with bis we'll known
ability and his knowledge OF the merits ant
qualifications of his candidate for member
of Congress in this district, he can presen
them in even less time.
But, Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, I an
confine the discussion of the inter
ests involved, and the merits ane
qualifications of the candidates for Congress
| sional honors in this district to tina
| time. now. in the presence of this audi
ence, challenge Col. Davidson to a discus
sion of the issues involved in the few re
marks 1 made last evening. meant VIVA
said. nobody in the large audience presen
| n6QrctOOH nv vrooaninn Toannnt thInk
that my friend Col. Davidson has any doub
as to whom I referred to as the champion
bride eiver and bride taker" 1 meant hi
friend Mr. VIM. D. Washburn, in who's,
interest I presume he appears here to
night. National issues were fully dis
cussed and presented to you last evening
in much ADLER and more acceptable man
ner than I could hope to do.
The issues then which assume you desirI
to hear discussed are those which concerI
US as citizens of this Congressional dis
trict. Col. Davidson has and will refuse
to discuss them. He may, as he has ths
right, to discuss such issues as he
may desire, but he must accep
of my acceptance of his chal
Ienge or admit that he cannot Say
anything in defense of his candidate-and the
principles which he represents. Now Mr.
| Chairman, and gentlemen, apologizing tt
you tor the time have taken which fairly
and properly belongs to my friend, Col. Da
wilson, and knowing as I we'll do, that three
fourths of this audience are Democrats, and
| friends and supporters of Gems. Hancock
and Slbley, bespeak for Col. Davidson 6
patient and attentive hearing. He is gen
tleman whom /, in common with his many
| friends, respect and esteem. shall remain
here during the meeting, and / desire hin
and you, Mr.. Chairman and gentleman, to
know that have accepted this challenge to
discuss the questions referred TO. Thank
iug you for the privilege of,in this brief way
replying to the last note of Col. Davidson,
again ask my Democratic friends to give 6
patient and attentive hearing to Col. David
son, and beg of you not to follow the ex-
ample of his incorporate friends and inter
rupt the meeting. He, Col. Davidson, is 6
gentleman, treat him as such.
No one will give him
| a more attentive hearing than myself. Ii
after take my seat he declines to accept
| my proposition made in reply to his chall-
| enge, now notify him that on Saturday
| evening at this place shall discuss the mat
| ters which he declines to discuss, and that
| now renew my challenge to him contained in
my note to- day to discuss the general issuea
at any time after this week which may be
agreeable to himself and Republican friends.
THE COURTS
"a. ~