River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-19
VIRGINIA EDITORS AT WAR.
Supposed Suggestion of an Appeal to
the Code Vigorously Declinedby one of
the Contestants.

the Code Vigorously Declined by one of
the Contestants.
The Richmond Wing, on the
8th inst contained two columns Of
correspondence which took place
in Lynchburg, between its editor,
Mr.. w. c. Elam, and Mr.. Charles
w. Button, editor of the Lynchburg
Virginiqn. in relation to recent contro-
versy between the two papers. Mr..
Elam demanded, through his friend,
the retraction of certain language of the
Virginian, which he deemed insulting
and personal to him. Mr.. Button re.
piled that until an Objectionable article
in the Wing is withdrawn or explained
he declined to comply in any respect
with Elam's demands.
This was followed by letter from
Elam requesting Button to put his
friend the bearer, in prompt communi-
cation with the gentleman he (Button)
might select, this with a view to meet.
ing under the rules of the code. But
ton replies in long letter, which con-
cludes as follows:
"And now, assuming that further cor
respOndence between us is useless, you
invite me to name friend, who, with
your friend, will take up the discussion
at such place as these two friends may
agree upon. | know, sir, what that
means, and it would be disingenuous to
commit this matter to another when
know, and you ought to know, that |
could not accept the legitimate result
of such proceeding. donot propose
in any contingency to follow you out of
this state on hostile Grand, in viola
ton of the laws OF God and my coun-
try, nor do | care to add to the number
of fools whose quarrels are, through
such intervention as you propose, ami
cably and honorably adjusted. | will
further tell you what it seems to me
you should have known, that as q
Christian man, am opposed to dueling,
do not accept the so-called code ofhon-
or and hereby declare that no power
on earth could induce me to do vio-
lence to my conscience in this regard.
do not wish to shoot at and kill you,
nor do intend to be victim to wick
ed and barbarous practice that my soul
abhors. Besides, | think that my life
is worth more than yours, for am de-
voting the remnant of it that remains
to the incubation of private morality
and upright principles of public policy.
from which l shall not be deferred by
the fear of man.
"And now, if it be of azy satisfaction
to say that l refuse to accept an invita-
ton to the field, you are at full liberty
to say so, for such is the fact. My con-
science would make a coward of me, |
am sure, we're l thus to violate it,
though | am always ready to defend
myself if attacked"
To this declaration Elan replies, crit
icising Buttons course very severely
and winding up as follows:
'In conclusion, you announce your
self Christian man, who is opposed to
dueling and the code of honor. |
know nothing of you personally, except
as you have revealed yourself in this
discussion, but it is enough to say that
dueling and the code of honor have
been brought into this matter only by
yourself. | am no duelist. | am no
devotee of the code of honor, so called,
and when you claim to be Christian
man | shall not by my silence permit It
to be inferred that | am not a Christian;
but l do not recognize that sort of
christianity which, used as the shield OF
malignant and slanderous cOwardice,
which, guilty OF all uncharitabieness,
seeks to avoid the consequences by a
loud profession of faith; nor will the
public, Christian or unchristian, have
much respect for that man who de-
clines the arbitration of mutual friends
upon the avowed pretext that it may
lead to personal encounter under
equal conditions, where none are en-
dangered but the principals, and yet
invites and provokes general brawl,
in which his antagonist is put at every
disadvantage, and where the lives of
many may be ieopardized by the true
ulent declaration that 81 am always
ready to defend myself if attacked"
Now permit me to say that | am not
engaged in brawling. | am, perhaps,
the mildest hammered man that ever
edited q newspaper, or if you please,
that ever scuttled q ship. You, l have
learned since my arrival here, are
man in years. | also am gray-nay,
hoary. The impression that | am a
hot youth may as well be removed at
once. That you have declined all de-
mands and overtures from me, even
going so far as to claim that your life Is
more valuable than mine-a plagiar-
ism, from the polite letter of which an
editor should be ashamed-puts
upon me, on due con8idera-
ton, the dissgreeable necessity
of saving that in the matter between US
your conduct has been that of the SLAM
dere-, the coward, and the Pharisee. l
expect to remain in Lynchburg until
five minutes to 2 p. m. to-day, when |
take the train to Richmond, and in the
Richmond Wing, as here and now, L
shall characterize and denounce your
course in this affair as slanderous, cow
ard!y, Pharisaical, and prove it"
This last letter Mr.. Button declined to
receive, whereupon Mr.. Walters, who
was the bearer of it, informed him OF
the character of It's contents, and stated
where his friend Mr.. Elam could be
found until five minutes before 2 p. NJ.
on Friday. at which time he would
leave for Richmond. Mr.. Button sim
ply replied: "Well, sir, he is at liberty
to co."