Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-13
NO LONGER A DuELIST.


The Sherman investigation of the DAN
vile, Va, riot has brought to the stand a
number of witnesses, some of them prom
inent politicians, and among them John S.
Wise, the Mahonite member Of Congress
from the Richmond district. Wise is the
recreant son of Ex-Governor Wise, during
whose administration the insurrectionist,
Old John Brown, was hanged and partak-
ing largely of his fathers pugnacious pro-
pensities, he has been engaged in several
sO-called affairs of honor But he now
denounces the code, and whatever may be
his political tergiversations, this much should
be set down to his credit. a Richmond
dispatch of Saturday contains the following
in reference to Wise and his published de-
termination not to fight:
The last issue of the Campaign, Demo-
cratic weekly, published here by Captain
McCarty, contained an editorial in which
occurs the following: "How characteristic
Of the individual is Mr.. Johnny Wise's
stump speech on the witness stand. "A man
occupying a seat in Congress stolen with
manufactured votes; himself the very ex-
emplar of Virginia prejudice, braggart and
bully; the hero of 13 bloodless duelS; kicked
little stock of brains to Malone frozen out
of recognition by honest men, and relegated
to the association Of the negroes, who are
his superiOrs in all that makes even a pre-
tense to manhood"
Captain McCarty is a member of one the
oldest families in Virginia, bold, fearless,
but quiet and unassuming member of the
Democratic party. He was one Of the sec
onds Of Mr.. Richard T. Beirne in the duel
with Eam. He is believer in the resort
to the code for the settlement of disputes
under some circumstances.
Mr.. John S. Wise to-day published q let
ter of which the following are extracts:
"Henceforth wish it publicly understood
that will not fight duel or be party to
one. l make this declaration public be-
cause some persons may expect me to resent
several assaults of late appearing in news
papers, especially in the paper called the
Campaign. If l had intended to recognize
the editor of that paper, l would have done
so long ago, for the articles last appearing
are no worse than many others that have
been published. w. Page McCarty can have
no difficulty with me. If the Common
wealth Attorney of the town where that
paper is published had done his duty, Nc
Cartv would have been in Jail long ago as
the utterer of criminal libel. A poor man
here in Richmond was sent to Jail some
months ago for an offence much less than
his. Since McCarty killed Mr.. John B.
Mordecai he has been going about smelling
the blood on his hands and painting for
more. Without stake of any sort, he has
maliciously sought to provoke difficulties,
first with Gen. Malone, then with Senator
Riddleberger, and next with myself. Some
months before he said aught against me
was informed that he declared his purpose
in public place to seek a difficulty with
me next. Gen. Malone and Riddleberger
failed to notice him, and l propose to do
likewise.
''What satisfaction can / secure from Nc
Carly? l would not fight duel. l do
not wish his blood, and would be as miser-
able as he is now if 1 shed it. If were to
sue him for SANDER and give the money
to some charitable institution, l could not
make anything out of him on execution.
Unmarried, penniless, without any fixed
employment, diSSipated, with nothing to
lose, he seems possessed Of devil, and
would, no doubt, esteem it a mercy for some
gentleman to kill him and ease tortured
brain and conscience. He may play Sir
Lucius O'Trigger to his hearts content,
boasting of his ancestry everyone of whom
has killed his man, his family portraits and
honor, but he must find somebody else than
me to kill him.
"With q sweet home filled with merry
children, with enough to live comfortably,
with paying profession, I am happy and
want to live. In Gods name, what would
man like Page McCarty put in stake
against this, when we stood at 10 PAGES
with pistols? His abuse of me has no more
htr.,5-+-t'-.-
His invitation comes too late. Time has
been when might have been fool enough
to indulge in such folly, but with age and
broader view Of life and its responsible
ties and duties, have hidden farewell for
ever to the McCarty type of manhood.
What people may think Of course, by reason
of this letter I cannot say. If they do not
think me courageous, dueling would never
convince them. l know what my friends
will saw. | sometimes think would rather
risk the charge of cowardice than that of
murder. have tried not to be too severe
upon poor McCarty, whose wasted talents
and miserable life truly pity"