Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-11
Messrs, McCarty and Wise.

How characteristic of the individual is
Mr.. Johnny Wise's stump speech on the
witness stand. A man occupying seat in
Congress stolen with manufactured votes,
himself the very exemplar of virulent pre-
iudice, braggart and bully, the hero of
thirteen bloOdless duels, kicked out Of the
Democratic party and selling his little stock
of brains to Malone; frozen out of recognize
ton by honest men and relegated to the as
ISOLATION of the negroes whom he deceives
and who are his superiors in all that makes
even pretence to manhood, Johnny Wise,
forsooth, talking about villifcation, when
he and his gang never had any other CAPT
tai but villifcation, prejudice and falsehood.
He asserts that Cameron was elected by
a majority of the white votes, and that the
Democratic convention last summer at
Lynchburg was in favor of drawing the col
or line-two fair specimen bricks Of his
fabrication.
All the coached witnesses in the Coali-
ton party could not establish those two as
sertions as facts even before the court OF
Stalwart Radicals to whom Mr. Wise volun-
teers as prosecuting attorney and suborned
witness against his own State.-The Cam
paign, March 1St.
Communicated to the Wing. March 5th.l
To the Public.
RICHMOND, March Cd, 1884
About twelve months ago, as is well
known to many persons, l resolved never
again to recognize the practice of duelling.
| A few weeks ago my political disabilities in
CURED under the duelling act were for the
second time removed by the Legislature
The above conclusion was stated under oath
on Monday last. My reasons for so decid-
| ing were satisfactory to myself. Those of
private nature are of no concern to the
public. The public consideration most
potent in my decision was that | am salts
| fled public opinion will not sustain a duel
list in any civilized community at the pre-
sent day.
Henceforth, therefore, wish it publicly
understood that will not fight duel Or be
party to one.
I make this declaration public because
some persons may expect me to resent sew
eral assaults of late appearing in newspa-
pers, especially in the paper called the Cam
lpa1gn.
/ If had intended to recognize the editor
i of that paper 1 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 Commonwealth attorney of the
town where that paper is published had
done his duty McCarty would have been in
Jail long ago as the utterer of criminal libel.
A poor mau here in Richmond was sent to
Jail some months ago for an offence much
less than his.
Since McCarty killed Mr.. John B. Nor
! decai he has been going about smelling
the blood on his hands and painting for more
apparently.
Without stake of any sort, he has malici-
ously sought to provoke difficulties; first
with Gen. Malone, then with Senator Rid
/ dleberger, and next with myself. Some
months before he said aught against me
6 was informed that he had declared his pur
pose, in public place, to seek a difficulty
with me next. Gen. Malone and Riddle
> berger failed to notice him, and 1 propose
to do likewise. What satisfaction can l Sc
!. cure from McCarty? l would not fight ;
duel. l do not wish his blood, and would
be as miserable as he is now if | shed it.
Z I were to sue him for SANDER and give thu
m oney to some charitable institution,
could not make anything out of him on ex
ecution.
0 Unmarried, penniless, without any fixet
1 employments, dissipated, with nothing t.
lOSc, ut ScOLlS pOSoCSocu VI uCNll, din
would no doubt esteem it mercy for som,
) gentlemen to kill him and ease tortured
, brain and conscience. He may play Si
f Lueius G'Trigger to his hearts content
boasting of his ancestry (every one of whom
has killed his man, his family portraits
and honor, but he must find somebody els
than me to kill him.
It With a sweet home filed with merr
G children, with enough to live comfortably
# with paying profession, 1 am happy ant
~ want to live. In Gods name, what woul,
: a man like Page McCarty put in stake a
It gainst this when we stood at ten PAGES wit
l. pistols? His abuse of me has no more Ell
~ feet than a dogs barking at the moon.-
His invitation comes too late. Time ha
u been when I might have been fool enough
# to indulge in such folly, but, with age an
2 a broader view of life and it's responsibility
# and duties, have hidden farewell foreve
- to the McCarty type of manhood.
II What people may think of my courage
:, by reason Of this lettsr, I cannot say.
l. they do not think me courageous, duellin
would never convince them. know wha
> my friends will say. sometimes think
+ would rather risk the charge of cowardic
II than that of murder. 1 have tried not to b
It too severe upon poor McCarty, whose vast
ed talents and miserable life 1 truly pity
g Respectfully, JOHN S. WISE.