Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-02-13

"pPAA1dtiOu DtCdlufs now IN
lhe zenith of his power, opposed with
all his influence. The first in the long
series of communications which passed
between the parties was from Barron
to Decatur, dated Hampton, Va, June
y, 1919. He writes:
"Sir; have been informed in
Norfolk that you could insult me with
impunity, or words to that effect. If
you have said SO, you will, no doubt,
avow it, and shall expect to hear
from you"
Decatur replied:
"Sir; | have received your COM
munication of the 10Th instant.
Whatever have thought or said in
the very frequent and free conversa-
tions have had respecting you and
your conduct, feel a thorough con-
viclion that | never could have been
guilty of so much egotism as to say
that could insult you Cor any other
man) with impunity."
From this point the correspondence
continued at great length, and with
eyer-increasiug asperity on both sides;
yet through il all one caunot but let
his sympathy go out to Barron. He
was broken by years of i'll health and
bowed down by the weight of SEN
tence which he felt to be unjust. He
was so nearsighted that to his friends,
il not to himself, an encounter with
pistols must have seemed the sheerest
madness. 1t was to this infirmity he
alluded when he wrote: "All de-
mand is TO be placed upon equal
grounds with you; such as two honor
bic men may decide upon as being
just and proper Continuing he says:
"You have hunted me out; have per-
secuted me with all the power and in
fluence of your office, and have de
clared your determination to drive me
from the navy if l should make any
effort to be employed; and for what
purpose or from what other motive
than to obtain my rank ] know not.
If my life will give it to you, YOU
shall have an opportunity to take it.
And now, sir, have only to add that
il you will make known your deter
mination and the name of your friend
| will give that of mine in order to
complete the necessary arrangements
to final close of this affair"
Decatur evidently did not intend to
give the other the slight advantage of
bong the challenged party, for he
Wffit6s III repIy: II roItoraJeu 40 you
that have not challenged, nor do !
intend to challenge you. 1t
is evident that you think, or your
friends for you, that fight will help
you. but in flghting YOU wish to incur
the least possible risk. Now, sir. not
believing that a fight of this nature
viii raise me at all in public estima-
ton, but may even have a contrary
effect, do not feel at ali disposed to
remove the difficulties that lie in our
way. If we fight it must be of your
seeking; and you mu t take all the
risk and all the inconvenience which
usually attend the challenger in such
cases. 1t is a singular fact i'll that
this unfortunate affair no directly
worded challenge ever passed between
the parties. In reply to the foregoing
Barron wrote:
"Sir: Your letter of the Goth uti-
mo | have received. In it you say
that YOU have now to iDOrm me that
you shall pay no further attention to
any communication that ! may make
to yoa. other thasa aigsas 1850 &ss the
field; in answer to which have only to
reply that whenever you will consent
to meet me on fair and equal grounds,
that is, such as two honorable men
may consider just and proper, you are
at liberty to view this as a call. The
whole tenor of your conduct to me
iustifies this course of proceeding on
my part. As for your charges and
remarks, regard them not, particu-
larly your sympathy. You know not
such feeling. | cannot be suspected
of making the attempt to excite it,"
To this Decatur replied:
''Sir: | have received your COM
munication of the 10th, and am at a
loss to know what your intention is.
If you intend it as challenge, l ac-
cept it and refer you to my friend
Commodore Bainbridge, who is fully
authorized by me to make any
arr angements he pleases, as regards
weapons, mode or distance" This
note was dated Jan. "a, 1920, and the
fact that several weeks intervened be-
tweea it and the fatsl meeting would
seem to indicate that some difficulty
was experienced by the seconds in
,rranging such terms as would put
ne parties upon something like a fair
!, I'd equal footing. 1t was finally
reed that the weapons should be
P0- tolls and the distance eight PAGES.
= vas further settled, in concession
Iarron's infirmity, that each party
-,,-r being placed should raise his
]; 'stol and take deliberate aim at the
5ther before the word TO fire should
be given.
Few words were spoken after they
took their positions. Barron said: