The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-26

COL WeDD upon PERSONAL OulecupnS 70 MIN a. bcu-
lleman, but upon other grounds exclusively 10 which
Il was not my province TO except Tothis ne replied
that he happy 10 hear ii, that he WAS co1ndent
on reflection, would come 10 thai conclusion, !
then remarked, as he and had been alone IN an OF
our interviews, IL was desirable that he shonid re-
duce writing the thus assigned for decli
ing TO receive The communication. 10 tins nc SAID
that he had no sort Of objection. we men parted
again. Shortly afterwards we met behind Inc par oil
the House, and asked him IL he had prepared his
written statement He said moi, and that he thoughtit
would be more advisable for me TO address note TO
him, aud that he would make the statement in reply.
This did; and delivered Tiny self, in the House Of
Representatives on the evening Of the 2iS of Feb
rusry (hough il appears t-erroueousy dated IL The
20h) Shortly AFTER The delivery Of my note, i saw
Mr.. Ciley leave The hall in company with DR. Dun
can afer which ] saw no more OF them that day,
nor did receive the answer OF Mr. Cilley until be-
tween 10 and II o'clock that night, when, on my
turn from a dining party, found IL on my table, at
my lodgings.
On going to the House next day, addressed my
second note 10 Mr., Cilley, which was borne by my
colleague, Mr.. Menefee, between and o'clock
10 about two hours, suppose, Mr.. Cilleys second
note was handed 10 me by DR.. Duncan, inthe House
Of Representatives. On presenting this note, per-
ceived MIR, Ciiley had determined not TO state IN
writing what he had said In my personal interviews
wi h him Therefore felt there was no other alter
naive leftme but 10 make the call contained in my
third note OF the published correspondence; the
originals Of which, believe, have been furnished
The committee. This did, according 70 my present
recollection, without showing Mr.. Ciey'a second
any person. or taking the opinion Of any per-
son as to the course proper for me to pursue ON me
reception Of it,
We shall now quote from the statement OF
DR.. Duncan The reader will remembe
that, shortly after the delivery Of the frs, note
Mr.. Cilley left the Hall in company with DR..
Duncan. the following tostimoty Of DR..
Duncan 1t appears that they repaired immedi
ately TO the office Of the Clerk Of the House,
where they found Mr.. Pierce, Of the Senate,
and the mole was read. The example furnish
ed to the unfortunate CilIey, at this crisis is
to be found in the language Of Dr. Duncan, as
reported by himself, to wit: /" Did The ansuer
aepolpe on him, he woald soy, in round and IN
qualified terms. chat hecould not accept cam
manication from lanes w. Webb al the hand
Of any man, because he thought him (WeJ6)
an uaprineipled scoundrel, degraded couard,
and a teasM up passa." Such advice in this
incipient stage Of the matter, was very pro-
perlyrebukedby Col Pierce, who only thought
that " such an ansrer might do to come from
DOCTOR DpNcAN,".p. los. ~
From Dr. Duncans statement, .#4..
On Wednesday, the 2lst of February, 1888, Mr..
Cilley called upon Doctor Duncan, and informed
him thai Mr.. Graves OF the House, had thar morn
ing, ohered him a communication, in writing: which
he stated at the time, 10 be from James W, w ebb,
editor of the New York Courier AM, RnQuircr-snd
that he, Mr. declined receive it, stating at the
time thai he could not receive any Communicated
from Mr.. Webb, because he did not wish to be
drawn into personal difficulty with thar individual
Having declined to receive Mr.. Webb's commun-
cation, il had been suggested TO him that he (Webb)
might make personal attack on him, and that he had
better be armed and prepared for the worst and asked
the Doctor "if he could furnish him with suitable
arms necessary for his personal defence2" The
Doctor answered in the affirmative and preferred
any other assistance which might be required, with
in his power TO afford
Some time in the afternoon OF the same dav. Mr..
Ciey invited the Doctor into the office Of the Clerk
Of the House, where he found the Hon. F. Pierce
Of the Senate. Mr.. Clley read note, which he
said he had just received from MIR. Graves, which
was the same that first appears in the published cor
respondence, over The signature of Mr. Graves, and
Mr.. Grares to Mr.. CtHey.
HorsE or REPRESENTATIVE
February 70, 1888, 49, =
In the interview which had with you this morn
ing, when YOU declined receiving from me the note
of Col. J. w. Webb asking whether you were cor
recty reported in the Globe, in what you are there
represented to have said OF him in this House upon
the l2ih instant you will please say whetheryou did
not remark 10 substance, that in declining to receive
the note, you hoped would not consider in it any
respect disrespectfu TO me, and that the ground on
which you rested your declining TO receive the note
was distinctly this thai you could not consent 10 get
yourself into personal difficulties with conductors of
public journals for what you might think proper to
say in debate upon this foor in discharge Of your
duties as representative of the people and that
you did not rest your objection, in our interview,
upon any personal objections 70 Col, Webb as gen
tleman. 49,.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WI. GRAVES
Hon. JONATHAN ClLLEy. sr
And AFTER some conversation in relation to its CON
tents, all OF which he does not now remember Mr.
Cileg again remarked that he deciined 10 rrce,rs Nh
Wcb6'S communication simply on the ground Mat he
caS determined MOTTO b. arairn into personal cpp
Min that individual. Mr.. Ciiey also remarked that
Mr.. Graves attempted, in his note, (the one above
referred toy put words in his mouth that he never
expressed when he declined TO. receive thecommu-
nication from Webb, and added, that be should not
be forced to place his refusal to accept either on the
grounds of privilege or that James w, Webb was
or was not gentleman, though battery of artillery
were arrayed before him. Col. Pierce said, " that
could not be expected, but you should make your re-
ply acceptable TO Mr.. Graves, if possible."-
Dr. Duncan remarked that he did net profess 10
hare much skill or practical ,knocicdge about such
correspondence, uS manner IN aehich IL ought
10 be eeadactcd bu, h acas generally IN The
habit Of speaking, on ali subjects, as he Monght;
and did he ansoer depoire on him. he troald shy, IN
round and unqualified TERMS at he could mt accept
communication from Jdmes W HtJ5, al The hand Of
any man, beeabsede ttaneht htm Ueb5) an unprinei
pied stouddrcl, a dsgraded Gerard, and a bomgM-ap
vuSsal. Col. Pierce responded that such an answer
might do to come from Or. Duncan, he being a
South western man; but such is the Of feeling
in section of the country (North) against duel
ling, that i is Of the first importance that MrCiliey
should only act in the defensive and be clearly in
the rIgfT; Should 80 turn out thai Mr. Ciey should
be obliged top put his life in eapordy il must clearly
!, h, ;c r,ad IA IA In dat nF