Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-11

MI. Graves; unless il be admissible to believe that, after
all verbal communication had ceased between him and
his antagonist, and the difference had assumed the form
exclusively of a written correspondence between them,
he was challenged and fell for a cause mol set up in thnt
correspondence, not put forth as a ground OF complaint,
not made known to him or his friends as Il matter OF
grievance, and in regard to which, therefore, it may be
believed, he was profoundly ignorant, and had no oPpor.
tunlty afforded him in any way of voluntary satisfaction
or explanation.
Nor is there any thing in what subsequently occurred,
as disclosed by the Joint statement Of the seconds, or the
testimony of any witness, which gives color 10 q sugges.
ton, that there was, at any time aiterwnrd q change Of
the ground Of controversy.
No communication whatever, upon the subject of diff.
ference took place between The principals, their respect.
i've seconds, or friends, after the challenge was given,
before the first exchange of shots. Ofcourse no change
Of the ground Of controversy could have occurred un.
til after Mr.. Ciley had received the fire Of his antago.
nist, and had hazarded his life in defence of the position
which he had assumed in the correspondence. After
the 6rst exchange Of shots, as already shown, MIR. Gil.
ley reasser,ed his original position, and Mr.. Wise insist
ed that what was then said by MIR. Jones only placed
'the affair upon the original grounds" and left " Mr.
Graves precisely in the position in which he stood when
the challenge was sent" There was, in fact, no change
whatever in the position Of the parties, except what
arose from the circumstance that Mr.. Cilley hnd given
Mr.. Graves The satisfaction demanded of an exchange
Of shots, and from the farther circumstance, that Mr..
Ciley not only repeated the disclaimer that he had
meant no d~isrespect 10 Mr.. Graves, but positively avow.
ed, also, that he entertained for him Mc highest respect
and most kind feelings.
In this state Of the controversy the challenge is re.
newed, and Mr.. Ciley again puts his life in jeopardy
The challenge being once more suspended, he again in.
sis,s upon his original position, that he had declined TO
receive The demand for explanation of the words spoken
bv him in debate, because he chose 10 be drawn into no
controversy with Webb, nnd that he would assign no
other reason; and while on the other hand, it was insist
ed for MI. Graves that he considered himself bound not
only to preserve the respect due to himself, but to defend
the honor of his friend, Col. Webb, and that he only in.
sisted THAT he had not borne the note of 4 man who was
not a man of honor and not a gentleman Mr.. Cilley
replied aihrma,ively, to a proposition submitted on the
part Of Mr.. Graves, that in declining TO receive the mole
he meant no disrespect to Mr.. Graves, either directly or
indirectly; and declared that he entertained the highest
respect for him, but declined 10 receive The note because
he chose 10 be drawn into no controversy with Colonel
Webb. He excluded, in direct and positive TERMS, eve.
~ possibility of disrespect 10 Mr.. Graves, directly or in.
directly, and in effect only insisted on his RICH, to de-
cline a demand for explanation Of words spoken in de
bate, because he chose to be drawn into no controversy
upon the subject, without assigning any other reason
But he was Intercepted for another reason, and another
reason was demanded; and for resisting that demand the
challenge was again rene wed and he fell a victim in de,
fence Of what he conceived TO be his rights as an indi.
vidual, or as a representative Of the people in the House
Of Representatives.