The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-03-21
From the Pennsylvanian.

gang, have been very industrious in the
efforts to prove that the duel was the resu
OF a conspiracy on the part of The friends
Mr.. Cilley, when in fact the true state q
the case shows precisely lhe reverse. The
therefore flooded the press with falsehood
IN reference to number of gentlemen O
the administration party. Col. Benton, a
mong others, was bitterly assailed, and spec
idcAtions were made against him, so mi
nutely and SO circurns,antinlly, that man,
were doubtless inclined to credit them, TN
Ill he replied and showed them to be vii,
fhbricatons in every particular. A variety
Of similar insinuations have been made a.
gainst the Hon. Franklin Pierce, one Of the
Senators from New Hampshire, with how
little truth the following letter from him
published in the Globe will show. From
these refutations the inference is irresistible,
that there must be something to conceal on
the part of the enemies of Ci!ley, or they
would not strive 10 divert public attention
from themselves by filling The country with
calumnies az ainst others. At all events,
it is clear tI,a, no confidence is to be placed
IN their statements.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1888.
Sir:-I inclose herewith n number Of
The Atlas," paper printed at Boston,
for the purpose of calling the attention of
the committee to u letter dated in this city
on the 9Th inst. the perusual Of which has
filed me with equal pain aud surprise. In
former letter in the same paper, it vas
stated that wns the second of Mr.. CiIley
in the late trngical duel This | did moi
notice, because the correction has already
gone abroad, and also for the reason that
so for us the immediate relatives and friends
of the deceased, (who have occupied my
thoughts elmosl exclusively since the mel
ancholy occurrence) were concerned, it
was a matter Of no importance. But the
letter to which i now call the attention of
the committee, contains statements which
must be OF the most painful interest TO those
relatives, as they are to me-s,atelnen,s in-
to which regard 10 their feelings and ny
own character alike demand strict inyes,l-
CATION. extract those parts Of the letter
which relate particularly TO myself, and in
to which ! respectfully ask the committee
to institute rigid inquiry:
EXTRACTS.
lst If the matter be probed to the
bottom, it will be found that Mr.. Cilley was
sacrificed by his own friends, who urged
and induced him to fight in the con6den,
expectation that he would Kill Graves nj
The first fire."
I'd. But in the interval between that in
tsrvicw and the note he received from Mr..
Graves continuing a written statement OF
the substance of the conversation which he
requested TO assent it, he had consulted, it
is said, with his friend Mr. Pierce of New
Hampshire, and through Mr.. Pierce, with
that celebrated duellist-celebrated for kill
ing his opponents by unfair advantages
Mr.. Benton, of Missouri. No doubt 9th
era were called into the council. Mr.. Gil
iey's remarkable skill with the rifle was
well known"
Sd. When the carriage, containing
MIR. Cilley's body, drove up 10 the door of
his boarding house, Mr.. Pierce. who boards
iu the same house, is said TO have run
down stairs with nn air Of exultstion, cnll-
friend had been successful. TIE revul-
vlon in his feelings when he learned the
real state of the case, may be imagined"
With regard TO the frs. extract, / would
state, that have been friend Of Mr.. Gil
ley from the days OF our college life, and
suppose may be one of the individuals
alluded to, but that never entertained or
expressed confident expectation that he
would kill Mr.. Graves )" but, on the con-
,rary, did express, both before the meet
ing and after The parties had left the city,
an anxious hope that the difference might
be settled without the effuson of blood. |
never advised Mr.. Cilley TO accept the
challenge, nor do know any friend who
did.
In relation to The second, state that he
did consult with me, aud that advised him
by all means TO avoid personal difficulty !;
if he could, to make his first note in reply
10 Mr.. Graves acceptable and | paricu-
larly suggested TO him 10 state that he nei-
ther denled or affirmed any thing with re-
gard to Mr.. Webb's character, us under
stood him to say he had done before, in
order that Mr.. Graves should have no
cause TO make it "A meter personal to HIM
self. At the time the .oie was written,
do not recollect To have heard from Mr..
Cilley,sor any other person, that he was
accustomed to the use of the rifle at all.
When the second note was received, and
the answer written, suggested that he had
better introduce the sentiment which |
knew he eatertnined. that he regretted that
his former note Das not satisfactory, for
the purpose of manitesling still his dispos-
ition for reconciliation. Mr.. Cilley fully
concurred in all my suggestions.
1t is due to Col Benton to state, that ]
never spoke with him on this subject, un-
til Friday afternoon, when the challenge
had been received, and Mr.. CilIey had re-