The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-09

S. debate, solely on the ground of his ow
of voluntary election, without assigning an
Id other reason. " lie chose 20 be drawn in
Is to no controversy" with Webb. lie dc
n clared, at the same time, that he neilhe
D, affirmed nor denied any thing in regard t'
d Webb's character, in declining to receiy
IS ne note. lie declared farther, that he hao
n before stated, and now repeated, that h'
S intended by the refusal no disrespecito TO Mr.
n Graves, and that he had said this only IL
}, reply to "A remark Of Mr.. Graves, that thi:
!. course might place him in an unpleasant
s situation.
y Mr.. Graves, in his second note, takes bu
8 one exception to this first note of Mr.. Cilley.
1t does not disclam any exception to him
q webb personally as n gentleman" lie
says: +" Your note Of yesterday, in reply
3 10 mine Of that date, IS inexplicit, unsalIs-
factory, and insufficient; among other
things in lhis-that, in your declining
to receive Col. Webb's communication, it
does not disclaim any exception TO him,
personally, as a gentleman" 81 have,
therefore," he adds, " to inquire whether
you declined to receive his communication
on the ground of any personal exception to
him ms a gentleman or a man of honor
4 categorical answer is expected"
Mr. Cilley, in his second note, regrets
that his first was unsatisfactory, but cannot
admit the rigM of Mr.. Graves to PROFOUND
the question, and, therefore, he declines
any further response TO it.
IL is difficult to conceive that Mr.. Graves,
upon this correspondence of Mr. Cilley,
could have challenged him for intending
disrcSpeet TO Mr.. Graves for any such in.
tenton was positively disclaimed and, as
appears, in IA most unexceptionable and
courteous manner, in reply to a suggestion
Of his own, which called for il; or for
affirming or denying any thing in regard
to the character of Mr.. Webb, in declining
to receive his note for any such allirma-
tion or denial is also disclalmed, in equally
positive terms. Mr.. Clley had declined to
receive a call from Mr.. James Watson
Webb, for explanation of words spoken in
Debate in the House of Representatives,
and had pat his refusal solely on the
ground thar he chose to be drawn into no
controversy with him ; but he is pressed |
farther, and interrogated beyond this limit. !
which he had assigned to himself and
categorical answer is demanded to the |
question whether he declined on the ground
of any personal exception to Webb as
gentleman or man Of honor. lie denies
The right to interrogate him in this manner
for declining n call which his right and du-
ty, rs n member of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and the just maintainance of
the privileges of he body, required him to
decline and, denying the right to inlerro-
gate he therefore, refused to submit to an
swer any further. And it was because he
refused to receive the note, and refused to
answer any farther, that he was challenged
by another member Of the same body.
This matter is not left open to inference
or argument. The cause of the challenge
appears in n manner which precludcs all
doubt. 1t is still farther specified and
avowed by Mr.. Graves himself, IN his own
note, which contains the challenge. IL is
stated clearly, unequivocnlly, and with the
utmost precision, aud is assigned expressly,
and in form, as tho cause for which the
challenge is given. As you have declined
accepting a communication which | bore !
to you from Col. Webb, and rs by your
note of yesterday you have refused to de- !
cline on ground which would exoncrate me
from all responsibility growing out of the
affair, am left to no other alternative but
to ask that satisfaction which is recognized |
amoLg gentlemcn.'-Mt Cilley, by his !
note of yesterday had refused to answer
tho question to which categorical an
swer' had been demanded that is to say,
whether he declined to receive Colonel
Webb's communication on the ground of
any personal exception to him as gentle
man or man Of honor" The ground of
therefore, is, by MIR. Graves
himself, expressly stated to he, that Mr..
Cilley declined TO receive the communica-
ton from Webb, and by his note of Feb |
ruary 22d, refused to answer that question,
touching the honor of Webb.
This was the open and avowed cause,
set forth and presented to Mr.. Cilley, by
which he was guided, and upon which he
acted, in a matter involving the utmost ex-
tremity of human responsibility. For this
cause, and for this alone, he was challenged,
and fell by the hand of Mr.. Graves unless
1t 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 writ
ten correspondence between them, no was
challenged and fell for cause no, set up
in that correspondence, not put forth as
ground of complaint, not made known to
him or his friends as matter of grievance,
and in regard to which, therefore, it may
be believed he was profoundly ignorant,
and had no opportunity afforded him in
any way, of voluntary satisfaction or ex-
planation.
Nor is there any thing in what subse-
quently occurred, as disclosed by III joint !
statement of the seconds, or the testimony |
of any witness, which gives color to sug-
gestion, that there was, at any time after /
ward, change of the ground of contro-
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