Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-03-28

the Senate, and the Hon. r. II. Memo
fee of the House, as the friends whom
was to consult. Mr.. Graves retired,
and whilst the rife was being cleansed,
then submitted to Mr.. Crittenden and
Mr.. Menefee the question, distinctly
what should be done 10 case the parties
missed 7 We were all sure that Mr..
Graves would miss often.
understood positively from Mr..
Graves that he would not be satisfied
with any admission short Of what Mr..
Cilley had made to him, verbally in
their interviews. Our object, then.
was to adopt or sugges; some form, or
explanation, oradmssion. which should
be as easy as possible for Mr.. CiIlcy to
make aud which should satisfy Mr..
Graves. This was our study, and we
unanimously decided that Immediately
after the first fire, should propose to
Mr.. Cilley or his second, that he should
assign some such reason, or make some
such disclaimer, for declining TO receive
Col. Webb's note from Mr.. Graves as
he had made TO Mr.. Graves in their
private conversation. Mr.. Crlttenden
and Mr.. Menefee wrote down what
they thought Mr.. Graves should be
satisfied with. The one wrote.
"That in deeliaing to receive from
Mr.. Graves the note from Col. Webb,
Mr.Ciley was not influenced by con.
siderations affecting the honor Of Col.
Webb"
The other wrote
" Mr.. CIlley states that he did not
decline to receive Col. Web5's commu.
nication from Mr.. Graves in conse
quence Of any personal exception to
Col. Webb as gentlemen or man
of honor"
To these | added another form Of ad.
mission, which should be accepted as
satisfactory"
Mr.. Clley declined to receive the
communication from Col. Webb, at the
bands OF Mr.. Graves, upon the ground
that he, Mr.. Cilley, did not hold him.
self answerable for words spoken in de.
bate on tho floor of the House of Re-
representatives..
These, or any admissions approach.
ing in substance to these, were 10 be
considered satisfactory. | carried the
written propositions with me, in my
pocket, on the ground. The reason
why Mr.. Graves would not be satisfied
with any thing short of these, was be.
cause he alleged that Mr.. Clley had |
made both these admissions to him yer.
Daily.
AS to what transpired on the field"
sc must refer generally to the state.
men. published by Mr.. Jones and my
self. But, as that statement is only Of
what occurred within our joint knowl.
edge, besides the correspondence given
upon information of others, | have a
few particulars within my own knowl.
edge to add.
The distance appointed was eighty
yards. 1t is my firm belief that the |
distance stepped off by MIR. Jones and |
myself, which we did {" pari passu,"
was nearer one hundred yards than
eighty. The ground was measured be.
fore the choice of positions, and be-
lieve that we both stepped with view Of
preventing the parties from killing each
other. The choice opposition fell to me
by lot. The giving Of the word fell to
Mr.. Jones.
| kept my eye upon Mr.. Ciley, it
was my duty to see that he obeyed the
rules. At the first exchange of shots
| thought that he fired, though perfect
ly fair, too hurriedIy, and his ball did
not reach Mr.. Graves; because he
did not raise his rifle sufficiently high.
MIR. Graves fred after Mr.. Cilley.
AS the rifle was put into Mr.. Cileys
hands the second time, saw, though,
could not hear, Mr.. Jones giving him
directions, as thought, to be more de.
llberate. had heard that he was a
fine marksman, aud was extremely
uneasy for the result. The word was
I given; Mr.. Graves rifle went ofIquick.
ly, and as he told afterwards, accident.
~, and into the ground. Mr.. Cilley
drew up very deliberately, aimed, |
reared deadly shot, and hred.
thought he had hit Mr.. Graves.
| went to him, and inquired why he
shot so quick ? He said that he must
have anothe: shot; that Mr.. Menefee
had told him not to put mis- finger upon
tho guard, but the trigger was too easy
and that ho would next time shoot his
own way. His rifle had gone off acci.
den,ally, owing to his taking his finger
off the guard, and he insisted upon an.
other shot.
II was very apparent to me that Mr..
Cilley had shot at the life Of Mr. Graves
Ii, when Mr.. Graves's rifle went off,
without harm TO him, he had dschar
ged in the air, or reserved his fire, the
fight would have been at an end he
would not again have jeoparded Mr..
Graves's life, and would have saved
his own. Mr.. Graves was not, how.