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


sulling TO Col. Webb, whose note he
had borne.
Thirdly As placing Mr.. Graves
himself IN the humilia,ing attitude OF
supplication to him (Mr. Cilley) to
relieve him Mr.. Graves) from, " nm
unpleasant situation"
Fourlhly As saying, in effect, al
do not recognise Colonel Webb to
be "a gentleman, SIR, but | respect
you rs one i" hereby inviting MIR.
Graves to substitute himself for Col.
Webb.
Such was the construction which
Mr.. Graves put upon that letter, and
i | could not see, and cannot now, what
other construction he could have put
upon Il, taken IN connexion with tho
conversations which he averred had
taken place between them. II seemed
wholly Irreeoncilable with, and contra.
dictory 10, wha, had passed between
them verbally. But upon due consid.
GRAFTON he determined TO offer Mr.. Gil.
ley again an opportunity TO explain.
He prepared bis second letter and sent
il to Mr.. Galley by the honorable Mr..
Menilee, as he has since informed me.
! know nothing OF what passed between
Mr.. Cilley and Mr.. Menifce.
Daring the sitting Of the house on tho
22d between the hours of 3, p. M. and
4, p. NJ. / think Mr.. Graves came to
me with MIR. Cilley's reply, in which
he denied the right OF MIR. Graves to
PROFOUND the question in his second
note, and requested mo to bear Mr..
CIlley challenge, which he had al
ready written, and which he placed in
my hands. | expressed my reluciancs
to be the bearer told him ] would
confer with him again unon the sub.
jeci and returned TO my seat to at
tend to the discussion of bill in rela-
ton to the Disturbances on the Cana.
dian Frontier. ! addressed the House
that evening soon after which it ad.
ljourned.
Mr.. Graves walked with me from
the Capitol 10 my boarding house. |
then repeated my objections to DO the
bearer Of his challenge, and insisted
that would not bear IL that evening
that ! wanted time for reflection that
| could not do that service, under any
circumstances, except for an intimate
friend, who would make a like sacri-
fee, aud incur like responsibility for
mo that regarded him rs such u
friend, who in fact had shown dspo-
sItion TO stand by me upon trying oc-
casions /; but hoped something might
yet be done TO avoid tho alternative
he had chosen and that | must bo
permitted to delay the delivery Of II
until the next day, If delivered il at
all. prevailed on him to wait until
the next morning, when he called up
on me again, said nothing had occur.
rod to change his determination took
tho challenge and changed its phrase.
ology; q have not copy Of the frat
he put into my hands, nor do | recol-
lect its terms, and insisted that !
should deliver it before the House met,
on the 23d Of February. ! was pre-
vailed on to do SO and, accordingly,
few minutes before IL NJ, on Friday
the a3d, called at Mr.. Ciley's board.
mig house, and handed him the paper.
When went into the sitting room
at MIR. Berth's met gentleman whom
took 10 be Mr.. Williams the Senator
from Maine. We conversed together
few miuates, and in short time Mr..
Pierce, the Senator from New Hamp.
shire, came in followed by Mr.. Cilley.
Directly after saluting these gentlemen
Mr.. Williams first, and Mr.. Pierce
soon after him, retired into an adioin.
ing room, leaving Mr. CiIley and my
self alone. Uniformed. him that bore
TO him note from Mr.. Graves. He
said " ! will receive it, sir" handed
him the challenge, he read it, and said
" Mr.. Pierce, or some other friend, sir,
will hand Mr.. Graves my answer" !
! bowed, and we parted. went I'm.
mediately to the House, and, in the
evening, after its adjournment, Mr..
Jones came to my room and handed
Mr.. Cilley's acceptance TO M. Graves,
ms described in our joint statement
Mr.. Graves, expecting 10 have to fight
with pistols, had come to my room 10
examine a pair ! had, and see whether
they would suit him. lie had not been
practised in the use of any weapon, he
told me, and desired me to have my
pistols put in order to 60 out with him
next morning, and instruct him how TO
use them.
Soon after, Mr.. Jones furnished me
with the terms of the meeting, left
nv room with Mr.. Menefee, who had
come lust as Mr.. Jones and l were
parting, about 6 P. M, ! think, to
show the terms to some ofMr. Graves
friends, and to submit to them whether
they should be accepted. They were
.ncdaroned as ha rha roils and such az