Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-03-29
From the National Inteiig igenccr.
ADDRESS OF MR.. WISE,
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF VIRGIN.
IA, TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.
TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

III ~ ~N u ~ " ~ - y ~ y.
was second to Mr GRAVES, in his late du-
el with MIR CiLLEY. It's catastrophe has
brought upon me much odium and reproacb.
Your Representative is accountable to you
for his personal as well as his political con.
duct; for, by il he is worthy of you, or you
are dishonored. owe you an explanation,
then, and make it most cheerfuIly, because
] know that you would gladly receive my vim
dication.
/ Judge me, then; you have the right. For
what? .H,rier? No. all the false witness
es who pander for passion or prejudice could
not convince you that am murderer. For
dishonor? Worse than murder! The cer-
tifcate Of Mr. Cilley's second will assure you
that he took not the least exception to my
course. forpariicipnting in duel then-my
own or that Of another-ot all? For that you
sho'ddjudge me. That is my offence ad
init it and all can dare ask is, that you will
Judge me fairly, according 10 that public senti
nsnt uohieh prerais among yoursrlvcs.
Why act as second for another, tohere here
,Oas no obligation 10 act There was an OBJ
legation. never acted as second for friend
but with two motives; first, 10 be in a position
10 reconcile his difference, If Ieo,dd; second,
10 guard has honor and his life, IF Icouid moi.
felt bound to do this for friend in this in
stance. Icspecially have been so situated
as to compel me to admit this obligation for,
as have often told you, my protection, in The
discharge ofmy duties 10 you here, has depend
ed upon my o,rn t,tsiy tceupon, and b'usiy
friend, upon iohom hare been daily liaLle TO
call TO discharge the same obligation 10 me-
Mr. Graves is one upon whom ! ,0o'dd hare
called; and I jeh obliged to do for him phal !
icould haze called on him 10 do for me.
But, though competent to guard his honor
and his life, ras ] competent 10 reconcile lis
difference? 1t is said that myself was hos
tile to his antagonist. Irso,I may have been
incompetent. But solenniy deny thai ,ras
hostile TO M CItey. God knows Sheiher
did not feel far more sympathy for him than
many who pretend to deplorc hisiatc. There
had been a slight misunderstanding between
US in debate, which passed off with the mo-
mont, aud left not the trace Of animosy be-
hind. True, there WAS never, before or 0iler
that occasion, any intimacy between US, lie.
cause we were never acquainted; but ! was
purely and proudly conscious Of 10 malice
10 nrJ tbat,, I ,,.1I haun
sented TO bear him a challenge. But, hostile
to him or not, and though hostility might have
prompted to incite another to seek his lifc---
dark, and deep, and deadly hate must that
have been yet, my conduct prores that Ibid
earnestly endeapor to prerent Tie shedding Of
his Llood, by rconciiing his difference wim my
friend; and the history Of the tragedy proves,
that not only i, but TWO OTHER GENTLEMEN,
ef kaotcn character and sidnding, who ,otre
nerer accused erhostiiity 10 him and ,uho might
hare ore,rnled me By their roices and influence,
could not reconcile TINT difference or purem its
result That history now submit TO you as
| shall detail it, under the solemn sanction OF
on oath, to committee of Congress now in
vestiga,ing the causes which led TO Mr. Gil.
ley's death. The report Of that committee
will send to you as soon as it s made and
printed. The statement supplies what the
JOINT statement Of Mr. Jones and myself omits,
and that which it could not contain, because
he could not vouch for what alono or others
than myself knew. And send this in ad-
vance Of tho report of the committee, to ar
rest, in the midst of extraordinary excitement,
that torrent of defamstion which is now pour.
ing from the vials Of the wrath Of thooo wbe
would delight to destroy my reputation and
usefulness as public servant. ] send it to
suspend your judgment until can be fully
heard to prevent you from blushing for me,
until am put to shame by the truth and TO
stay your condemnation until am fairly con-
yicted by credible evidence.
HENRY A. WISE.