Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-05-02


II
\ REPoRT ON THE AFFAIR or GRAVES AND
CILLEY.-By referring to the proceedings OF
Congress in this and our last weeks paper
It will be seen that very undue proportion
of the timo of the House of Representatives
has been taken up with the report Of the Yan
Bursn mgo'Ity ef'he select eommiitsHpppont-
ed to investigate the occurrences, which led
to the death of Mr.. Cilley. OF the nature
temper, and palpable intent Of this one-sided
statement Of that melancholy affair, it is un
necessary to speak even briefly as these are
effectually set out in tho following extracts
from the correspondence of the New York
Courier and Enquirer The evidence at
tached to the report, notwithstanding the
management OF this ndroit committee, is said
TO conflict most strangely with the results
they arrive at, and will demonstrate not only
the fairness of Mr.. Graves's proceedings, but
that all the advantages, which arise from skill
in the use of weapon, and previous prepara.
tion and training, were on the side Of Mr..
Cilley. Aside from this, however, the plain
duty of the committee, according to all parla-
mentary usage, was, tho moment they found
member implicated by the evidence before
them, to have reported that fact to the House.
and to have taken its direction as TO further
proceedings. This fair and strictly parlia-
mentary practice, however, tcould not haze
ans,oered the purposes Of the party IN getting
up the Investigation, and was accordingly Sc,
aside without scruple or ceremony. With
respect 10 the expulsion Of Mr.. Graves from
The House, which the committee have recon-
mended-aftcr the voting Of funeral honors
by the same body, to the unfortunate, though
equally culpable, Ciley-it is rather too alb
surd and monstrous to be thought of seriously
The probability is, that after further waste
of time in attempting to get up an excite.
mcnt, which we predict will recoi most Sc
verely on the heads Of its authors, the report
will either be rccommitted, according to Mr..
Adams's suggestion, or be laid on the table
never to rise again.
correspondence Of the ". Y. Courier & En-
quner.
WAsnrNGToN, April &C. 1889.
Yesterday, the three reports in the case OF
Mr.. Cilley were read, and this morning the
Clerk proceeded to read the whole Of the
testimony which has been taken by the Com
mtice in that case. 1t commences with an
extract from letter Of The Spy in Wash
ington, and then follows the remarks of Mr..
Wise on moving an investigation with Mr..
Cilley's speech as reported in the Globe
Accompanying this is the testimony extracted
from the Report of a Committee appointed to
investigate the affairs Of the late Bank of the
UnitedsStates, so far as that testimony re-
lates, directly or indirectly to the transactions
of James w. Webb, or nj. M. Noah with that
institution. Next follows the testimony Of
sundry witnesses who appeared before the
Duelng Committee, among them were Mr..
Wise, Mr.. Jones, Mr.. Mencfee, Mr.. Crittcn-
den, Mr.. Bynum, Mr.. Duncan and others that
do not recolcct.
On the one hand. the testimony proves,
clearly and ndisputably, that Mr.. Graves did
not understand the use of the rifle that he
never practised until two or three hours be.
fore the fight on Saturday, and that he was
not good shot,
On the other hand, the proof is equally
clear, that Mr.. Cilley was practised rifle
shot that he was out on Thursday morning
practising, being the day before he received
the challenge; that he was out on Friday
morning and Friday afternoon practising !;
that on Friday afternoon he fred shots o,
distance Of eighty yards, at n sapIing about
the thickness Of "smoN mans body !" that
three Of them struck the saplng, one in the
centre, and one on each side Of the centre ;
that he (Mr. Cilley) determined on the
weapons, the distance, and the manner of
fighting, without consultation with bis seconds;
and that the only reason assigned by him fol
urging the fight Immediately was that he
might attend 10 his business in Congress.
! am utterly astonished at the views taken
by the majority of the committee, with the
testimony before them, which has been read
this day. The clerk continued reading until
5 o'clock, when the house adjourned without
finishing the reading.
WAsHISeroN, Apr. 25, 1885,
About o'clock, Mr. Boon called for the
reading of the duel report, which was ordered
reference having frequently been made to it,
There are three reports, viz: the report oi
the majority, who arc all administration
members. The report of Mr.. Rariden and
Mr.. Grenell, who are Wings, aud the report
Of Mr.. Emore, who is considered nulli6er.
They were all read.
The first is long argument, of strictly
party character, intended to show the pro.
prieiy Of expclling Mr. Graves, and for this
purpose all that portion Of the testimony
which is supposed to operate against Mr..
Graves, is carefully selected, and so arranged,
as, in the opinion Of a majority Of the Com.
mittec, to strengthen the ground they have
assumed; while all that portion which would
have contrary tendency, is studiously un.
noticed.
The second report, avoids a formal ccnsure
any where. II takes the broad ground that
breach of the privileges of the House has
been committed; but objects to the recon-
mcndation Of any specific action. II insists
that the Committee has performed its duty,
when il lays the whole testimony before the
House, without comment. II contends that
expulsion would be harsh procedure in the
present case, when it is notorious that ducls
have frequently been fought by Members OF
Congress, without any action on the part OF
either House. The report also refers to n
proposition made in the House some years
since, to render member liable to expulsion,