Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-03-28
THE LATE DUEL.
We have been furnished with tho follow.
ing for publication

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We have been furnished with tho follow.
ing for publication
WASHINGTON CRY, March 6, 1888.
SIR: enclose you three paragraphs, cut
from newspapers, having relation to the in
quiry with which the committee of which
you are chairman has been charged by
the House of Representatives. The first
is taken from letter written from Philadel.
phia: the second from letter written from
this city; and the third is taken from the
editorial head ofthe New York Courier and
Enquirer; and all Of them attributng the
death of Mr.. Cilley TO my counsels and con.
trivances. The positveness with which
the writer's of these paragraphs detail the
circumstances which enable them to charge
me with the death af Mr.. Cilley, may pre-.
sent them as proper witness TO be examined
in relation to that event and, if so, have
request that ! may be allowed to be present
at their examination.
In the mean time, justice TO the dead, who
can no longer speak for himself, and due
regard to the object Of the coincident move.
ments from three cities, induce me to say
that SO far as my name is concerned, there
is not one patticb Of truth in the statementsof
these paragraphs. So far from counsel.
ling with MIR. Cilley, aud preventing him
from admitting tho true report Of his con.
versations with Mr.. Graves, it happens to
be the fact that never saw Mr.. Cilley, to
know him, but once in his life, and that a,
the commencement of the session, when he
dr. me the honor to call upon me in compa-
ny with Mr.. Pierce, Of the Senate; and that
no communication Of any kind. written OF
verbal, direct or indirect, personal or polili.
cal, has ever taken place between US. 10.
stead Of contriving an creating this duel, it
SO happened that my first knowledge Of il
was received in my chair in the Senate, on
Friday, from Mr. Haight, the Sergeant. at.
arms, who mentioned it TO me as town
talk; my nert knowledge Of it was from
Mr.. Pierce, of the Senate, and at my place
in the Senate so that | was in arrcar of the
town talk on the subject. With respect to
this wonderful rifle firing, of which am
represented to have been the supernten.
dent, and to have expressed such high ad.
miration, it happens TO be the fact that have
not seen a rifle fired in twenty years.
With respect to Mr.. Graves, whose death
am charged with so anxiously contriving
it so happens tina, do not know the person
of that gentleman that not a word of any
kind has ever passed between US that | Dc
not know that he has ever spent though
upoa me, and am certain that his existence
even was unthough, of by me at the time tina
| am charged with planning his DEATH
With respect to DR.. Duncan, with whom
am charged with being in consultation
nearly all the week, have no recoec, or
of having seen him until after mid, day OF
Saturday, when he and others stopped a
Mr.. jones door, which is next door &c
mine, on their way out, and when my coun
sells can be stated by others more appro
priately than by myself.
Reserving any further details for NOR,
suitable, occasion, have TO request you &c
lay this letter with its enclosure, before tho
committee of which you are chairman, 70
such action upon it as they may think prop
er to have.
Respectfully, sir,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS H. BENTON.
To the Hon. Mr.. ToUcEY,
Chairman, DC.