The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-09

n reasons, whish implicated me, IN conse.
: quence Of which l challenged him, but
i have no personal animosity towards hifn'
y Mr.. Wise said on the field, " Mr.. Jones,
D these gentlemen have come here wHhou'
nHimosty toward each other; they are
fighting merely upon point OF honor.
"These men have nothing against each
other; they are merely settling point OF
, honor"
This concurrent testimony Of all, with
! out exception, taken in connection with the
f written correspondence, the various propo-
, si:ions and answers on the field, and the
farther fact that Mr.. Ciley had not been
informed that Mr.. Graves had undertaken
to repeat to others any verbal eommunica-
ton between them, or that any misappre-
hension or misunderstanding existed be-
tween them on that subject, utterly repels
the suggestion, that any question Of veraci-
ty had arisen, or had been made, or was
the cause Of the challenge, or the death OF
Mr.. Cilley.-lDdeed ally misapprehen sions
on that subject would have given no more
just ground of animosity, and least of all
of the highly vindictive feelings necessarily
aroused by question of veracity, than the
very evident misapprehension which Mr..
Graves labered under, ia regard to some
part of the note of James Watson Webb,
of which he was the bearer.
The committee will not, in justice TO Mr..
Graves harbor the belief, that there were
ranking secretly in his bosom any vindic-
tive or hostile feelings towards Mr.. Cilley,
growing out of any question of personal ve-
racity, and prompting him to carry on
deadly warfare under another pretext, not
only without direct and explicit disclos-
ure of the real couse of difficulty, such as
would have left no m,sapprehension on the
mind of any one, but under circumstances
which misled the other party and his friends,
aud left him, under tha, false impression,
to the forfeit of his life.
| The committee have, therefore, come to
the conclusion, that the words spoken by
Mr. Cilley in debate in the House of Rep
resentatives, the refusal of Mr.. Cilley to re-
ceive n demand for explanation Of those
words, and his refusal to assign any other
reason for it, than that he chose to be drawn
causes which led to the death Of Mr.. Gil
ley, under the circumstances which have
been substantially detailed.
! 1t is breach of the highest constitution
al privileges of the House, aud of the most
sacred rights of the people in the person of
their representative, to demand. in hostile
manner, an explanation of words spoken in
debate to be the bearer of such demand !;
to demand reason for refusing to receive it,
beyond the mere voluntary election of the
member interrogaed; or to demand, under
any circumstances, any reason at all. No
member can be questioned in a hostile way,
and put to his plea, and yield to it, without
subjectlng himself to great disadvantage in
the estimation of many, and impairing his
influence and usefulness as n member. 1t
is still more aggravated breach of the
privileges of the House, and of the rights of
the people in the person of their represen-
tative, TO challenge a member, and to slay
him in combat, for refusing to comply with
any such demand. 1t is the highest offence
which can be committed against either
house of Congress; against the freedom of
speech and debate therein; against the
spirit and the substance of that constitution
al provision, that for any speech or debate
IN either House, the members shall not be
questioned in any other place, and violates
essentially the right of perfect immunity
etseWhere for words spoken in debate here,
which is essential to the independence of
Congress, and TO the existence of constitu-
tioua liberty. And when this offence is
committed by "A member, it calls for the ex-
ercise of the highest powers Of the House
to purge itself of the evil, To maintain eifec-
tualy its rights and privileges, and to pre-
serve inviolable this immunity, which is
! hy t1,a e. III
sake of the individual, but for his consitu-
ents and for the country.
The present case is without any circum-
stance of extenuation. A member of the
House, in manner most strictly parlia-
mentary, OH an occasion most appropriate,
in language most decorous and moderate,
in defence of the honor of the House against
an anonymous unfounded charge of cor
ruption, had alluded to the published rec
ords OF former proceedings with perfect
truth and accuracy; had, in obedience to
his duty, declined hostile demand for ex-
PLANTATION in Il manner in which the COM
mittee can discover no cause of offence
had, respectfully, with expressions ofregret,
him further and disclaimed all disrespect,
directly or indirectly, toward his antagonist,
aud avowed for him the highest respect and
the kindest feelings; and, after all this, a.
vowed without hostility, and against the
strongest protestatisns of others, he was re-
qu'red fatally, to expose himself to the third
discharge of rifle. On the other hand, !
Mr.. Graves u member of the House, volun- !
tarily and unnecessarily became the bearer
of a demand upon another member in at
tendance he presented it in the House
while the House was in session; he de- !
mauded reason for the refusal, beyond the /
voluntary election of that member to be .
drawn into no difficulty upon the subject
Il. II H.. ..,ll L. Al