The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-08-21
From The augusta (Mdine) Age.
WISE AND GRAVES.


One Of the Federal papers printed in Port
land, publishes, as though it we're something
new. an attempted defence Of the conduct Of
Wise and Graves in the duel in which MIR.
Cilley fell, extracted from speech Of Gfaves
reported in the Louisville Journal. We are
surprised that the Courier, which revises the
subject with the design to "set history right,
should betray so great ignorance. The de-
fence set up by Graves in this speech Is the
same-no more, no iess-which wise AZ
tempted TO set up before the investigating com
mittec, and in which attempt he sgnaly iaiied'
in the opinion Of the committee, both maJonty
and minority. All the evidence in the case
contradicts il, the majority report and one OF
the minority reports (Mr. Ellmore's) expressly
discredit it, and the other minority report makes
no attempt to contest the grounds on which the
other members Of the committee discredited
il. and expresses 20 doubt Of tho correctness OF
their conclusion.
The defence set up by Wise and Graves is,
that the difficulty between the parties to the
duel was quest ion Of veracity between Messrs.
Graves and Clley, and that therefore the chal-
longing party was justified 10 pushing the al,
fair to bloody issue. Nothing oi this KIND
was ever intimated until long after the duel,
and after the published statement OF the sec
onds. aud never suspected by Mr.. Ciliey. Mr..
G.. was challenged and shot because he would
not decline to receive Col. Webb's note on
grounds aohici lcouM eroacrate GrdUes from all
responsibility that is, because he refused e,ut-
sr 10 admit or deny Col. Webb 10 be a gentle
man and man Of honor. This was the de-
mand before and al the time of the duel; and
Mr.. C's refusal TO disgrace himself by comply
ing with IT,, was made the occasion both Tor
the challenge aud its repeated end pertina-
ciUus renewal. So says the committee, so
says the correspondence, and 50 said Wise
and Graves until they found il necessary
10 Invent an excuse for the blood thirsty
nianGer in which the duel was pushed to
fatal extremity, and for that memorable
expression Of Graves, positively. pereinptorily
and repeatedly" uttered, 81 MUST HAVE A
MOTHER sHor!'
In order TO set this matter right, we make
the following extracts:
From the Majority Report.
Mr.. Graves said to DIR. Foltz, on the way TO
the field, THAT he had been the bearer Of a
note from Colonel Webb TO Mr.. Cilley, inquir-
ing if Mr.. Cilley had been correct, reported
IN the Globe. Mr.. Cilley refused 10 receiue hc
note and .ecliaed giuing his reasons, Which i'm
pLisdted me, IN consequence Of phich Ictdtteng ged
him, but Ihare no personal animosity toOdrdS
him" Mr.. Wise said on the field, " Mr. Jones,
these gentlemen hayc come here without ami
mostly towards each other; they are fighting
merely upon point Of honor" "Thesc men
have nothing against each other; they are
merely settling point of honor"
This concurrent testimony Of all, without
exception, taken in correction with the written
correspondence, the various propositions and
answers on the field, and the further fact that
Nh. Ciliey had not been informed that Mr..
Graves had undertaken to repeat to others any
verbal communication between them, or that
any misapprehension or misunderstanding ex-
listed between them on that subject, utterly re-
PeLS u'e suggestion that any question Of Uerdcity
had arisen, or had been made, or iOaS The cause
ofthe challenge or Of the death Of Mr.. Ciiley.
From Mr.. Etmore's Minority Report.
Mr.. Cilley declined to receive this [Webb'sl
note, aud, in doing so, made disclaimer OF
any disrespect to Mr.. Graves. This WAS not
deemed satisfactory, and under what he con
sidered rhe claims Of honor aud his peculiar
position, Mr.. Graves felt constrained to become
principal, and addressed to Mr.. Cillcy the
following note in which, il is TO be observed
he states Uery distinctly the grounds on which
he considered himself left 40 other alternativ,
bat to challenge Mr.. Clley.
WAsHINeToN CITY, Feb. 80, 1885.
As you have declined accepting commu
nication which | bore 10 you from Colone
Webb, and as, by youi note OF yesterday. yor
have refused TO decline on grounds which
would exonerate me from all responsibility
groxng out Of the affair, am left no other al
Tentative but TO ask that satisfaction which il
recognised among gentlemen. My friend
Hon. Henry A Wise, is authorized by me to
make the arrangements suitable TO the occasion.
Your obedient servant.
WILLIAM ]. GRAVES.
Hon. ]. CILLrY.
"The causes stated for giving this challenge
arc, LIST, that Mr.. Cilley declined to receive
the note of James Watson Webb; Aud, Cd
that he refused to decline on grounds which
exoncrated Mr.. Graves from all responsibility
growing out of the affair"
This attempt of Messrs. Wise and Graves
after Mr.. Cilley's DEATH TO set up RctC grount
of challenge, and that based upon charge o
EilSehood against their victim, which they founc
courage to lisp only after he was cold in hi
grave, is of piece with their conduct in tn,
whole transaction, and perhaps forms III,
blackest par oft.
We need not say how reluctantly we hav,
recurrcd 20 this painful subject; but this re
cent attempt by false prctcnces, to shield tn,
living at the expense of thrust at the fair fam,
OF the dead, seemed to render il necessary.