The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-05


Mr. Wise's temperate manly and able letter in
the lntelgencer OF this morning respecting the Ciley
DUEL Is almost universally regarded here perfectly
conclusive TO the character of his conduct in that
unhappy affair. 1t is impossible to see how any man
OF ordinary candor and fairness doubt that 1t was
udicous, discreet, and humane throughout. Mr..
Wise was guiltless-free from faint or stain neither
Mr.. Clay to blame, unless for not exerting more
directly and energetlcally his acknowledged influence
over Mr. Graves to prevent the duel But the truth
is both Mr.. Wise and Mr. Clay expected the affair
have been arrested by the civil authorities through
the nstrumentality of Webb And SO it might have
been bat foi the unparalleled and pgheaded stupidity
of the man. Webb, either desired the fight to come
off, that he might acquire noorety by being the sub
ect of duel without the risk of being shot, he
stultied himself in wild goose chase after the duel
ling party TO unexpected and impossible places, when
the smallest exercise of sagacity would have put the
police their track and rendered the meeting mat
ter of utter impossbility.
Which OF these propositions is the true one will pro-
badly never be known, neither is matter of much
consequence now. But while excul pating Mr.. Wise,
and placing the conduct of Mr. Clay in its true light
it is proper to state that the death of Ciley is be
charged to the political friends under whose advice he
refused put in writing what he had verbally stated
to Mr. Graves He was sacrificed to their unappeasa-
BILE hostility to Mr. Clay and his friends and ahoug III
Graves pulled the trigger by which he fell, the men
whose advice governed his conduct were much his
murderers if they had literally imbrue their hands
u his blood.
We have had another importation Of the ppe-lay-
ers. These gentlemen seem determined not to give
up their influence without death struggle Accustom-
ed to rule through the most disgracenl MEANS act
ing on the Walpole policy that every man has his
price, they have no belief in the intelligence or virtue
Of the peope-none in individual honor or integrity
Possessing no talent but for intrigue, no power but
that of corruption, force but that of impudence
they have run career of folly, and have ruined the
finest and most generous party that was in the
ascendant in the Empire State. All the Offices have
been given to personal favorites and for considera
tons as base as they were impoltc. Whole coun-
ties have been estranged by their interference with
matters that did not concern them. Leading men
who have borne the burden and heat of the day. have
been set aside for tools and emissaries. Money,
raised no one knows where, and expended no one
knows how, has been their lever and with this they
have achieved all their private trumphs, at the ex-
pense of the great cause itself No mans friend eX-
cepf where their interest dictated, they have been
every thing by turns and nothing long" One day
Claymen, and pledged to his support, the next for
Harrison, ard the day after for Scott they have rails
ed the flag of revolt at Syracuse and then left their
betrayed followers in the lurch. They now profess
to be for Tyler and hope to use him. for the remain
der of his term, when they will be found in opposi-
ton to him. Nay, at this very moment, they abuse
him behind his back, and intriguing for the
censorship with another candidate. Hated by the
Wings, and pursued by the -Focos they have no
restng-place but at Washington, and here, it is no
bed Of roses. May the day soon arrive, when their
true place shall be assigned them and which they so
well deserve, the lowest rank in the political scale
covered with universal nfamy and the execraton of
all honest men,