Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-12

we know that very rccehtly-snee the un~arraniei
,s, have seen nt npon record. aud the wrcn
ise't siuoeI a. prove that hey al re gafi5n
Henry Clay actually took measures to proe urc the e
meeting aSd Mr. Chez 81 That
S as as Nc know, teen, transmitted To Mr. Clay; and
distinguished gentleman publicity to the tesimony
Ne teicI TO- as act OF justice his friends. well
vile insinnations against him. he may deem
take any course calculated to vindesle his character
aganstthis new assault Of his enemies, he bear
In mind that both he ami hs reputation the
personal aud he Is boSn to Law before he pai he
the conclusive testimony which has voluntarily place.
his disposal for the purpose OF demonstrating how
fame"
/ This though il came from webb, the editor of
the Weekly Courier and New York Enquirer, in
which IL published on the l2th Of February,
chose not to notice. But soon after this attack
upon me appealing TO MIR Clay 20 publish certh
Gates, and speaking knowingly of certificates sent
by gentlemen to Mr. CLAW, he himself published in
the lnteligencer OF the 25,h utimo, a letter from
Mr. Graves, and the certificates Of Charles King end
Rcverdy johnson, evidently those alluded to in
Webb's nrtice,) which could not but in my
mind the suspnion not only that he did not intenl
to come forth and testify in my behalf but that he
Intended 10 give countenance and color TO the cd rs
well as tic new charges against me, which were
now vouched Ly the man (webb) who really did
| cause that fatal duel
| These suspicious were not allayed by the fact
that MIR Clay published MIR Gsaves's letter to him,
in answer 10 one from him, without one word OF
| comment and without correcting a most essential
error OF recollection in II, which lao could not but
know 10 be error, aud which he admits in IN.
| swer 10 me since an error IN the recollection of
! MIR Graves, 10 wit: That he was not consulted by
MIR Graves before the moment OF the challenge on
| Friday tbs 23d. lie now himself says that he add
visad Ms Graves TO get Mr Cilloy TO put his verbal
answer IN writing before the former addressed the
| latter his first letter in the correspondence. Had
Mr. Clay, when he published this letter OF MIR
Graves corrected this error alone, there would have
teen necessity for me To address HIM or es ain
| To address the public on this sore subject. Bu,
. upon tile appearance OF this letter without such
CORRECTION, or note or comment 10 intimate even that
u was II eorree', | Immediately addressed 10 Mir
Graves the let,e- and statement which publish
ed IN the lntelleencer Of the 2sth u,tmc; and |
| addressed Mr. Clay and others rs the subioiped
letters will ,ho~. Without waiting for an ans~ et
from MIR Graves, gave them TO the public as com .
| ple'e pro 'fs themselves.
In conclusion must sdd, in relation 20 the ir.,
part Of Mr. Gays letter 10 me, tina, the spie OF IN
upright and honorable nun, winch God has given
| me, Is too much ike lbs own-too proud and too
unbe ndins TO allow me TO respo TO him touching a
d'savowal o. expiration OF dIshonorabic conduct
winch he nnpuIes 10 me by inuenGo. Conscious
OF never having wTonged him, could, without IA
vor, boldly go 10 him for common Justice and Tor
| truth. will make no such dSavowa or cxplana
lion as that which he does not ask, but seems 10 saw
would be Just; but will cheerfully do what 10 4
secetous spirit aud good heart should b. much
more accsptabl will declare that never accused
hun TO any beng on earth of inSiig1,ing the due
| between Graves and Ciley; and I never stood by
| in silence whilst offers accused him of so doing:
and, had or Others 20 accused him, the accusation,
| so far as know nd believe; woud have been IA. e
| lie, nor ], nor any man whom | know, was guilty
OF such crime, or any offence Ike IT, have said
that MIR Graves sought his advice at the very be
| ginning of his correspondence with Mr. CIey; that
his advice was given, and that 1t the controlling
advice with Mr. Graves and with mySo.f: hut /
never intimated Q: meant TO intimate that his advice
WIS from any had motive, or that i; vas not hon
orable and humane. II was sought 1t was given,
and II was followed, because IL was his. | ncuuies.
ced IN 1t, though differed from il, and cheerfully
take the consequences Of having done So have
done no more 20 HIM than appeal TO his testimony
for my defence. His name is a tower of strength.
and abide under its high and unquestioned authors
ty Tor my Justification.
HENRY a. WISE.
wAsHIsGroS, MAEcH 8 1912.
Attached TO the foregoing is a voluminous Ap-
pendix, going 10 show conclusvely that neither MIR
Wise, nor any OF Mr. Graves friends nstigated the
duel, nor had any other agency in the affair, than
what was honorable TO them. We have room for
Mr. Clay's letter only.
WAsHISGr9s, Feb. es, 1872
Sir: The Hon. Mr. Linn, of the Senate. on Sa.
turday night last delivered to me an open letter from
you, under date the 25lh instant, pEopounding Ger
tain inquiries to me relative to the unhappv affsir
between Messrs Graves and Ciliey.
Before proceed TO return more specific answer
TO your note, rsust recall TO your recollection GER.
tain circumstances which have occurred during the
| present session Of Congress.
Some weeks ago, and prior 10 any allusion 10 the
unfortunate duel made IN the House OF Represen-
| tauves 10y MIR Adams and yourself, | was informed
that letter written from this city had appeared in
The New York Herald charging me with having
| instisated and caused the duel, and with having
prepared the challenge which led TO il. Prior also
TO that allusion, It was currently WHISPERED about
IN this city lhatl occasoned the duel and nrepared
the challenge. The naked fact Of my having pre-
pared the challenge, SupptessIag the attending cir
cumstances, and especially the motive Of an AMIGA
| Die adjustment, which induced ms 10 propose The
| modification. was thus brought before the Public
| Now, you, MIR Graves, and |, were only present
| when proposed that modification. Not for a mo.
ment could believe that he furnished the fact OF
the challenge 10 the writer of the letter TO the New
York Herald. | did not; and my Conclusion was
not unreasonab Die that you did.
| When the subject was hdvered 10 by Mr. Adams
and you IN the House Of Representatives, and YOU
stated that tic PTsimiSarisS had been arranged by
another, without mentioning my name, the preyi
Gus circ umsanccs were such rs to tx attention on
me, and you were as distinctly understood TO refer
TO INC as II my name had been expressly designa.
tel.
Afterwards, long and elaborate eyposyion. n,o.
Il - -
appeared IN the Madisonian, which was be Ievcd
/ 10 have been your production, or TO have been pre
! pared with your assistance or sanction In thai
exposition, the design Is clearly manifested 10 trons
fer the responsibility u the duel 10 me- the terms o.
the challenge are Iecitcd, and, by call OF the uub-
lie attention 70 whit denomInoted its "e,r.mafksu
an insnuatlon is made Of my being its author-o
design unfounded IN respect To me as il "a upiust
towards MIR Graves: ss It J., without an earthly
motive should force him into a duel contrary 10 his
own deliberate Judgment
| During oil these proceedings, without an anoeai
| 10 you, remained passive and silent, sutief,n,
under conscious injustice, but hiding IN unIOubteJ
confidence that IN this, other instances truu
would ultimately triumph.
Iappej TO Charles King, Esq, for a statement
Of what had occurred m two interviews IN nv rom,
between him, ReVerdy johnson, Esq. nnJ myself
Mr. King came to me ns the friend Of Col Webb.
and although, being The friend Of MrGraVes could
not invoke the authority Of the police 10 prevent the
/ duel, informed him that thought no such obst,
/ clio applied to him, and that he might with entire
proPrieiy cause the parties to he arrested there
tore recommended the police 10 be called ont. md
Tor That purpose advised him 10 confer with Gensrsl
| Mercer and y Key, gentlemen that knew would
| promptly lend their aid to prevent tho duel NJ,
| King accordingly made statement Forwarded !,
| TO X. johnson, Esq, who added his own. yyitbo,,,
my solicitation, and transmitted both 70 me-
| / enclosed 10 Mr. Graves a most false and mali,
nant attack upon me ~ regard 10 the affair vbsb
! appeared, / think, in the Boston Post; md he m
consequence, addressed 10 me letter bearing date
tho 10Th instant