Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-03-15

distressed, ana at once sald the meetina
must be prevented. He becko0ed e
Mr.. ReVerdy Johnson, one Of our guesla,
and the matter having been explained ~
him, it was agreed that MF. Johnson a1a
myself should immediately call % hF,
Clay and ask bis assistance to arrest tho
hostile proceedings. We immediaielY
went TO Mr.. Clay's lodgings. and there
found Mr. Graves seated with hin. I
expressed my qualification at the eircuGn.
stance, and commenced explaining tbo
object Of our visit, when Mr.. Graves rosA
to leave the room, saying, a. he Weas
out, that he could permit no inteFfereneo
with any thing that touched his honor.
Mr.. johnson and myself then represented
TO Mr.. Clay, in the strongest manner We
could, the enormity Of permitting TIVE
gentlemen TO fight in quarrel which
did MT concern them, and appealed u
him, not less as q friend Of Mr.. Graves,
than out of regard 10 Mr.. Webb-Who,
We told him, felt that it would b6 de
deepest wrong and injury 10 him thai 9TH
ers should peril life in his causs--to aid
US in arrestiDg the duel.
Mr.. Clay replied, in substance, that
he saw how he was situated. Mr.. Graves
had consulted him. He ought not, hs
said, TO have been consulted; but having
been, the honor of his friend, Who VA
the challenger, might be compromised By
any advance on hts, MIR. CIay's part, 70
arrest the progress Of the sffdir. He si.
ther showed to, or explained to us the
correspondence Of the challenge and e.
cePtance, and The terms, g., and assured
us that the meeting could not take place
the next day, as Mr. Graves had no ride,
and that next morning We could have
enough time for interference, il ve
chose to interfere. It was now past six
o'clock in the evening, and we left Nj.
Clay, saying that we would keep bin a.
vised Of our proceedings. Mr.. johnson
and myself then went to Mr. Wise's Iode-
ings, in the hope Of asceftainine his
views as TO the possibility Of an amicuhla
adjustment oftlIe quarrel. He vas cut.
We left either q note or our names, with
message that We would call agaiE se
8 o'clock. We didcall again al the hour,
but without finding Mr.. Wise. Hardy
knowing what step to take next, after .
good deal Of discussion, and relying On
the belief that the meeting would cot
take place the next day, We determined
to wait for the morning.
At an early hour on Saturday, / WA
aroused from my bed by Mr.. Webb. VIA
told me'that be had certain informatisH
that Messrs. Graves aud CiIley had pOno
out, and conIuring me to aid him il pre-
venting any catastrophe. dressed IN n
haste, and went to arouse Mr.. lohnsoA
from his bed, and both proceeded II oueS
to Mr.. Clay's lodgings. That gentleman
was not yet up, but, upon hearing our
names, desired Us 10 come into hiS BED.
room, When informed that the partlss
had gone out, he declared it impossible.
and sent bis servant instantly for Mr,
Graves, Tie answer was, that M.
Graves had gone By The early train "a
BslumoTe. The same answer Was re-.
turned in regard TO Messrs. Crittendeh
aud MeneIee, who aIso boarded in the
same house. This made it clear THAI
Mr.. Graves and bis friends had gone out,
the alleged trip to Baltimore being mere.
| ty a cover. Mr.. Clay seemed greatly
distressed and perplexed, and after some
consultation as TO the best mode Of YET
preventing the duel, if pOssibls-foF
which he seemed as earnest as We Rere
he suggested that Gen. Mercer or Ne.
Kay, or both, should be seen without de.
lay. ] Immediately left his apartmsBt.
jumped into hack, and rode to Gen.
Mercer's lodgings, near the Capitol,
Gen. Mercer instantly entered into mp
views, and declared himself ready to 70
forthwith before a magistrate, either of
Virginia or Maryland-for il was supposed
the parties would go out ofthe District
and take out writ, which he weuld him
self accompany the officer and see served.
The first thing, therefore, was to ascer-
tain, if possible, the route taken by the
parties. | was about to start on the a..
quiry, when Mr.. Wsddy Thompson. of
South Carolina, came in, The matleF
was explained 10 him, I think, By General
Mercer, and he. at once declared there
was no reason for such duel, and that
be would himself, Il be could end them,
90 TO the ground and insist there should
% no fight. He then got into tho csE+
'iage with me. | left him At oneof ths
boarding houses. where he expected 10 Obr
ain some information. / on my part call
ID at several places with the same vieN,
All effort was unaVailing, and the result
Is known. | did not see Mr.. johnson q
gain thar morning, and never to ny Tee-
spoke with Mr.. Clay afqEwtEds
ia relation 10 the duel.
CHAs. KING.
New York, Feb. 4, 1912.
Ihave carefully examined 10 sAts.
- A. 1