Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-29
STATEMENT.

AOtJ WuiOH WIN pau Va my AothIy
and some friends from New York oc-
cupied at Gadsby's, and where was
then assembled party Of gentlemen
whom we had invited to dinner, I met
on the staircase Mr.. Graves, who, as
we'll as Mr.. Wise, were 10 be Of the
party. To my question where Mr..
Wise was, Mr.. 6. said he was not
coming, and then informed me that a
challenge that passed between himself
and Mr.. Cilley, that it had been accep-
ted, that Mr.. Wise was arranging the
preliminaries, and that both desired to
be excused from dining with US. Mr..
Graves then went away. was great
ly shocked at what he told me; for, al
though l had heard rumors that, at
the request of Mr.. Webb, of New
York, Mr.. Graves had called on Mr.
Cilley for explanation of langyge
used by that gentleman in allpIl6n to
Mr.. Wise, ! had also heard and GER
tainly believed the matter was adius-
ted.
at once on entering the parlor,
took Mr.. Webb aside and stated what
had passed between Mr.. Graves and
myself. Mr.. Wise appeared greatly
surprised and distressed, and at once
said the meeting must be prevented.
He beckoned to Mr.. Reverdy John
son, one Of our guests, and the matter
having been explained TO him, it was
agreed that Mr. Johnson and myself
should Immediately call on Mr.. Clay
and ask his assistance TO arrest the hos
tile proceedings. We Immediately
went tn Mr.. Clay's lodgings. and there
found Mr.. Graves seated with him.
l expressed my qualification at the cir
cumstance,a land commenced explaining
the object Of our visit, when Mr..
Graves rose TO leave the room, saying,
as he went out, that he could permit
no interference 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 two gentlemen
to fight in quarrel which did not con-
Germ them, and appealed TO him, not
less as friend of Mr.. Graves, than out
ofregard TO Mr.. Webb-who, we told
him, felt that it would be the deepest
wrong and injury to him that others
should peril life in his cause-to aid us
in arresting the duel.
Mr.. Clay replied in substance that
we saw how he was situated. Mr..
Graves had consulted him. He ought
not, he said, TO have been consulted;
but having been, the honor of his friend
who was the challenger, might be
compromised by any advance on his
(Mr. Clay's)part to arrest the progress
Of the affair. He either Showed TO, or
explained to us the correspondence Of
the challenge and acceptance, and the
terms &c. land assured us that the NEE
ting could not take place the next day
as Mr.. Graves had no rife, and thai
next morning we could have enough
time for interference, if we chose Il
interfere. Ii was now past six O'Clock
in the evening, and we left Mr.. Clay
saying we would keep him advised o
our proceedings.-Mf. Thomson ant
myself then went to Mr.. Wise's lodg
} ings, in the hope Of ascertafning hi
) views as to the possibility Of an AMIGA
) BILE adjustment Of the quarrel. He wa
out. We left either a note or GU
I names, with message that we woul
! call again at s o'clock. We did ca
r again at the hour, but without fndin
Mr.. Wise. Hardly knowing what ste
! TO take next, after a good deal Of dis
l cussion, and relying upon the belle
:. that the meeting would not take plac
It the next day, we determined to wait fC
g the morning.
r At an early hour on Saturday, | va
= aroused from my bed by Mr.. Webt
d who told me he had certain inform;
+ ton that Messrs. Graves and Cille
i had gone out, and conjuring me to al
d him in preventing any catastrophe.
g dressed in all haste, and went to- arou:
y Mr.. johnson from his bed, and bot
proceeded at once to Mr.. Clay's io'
E, gings. That gentleman was not y
IN up, but, upon hearing our names, d
st sired us to come into his bedroom
" When informed that the parties hi
ID gone out, he declared it impossibl
" and sent his servant instantly for N
Graves. The answer was, that M
L Graves had gone by the early train
Baltimore. The same answer was
turned in regard to Messrs. Crittend
8, and Menefee, who also boarded IN I
= :. same house. This made it clear tt
:" Mr.. Graves and his friends had go
~ out, the alleged trip to Baltimore b
ing merely cover. Mr.. Clay seem
- greatly distressed and perPlexed' a
- after some consultation as to the b
b. mode Of yet preventing the duel, ftp
~ sible-f for which he seemed as earn
- as we were-he suggested that q
"a Mercer or Mckay, OF both, should
~ =. seen without delay. I immediat
= left his apartment, jumped into ha
81 ord rode IN Gen. MERGERS lodgin