The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-10

cnty oy ~ Ctoy Thus, then, Mr.. Clay At ina
ime knew the terms, &c.
5th. When these gentlemen appealed to Mr. Cha
TO arrest the duel he "roped in substance that the
saw how he sitxoted Mr. GRAVES HAD CON
SUITED HIM. He could not therefore inlerpose, be
cause he might compromit the honor OF his friend VIII
had censuited ioth him. Il not, thsp because b.
was deceived At all, but because he knew too muci
about the affair TO inform the civil authorities.
The second ISSUE Is Mr.. Graves's recollection, a
Publshed by Mr.. Clay, in his letter Of the 10th Of
February, in the ntelgencer of the 25th Of Februa
ry, l642, correct! N
Error Addressing Mr.. Clay, he says: "From
the commencement Of the difficulty between Mr.. Gil
ley and myself up to the time sent him the chal
lenge do not recollect that mentioned 1t to you o.
any other colleague or friend. except Mr.. Menefee
and Mr. Wise" And, again he says: " do not re
collect naming the subject to you until the morning
before the meeting, when l called at your room,
think in company with Mr.. Wise, and exhibited tc
you the correspondence and perhaps detailed you
the circumstances of the affair"
Now / will observe, and wish it remembered
that this was Published by Mr.. Ciay in letter to him in
a'lssoer to letter from him and without note
ment OF CORRECTION 1t was put forth by him. of
as correct, and was in fact statement by him, Mr.
Ciay0 by direct implication, as well by Mr.
Graves. As statement Of Mr.. Grouess recollection
merely, do not mean to dispute but is it correct
In fact and did Mr. Clay know it to be correct or
correct when he published it,
Upon this point introduce as the only witness, at
present, Mr.. Clay himself February the 25th, 1912,
the day this letter of Mr.. Graves appeared in the
National 1nteligencer, addressed to Mr.. Clay the
following letter, to wit:
WAsHNcroN, February 25, l842.
Sir enclose to you an editorial from the /" Week
ly Courier and New York Enquirer, edited by James
Watson Webb, of the 18th inst
In response, presume, to the call upon you con-
tanned in this piece to give publicity to the esno-
ny" therein referred to- you have, in this mornings
lntelligencer published letter from W. J. Graves,
Esq, accompanied by statements of Charles King and
Reverdy Johnson.
Now, sir, most respectfully inquire of you, LIST.
Whether by your publication in the Inteligencer of
these statements, in connection with the editorial
ferred to, you mean to give countenance to the mpu-
tation contained in this editorial that euer deceived
you, either to the time place Of the meeting between
Messrs. Graves and Cilley? ID Whether you were
so deceived by me or my associates therein charg
ed? And, if by them, who of them? Sd. Were you
not fully informed the day before hand of all the
terms prescribed by Mr. Clley for that meeting, and
draw the form of the challenge which bore for Mr.
Graves to Mr. Cilley on the morning of Friday, the
23d day of February, 1888? 5th. Had you before
that day, the Odd, BEEN advised with by Mr.. Graves
and his friends to his correspondence and his
course preliminary to the challenge, and was your
advice not followed?
l trust you will fully perceive the propriety, and
necessity even, of these inquiries, and that your
of honor will appreciate the justice to me Of
candid and full answers to them.
l am, sir, with all due consideration, yours most
respectfully,
HENRY A. WISE.
Hon. HENRY CLAY, Washington.
Linn, of Missouri:
81 was asked to take this letter to Mr. Clay last
night, but waited for copy to I've made by Mr. Wise,
which is furnished to-day.
al f. LINN.
Washington, February 26, 1912"
On the ID of March, DR.. Linn handed to me the
following answer from Mr.. Clay, to wit:
WAsMNoros. Feb. %. 1912.
SIR: The Hon. Mr.. Linn ofthe Senate on Satur-
under date the 25h instant propoundng certain in
quries me relative to the unhappy affair between
Messrs. Graves and Cilley.
Before proceed to return more specific answer to
your note, must recall to your recollection certain
circumstances which have occurred during the present
session Of Congress. ~
Some weeks ago. and priQr TO any allusion to the
unfortunate duel made in the House of Representa-
tives by Mr. Adams and yourself was informed tina,
letter written from this city had appeared in the New
York Herald, charging me with having nstgated and
caused the duel, and with having prepared the chal-
lenge which led to it, Prior, ALSO to that auson, il
currently whispered about in This city that oc-
cas- oned the duel and prepared the challenge. The
pressing the attending circumstances, and especially
the motive of amicable adjustment, which induced
me to propose the modification, thus brought be-
fore the public. Now, you, Mr.. Graves, and !, were
only present when proposed that modification. MOI
for a moment could believe that he furnished the fac
of the challenge to the writer of the letter to the New
| York Herald. did not; and my conclusion moi
| unreasonable that you did
| When the subject advered to by Mr.. Adams
and you in the House of Representatives, and yor
| ~. L.. L.J l..
another, without mentioning my name, the previous
circumstances were such to fix attention me
and you distinctly understood to refer to me
as Ifmy name had been expressly designated.
| Afterwards, long and elaborate exposition, pro.
Tossing to give all the circumstances of the affair ap
peared in the Madisonan, which was believed to have
been your production to have been prepared will
your assistance or sanction. In that exposition, tn
design is clearly manifested to transfer the response
biity of the duel to me- the terms of the challenge
recited and by call Of the public attention to wha
is denominated its "ear-marks," nsinuation il
made Of my being its author-a design unfoundet
in respect to me it is unjust towards Mr.. Graves
as if |, without earthly motive, should force hin
into duel contrary TO his own deliberate judgment
During all these proceedings without any appeal t
you, remained passive and silent, suffering unde
conscious injustice, but abiding in undoubted conf
dence that in this, in other instances, truth wout
ultimately triumph.
Iapplied to Charles King Esq., for statement o
what had occurred in two interviews in my room be
tween him, Reverdy Johnson, Esq., and myself MI
King came to me the friend of Col. Webb; an.
although, being the friend of Mr.. Graves, could
invoke the authority of the police to prevent the duel
informed him that thought no such obstacle applies
to him, and that he might with entire propriety
the parties to be arrested. therefore recommended
the police to be called out and for that purpose ad
vised him to confer with General Mercer and F. S
Key, gentlemen that l knew would promptly lem
their aid to prevent the duel. Mr.. King accordingly
made a statement forwarded it to R. johnson, Esq
who added his own, without my solicitation, an
| transmitted both to me.
| enclosed to Mr.. Graves most false and maig
nant attack upon me in regard to the affair." which af
peared think, in the Boston Post and he, in conse
quence, addressed to me the letter bearing date tn
| 18th instant.