The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-08
thus published both by Webb and Charles King (the
editor Of the Ameican) the day after the duel. IL

editor OF the AmeHcahJ the Jay hiier the uueL
states
l.i. early in hs morning Of yesterday" 1.-THE
2i,h, the day Of The duelD "CoL Webb of New York,
called at my lodgings irhiie 'eas yet in bed, and
stated that, hs ersning preceding, Mr.. Ciey, Of
Maine had accepted challenge from Mr. Graves, OF
Kentucky and that they fight at eighty PAGES
Nth rifles" After other matters not pertinent 10 this
issue, II states
ID At 10 o'clock was informed by Col. Webb
that although he had been assured on the evening previous
that Mr. Graves and Mr. Ciley would not meet for
days. he had 10 beeps that he had been Intentional
l deceived, and that the meeting Mould take place that
day at IL o'clock"
These two points of testimony, besides other mat
tiers, contained in that letter Ii was published
in blank but the committee ascerained that il
subscribed in fact by VIM. H. Morel and that il was
vouched for in part by Mr.. Daniel Jackson. Mr.
More was called before the committee, and examin-
ed as follows, to wit
BY the committee to Mr.. Morell--
First interrogatory. Is the statement, herewith
shown to you, true statement of facts And was il
subscribed by yourself and any other person. And
who was that other person."
&c to first interrogatory. II subscribed
by myself and by Daniel Jackson, in my presence.
Ii is true statement of facts, far set forth
When Col Webb first proposed to go to MIR. Cilleys
ROOM made some objection, and questioned the pro-
priety of it, He replied that this the only
which his friends thought he could take under the
circumstances in which he was placed; and then
consented to accompany him."
Second question. BY whom, and at whose in
stance that statement prepared"
Answer to second question IL tras prepared by
James Watson Webb and signed by at his request"
Third question. Was that letter intended for
publication
Answer to third question 1t was, through the
New York American, u COL Webb should at any time
think it necessary, but without the names of myself
and Mr. Jackson
Thus then, it is seen that Webb himself is the real
witness to these two points of evidence He prepared
the statement he had the discretion Of publishing it,
and did publish it in his own paper and thus again
| confirmed it and it proves
lst That early on Saturday morning, the day OF the
duel before his friend MoreH ioas out of bed he knew Of
the challenge of the acceptance, The distance, and the wea
pom. e.u
3D. That, early 10 O'Clock, he undeceiped, if
he ever had been deceived and that the time was al
IL o'clock that day Thus he knew of the time too.
Was Mr., Clay deceived 7
The second witness whom propose to introduce
on the first issue Is the very person himself whom
am charged with having deceived, to wit, Mr. Clay
himself
See his letter below, in which he says 81 never
thought or said that was decsiped by you by any
other person to the time and place Of the meeting
Of Messrs. Graves and Cey.n
The third witness on this point is one of g my as
sociates'' in the duel the Hon. John j. Crittenden
who in answer to me, addressed to me the following
letter, to wit
WAsHMGToN, February 81, l342.
DEAR Sra: received yesterday your letter Of the
26th instant and in compliance with your request,
shall proceed to answer the questions it contains
without any formal repetition of them, reference
to the order in which they are put. 81.
The paragraph which you have marked as quota
ton from the g Weekly Courier and New York En-
quirer of the 10Th instant is, think full of errors
and mistakes.
There is no just ground that have any knowledge
of for imputng to you your associates the decep
ton which that paragraph charges them with having
practised on Mr.. Clay
From the first communication which Mr.. Graves
and Mr.. Menefee made to me concerning the affair
on the night before the duel, understood generally
that the terms and arrangements for the meeting OF
the parties had all been made and that these terms
had, of course, been prescribed on the part of Mr.
Cilley. know they informed me that the next day
WIS the time appointed for the duel and that rifles
were to be the weapons; but do not remember what
was said in reference to the place o. meeting, any
arrangements about it. had no personal knowledge
of the appointments of time or place But of this
feel quite confident, never after that first
ton with Graves and Menefee, knew, or waA informed
of any change Of arrangement (made or suggested)
in respect to either the time or place except perhaps
that the meeting may have been postponed to some
what later our of the day, in consequence Of the diff
fculty of procuring and preparing Ife for MI.
| Graves. With that probable exception, | have al
avs supposed and believed that the meeting took
place and was conducted in fair and entire accordance
latng to time and place) prescribed and appointed by
| or on the part of, Mr.. Cilley himself
Not having before me the statement Of Gen. Jones
and yourself OF the 26th of February, lS4S cannot
speak in reference toit, do suppose the omission
can be at all material after what have said.
did not see you with MIR. Graves and Menefee
when, the night before the duel they came for me
to Mr. GaIess Mr. Graves seems to speak doubling
ly about your presence, and presume that he is mis-
taken in that particular am quite certain that YOU
Wn not nrac nntu han thapn al Until thar,
They told me Of the intended duel that the next
day was the time appointed and rifles the arms pre-
scribed by Mr.. Cilley and that Graves then, at
that late hour, 90 or II o'clock at night unprovded
altogether with rifle They earnestly requested
that would go with them in quest of one / did so,
and we finally succeeded in borrowing rife from
MIR. Rives of the Globe office, which he told us had
been lonb unused and was very much out of order.
You were not in company with US Oh that occasion,
and do not reco.lect to have seen you at any time
during that night
| am conscious that great in Justice has been done
you in relation to this affair." and shall be gratfed if
the statements have here made contribute any
thing to vindicate you from Misrepresentation
Trusting that you will find my to your in
quires full and satisfactory, have little to add but
expression Of regret that any circumstances should
have rendered necessary this late re-agitaton of a
subject that must Cause SO much unmerited pain to
Mr.. Graves who has already suffered far beyond the
ordinary measure for such offences. In this feeling,
think, you will participate with me- We can both
bear witness for him that in his unhappy affair with
Mr.. Cilley, however mistaken he may have been, he
acted from his sense of honor, unnixed with any
base motive, and that no man in such conflict ever
conducted himself more fairly, more chivarousy, or
in manner further above all reproach. The issue
most unfortunate, but the real offence consisted
only in fighting duel neither approve nor apollo
gize for the practice, but it seems to me that the
judgments of the just and the generous must be much
NIT gated on such subjects, when they consider how
much due ling ought to be regarded rather as the vice
of the age and of public opinion than of the ndivid
uals who become its victims.
Mr.. Graves's case is of character to enttle him
to the full benefit of all these considerations and
could not forbear to say thus much on behalf of an
absent friend And though it is not exactly respon-
siYe to letter will NOT | ne rsIladcd