Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-02
RICH MON ID:
aoRNINo. MARCH =.
THE clLLEY DUEL.

y
THE cILLEY DUEL.
We regret TO observe a revival OF the discussion
Of this affair. We have never entertained but one
opinion respecting its merits aud demeti,s-and
that was. that the only party justly obnoxious to
eenSure for whatever occurred, was Mr. Ciey OF
his advisers. They proposed the unusual. obicc.
tionabls and barbarous terms-ihey suggested the
rhe, because Mr. Cilley was known TO be skilful in
the use Of that weSpon-in full expectation that
Mr. Graves would fall. Fate ordered it otherwise
Mr. Graves escaped. and MIR Clley was the victim
OF his own selected weapon.
This has always bcen our opinion. The circum.
stances under which the discussion has been reviv-
81, have tended more than any thing else 10 IN
duce us TO suspect that blame may Justly attach TO
some Others. For the last few months we have
frequently heard nsinuations thrown out, that Mr.
Clay had an important agency in that ma,ter-and
in this connexion it was whispered, tina, Mr. Wise
had broken with Mr. Clay, because the latter would
not come forward avow his agency, and relieve
MIR Wise OF the odium, which had been thrown
| upon HIM. Not long since, an editorial article
appeared in the MOdisonan. good deal like Nlr
Wises style, giving colour to these whispering, and
insinuations. In consequence OF this article mud
others Of the same import, MIR Graves Ia, been
called upon to disclose the entire agency Of Mr.
\ Clay inthe matter. The annexed correspondence
fully acquit;ing MIR Clay-was the result.
| Since the appearance of this letter from MI
Graves, MIR Wise has come out in the National In
tellisencsr. in long letter to Mr. Graves pro-
pounding sundry questions to him to refresh his
memory, the tendency Of which is to implica,e Nlr
Clay. IL will be time enough to notice this letter
and the statement, which accompanies it, when Mr.
Graves responds
We cannot perceive how Mr. Wise c,n crimihoto
MIR Clay without eliminating himsef-us he was
voluntary executor of MIR C,s alleged sugces-
nons-and in his attempt to do it, he does no credi,
to himself:
~ ON the Independent.
Err. CLAWS CONNECTION WITH THE DUEL ne
TWEEN MESsRs. GRAVES AND CIIIEy
The Country, we presume, is aware that an NJ.
tempt has recently been made to devoIye upon MIR.
Clay all the responsibility OF the duel between MIR
Graves and Mr. Chley, in February, 1888. He is
now held up, either 10y direct assertion or covert in.
situation, in certain quarters, as having instgated
that duel-as having dictated lis unusual weapons
and as having in,erposcd to defea, pacific ad
lusiment OF the quarrel.
Perhaps there is no circumstance in MIR Claws
history, more expressive of his emrence than his
being habitually the subject, if not the victim, OF
Islander and persecution. SANDER. too, loves n
shining mark, nd the feeling OF the obscure Athe.
man who osiracised Aris,des because he was tired
of hearing him called the Just, is the growth OF all
ages and cmes, and will never become extinct un-
III the decree OF Providence Is revoked, which
renders vice and virtue rreconciable ard snru the
Toe OF the excellence which It cannot hope or has
not the nobility to endeavor, TO emulate.
Il our opinion, often expressed ut the time-re-
Gently repelied-there was no responsibility in tina,
duel, greater than there is in every duel. We vim.
dieaied Mr. Wise at the time, have INDICATED him
lately, and will continue TO vndichte him. even If il
should he shown that he was the author of ali the
arrangements which led to the result MIR Ciley,
in our judgment, provoked the fate he me,-thnt
fate whcn he and his friends, con6ding in his skill
IN the rifle, triumphantly predicted for Mr. Graves
But a considerable proportion Of the public is o.
different opinion. Odiun, with many, rests on
the .ci and the in it, and for party ends tina:
odium is now attempted to be transferred 10 the
shoulders of MIR Cay. And by whom is this at
tempt madel BY the "Norlhern Democracy who.
a. the time, wept over Mr. Cilley's fate, and s,g
nia,ic'd his fall murder and the parties to il as
mnTdsrsrs1 BY those who, at the time, camoured
against MIR Graves and his seooudsl No. They
who are attempting to shift this supposed oiium
upon MIR Clay, were his friends at tina, period
men who were then perfectly unconcerned about
the event-who in 1t nothing 50 very heinous.
or airoeious or mufderous-who probably thought
and pronounced 1t right-whigs, in short, who, being
Wings then, are Tyler Wings now-such as Caleb
Cushing, ct id omne genus! change has come
over the spir; Of their dream A party is TO be
created for Mr Tyler-and as the initiative step.
Henry Clay is 20 be pros,rated.
But are Mr. wise's friends acting like true Grends7
II he did not susges, the terms and arrangements Of
the duel, did he no, subscribe to them, approve Of
them and are not this appreciation and substitution
verified by his agency in executing them If there
was guilt in the head which conceived, was there
none in the hand which treeuisd7
But, our purpose is not to recriminn,e. Tim,
purpose is to place Mr. Clay where he cuobt 10
siand-as one whose agency was directed no, 10
widen, but TO heal the oreach-nol to urge on the
catastrophe, but to prevent and avert it, by all the
means which the exigency placed in his power. II
has been said and may be true, that MIR Wise bos
possession Of the draft Of the challenge in MIR Clov,s
handwriting; If so, the fact does not dsproye the AL
legation, but confirms it, that Mr. Clay redrartej the
challenge only for the benevolent purpose Of 40 d
reelns 1t as to leave the door Of adus,men, wider
open.
With these remarks we submit the following n,b
iea,lons from the National Intelligencsr:
From The National InieHignesy.
We have received and been requested to publisl,
the following Letter and Statements. which w, ,,o
with pleasure. They need not one WORD Of com.
ment.
LOUISVILLE, (Ky.) Feb. 1G, 1912.
Mr. Dean Sra; hasten to respond 10 vopr fave,
OF the lO.h instant, which reached me by Tho mi
OF this morning. have been extremely NAMED
and most deeply mortified, at the manner in which
the Boston Morning Post and other political nonsrs
have wantonlY connected your narno with tbcf 49,
fortunate affair between tho late Mr. Clllev and No.,
self ' "''u my
Painful, however, rs it is for me 10 nllude n mi.
melancholy event, or the circumstances connected
with II, and certain ns am that, should This me-,
the public eye, the relentless spirit OF marty viii too
open aifesh wounds but partially healed bv ,iroc
yet u would be much less affecting 70 mo man ~
sec you suner unjusly on account nj Your involun
tory connexon with that affair. therefore f,rvo,d
you my statement, as nearly as nv rseoIect;on
serves me, after the lapse Of four wears viii ,bo
privilege Of using II as circumstance in your onin
ion, require. f
From the commencement OF the difficulty be,,v.e,
Mr. Cil'ey and myself, up 10 tho time sent him ,bo