The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-08
TO THE PUBLIC.

uutl Win NkANES, Tue WuOlc weight Vi al
insupportable odum fell upon my reputation Tor my
conduct in the affair. The world knows win what
Of malice, il not with what ingenuity OF iaise
hood, was assaled. / was not only justly criminal
ted with the offence of dueIg but most unJusty and
cruelty charged far beyond that onence.
A committee was appointed by the House Of Re-
representatives. u investigate the question Of breach
of privilege, involved in be DEATH OF one OF It's mem
bers and made It's examination and reported the re-
suit At first | awaited formal trial before the
House for full opportunity Of defence. That OPP
portunty afforded. The House, after
months OF discussion which served only to afford ma
lice its privilege Of persecution, contrary to my most
earnest remonstrances laid the whole subject on the
table forever. In the investigation and the discus
sion OF the duel by Others my conduct had been aid
bare, without explanation and without the defences
which an open trial before the House would have
thrown around it,
Denied trial. was left to time and the certain
riumphs of truth Fearless though regardless of
public sentiment, was willing to abide the unjust
censure which had thickened around my name until
the moment of my vi4dicatiOn should come. And
determined that moment should be-wheneyer re-
sponsibe person, in tangible shape, should venture
to make the accusation, which had been intangibly
and irresponsibly made by anonymous publica-
tons These last determined never to notice in any
shape.
But, in the mean time, however, from the fatal day
of the duel to this time, whenever my friends, and
especially any Of my con6dng constituents, who ne
yer doubted, even whilst all the rest of the world
seemed to condemn me-when those who had the
right to know inquired of concerning the partcu-
lars of the duel which constituted my defence, ne
yer hesitated to inform them. There many
points which they wanted to know the reasons of
my conduct For example,
lst. Why did Mr. Graves at first require Of Mr..
Cilley put his verbal for declining to
celve Webb 8 note in writing?
I'd. Why was the point of peracity not alleged in
the challenge as its cause9
Sd. And was that point made on the ground'
These two last queries were, as its journal will
show reiterated by the Committee of Investigation !
4th. Why were such unusual terms as were pro-
posed accepted?
l was continually compelled to answer such inqu
ries these, and frequently compelled TO discuss the
points they involved. invariably answered the isl
of these Questions by saying that had differed with
Mr. Graves on the point of requiring Mr.. Cilley to
reduce his reply wiring, but that he was
fortified in his opiniun that point by the better
counsel of Mr. Clay Again In answer to the Sc
cond and third questions, said that Mr. Clay drew
the form of challenge with his own hand, and
put issue point of punctilo which he consid
cred easier settled Than the of ueracty that for
the reasons the latter point, though often men
toned not pressed upon the ground and that 1t
not the subject Of adjustment upon the ground
because It not the point put IN the challenge
And In answer to the fourth said that opposed
but that Mr. Clay approved of the adoption of the
terms tor the reasons have already published. In
defence of the course pursued by Mr. Graves, never
failed to quote The authority of the advice Of his friend
Mr. Clay; in defence Of my the
ground quoted the authority of Messrs Crittenden
and Meneiee. This | have done in more than
hundred instances in the last four years, and many
times of late. dare say that Mr.. Graves may have
done the thing. alIude to these particulars to
show how little imagined that not al liberty
10 use in defence both Of Mr.. Graves and myself
authority high that of Mr.. Clay never dreamed
that was doing any thing improper IN this, though
careful at all times not unnecessarily to involve
- E..t IL a oftar
was the devoted admiler and friend of Mr.. Clay,
and would have made any honorable sacrifice to make
him the President of the United States l always
found his authority, particularly among his political
friends, TO prevail In my defence when used In pr-
vate and it was always qualification to know that
1t would be equally awaiting when it became necessa-
ry it in public not only to reute the charge that
instgated the duel, but prove that was not the
controlling adviser of Mr.. Graves.
/ always indeed, intended to appeal to Mr.. Clay,
at the proper time, and was confident that he would
not hesitate obey respectful summons, nor fail to
assure the world OF the truth In hostile sp rt did
ever mention his part in the affair; but the con-
trary looked with confident satisfaction to him a
vii ness of such high character that his 1oord
when once spoken would dspel the cloud OF calumny
from around my name Thus them was divulged t.
many in private, the pant which Mr. Clay had in this
duel. Never divuIged by me to lmpue for moment
duel; to inculpate him even in giving wrong ad.
vice Mr.. Graves; but simply to satisfy my friends
that Mr. Graves had higher counsel than mine, tc
show his justification and mine. DR.. Follz's letter
rendered TO voluntarily, shows that the very
ing after the duel this was the spirit OF my lnforma
ton then to him.
Except as have thus described, have never quotet
Mr.. Ciays name in connection with the affair Indeed
have ever repealed the idea that he any elst
instigated Mr.. Graves to the challenge and lest il
might injure Mr. Clay in the least have purposely
abstained from publishing that he advised in the mat
ter all and published the fact until lately
when the moment, thought, had arrived which i'm
peratveIy called on me In se-detence to- make pub
lie appeal 10 him witness in ny behalf.
For nearly four years had been waiting for tina
moment. At the extra session of Congress- in thu
spring of 1o4l, John q. Adams made most bruta
and unprovoked attack upon me tor the part bore
in that duel The nation was witness OF my for
bearance that time Again, at this session, IN the
debate upon Mr.. Marshas resolution TO censure hin
for presenting petition dissolve the Union he re-
newed his attack with redoubled violence and ven
geance. He distinctly charged in his place that was
a murderer, more guilty of the blood of Mr. Ciey
" than the who pulled the trigger" At the mo
ment he uering this false accusation under the
pieext Of citing legislative precedent in bis ow n
case, there, Immediately behind him, in range with
my eye the witness, who, above all men, was the
man TO prove my innocence to the very accuser HIM
self! There sat Mr.. Clay who knew the accusation
was false and there stood John Quincy Adams max
ing IT, and atlemI ting TO make the world believe
was true! Mr.. Adams had been the President OF the
United States Mr.. Clay had been his chosen Score
tary of Slae. Mr.. Adams hoary with honOrs
as with aye his character high that it had be-
come national property, and his word was likely to
become history. No less witness than the man be-
hind him. hearing him. could make up the fearful odds
against the accused But that witness, his trust
ed and Tried friend-one as great if not far greater
than himsef-one who could balance word against
word, and give proof against asseItion-one whose
fame was part OF the accusers own history-was
there. word from him would silence the accuser
forever; ay, perhaps cause him to retract the
accusation True, that then and there that witness
could speak, but elsewhere he might speak, or
write If the public prints to his old friend he
mig hit drop line saying only: =" You are wrong,