The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-24
THE CILLEY DUEL,

1t will be recollected by our readers, that we
published a short time since letter from Mr..
Wise to Mr.. Graves, calling upon that gentle
man to substantate by his own recollection Of
the fatal duel statement of facts connected with
| it drawn up by Mr.. w. The whole subject Gas
| far as we can judge in common with all others
that read the newspapers) has been brought be-
fore the public at this late period, merely to re-
move the odium which the political enemies
| of Mr. Wise endeavored to fix upon him, as
one more culpably implicated in the death OF
Mr.. Cley than any other person. The reply
| of Mr.. G., though differing in various unimpor-
| tant particulars from the statement Of Mr.. W.,
yet most triumphantly acquits him of all crimi-
| nal Interference in the matter. No man will
hereafter attempt again to attach more blame to
Mr.. Wise than justly attaches to Mr.. Clay, Mr.
Crittenden, Mr.. Menefee, and others.
We give the following extracts from Mr..
Graves letter.
DEAR SIR: After an absence from home for more
than two weeks, returned at late hour last night
and found your letter Of the 25th ultimo addressed
to me through the columns of the National Inte-
gencer; and in compliance with your request hasten
to respond TO it.
before the public the subject Of your communca-
tion do not feel at liberty to withhold from you any
information possessed by me, deemed by you
sary for your vindicaon. shall feel most happy if
contribute towards eXemptng you from all
blame in future, growing out of your connexion with
the unfortunate affair between the late Mr. Cilley
and myself You have suffered under the most cruel
injustice long enough, should think, to satisfy the
most unrelenting of your enemies always have
and now do, most emphaticaly, exempt you from all
Of
that affair, and now publicly meet, by downright
contradiction the charge that you either nstgated or
in anywise promoted the duel. l. and only, am
justly responsible for whatever done by myself,
or those representing my friends on that occa-
sion. The pain which have suffered from the
peated efforts of your malicious and reckless enemies
transfer to you the responsibilities that justly at
tached to in that affair." has been greatly increased
by efforts that are now making, in some portions OF
the country to cast upon MIR. Clay for the
connexion which his friendship for forced him,
reluctantly know, to have with the subject
You state in your letter to me that you have suf-
fered in reputation by the charge of being the nsti-
gator of my duel with Mr.. Cilley long enough This
have known and felt long since and have never
failed, when properly could to meet such imputa-
tons.
That was done thought, successfully in the testi-
| mony taken by the committee. That others have
chosen recklessy to repeat and reterate the mputa
tioh Is hosl allctIS 10 me, HoTe So tildu Call NC
to any other person; but / am as powerless you
are to restrain the reckless from speaking whatever
they choose can but repeat again and again, that
you did not nstigate the meeting, and that you are
not responsible; that |, and | only, am responsible
| for it.
| | selected you, Mr.. Crtenden, and Mr.. Menefee,
friends to accompany me to the ground and have
every reason to suppose that you all felt the respon-
sbity of your situations, and regretted that you had
to meet it. That you did SO has placed me under
high obligations to you. | do not recollect single
any ana
the whole transaction, which you or either of them
did not approve, am entirely ignorant of it. felt
that you and they were persons in whom could most
| safely trust my life and honor.