Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-03-15
NEW sERIEs.-voL. II. No.ss.

you thought the matter would be adjusted
without a hostile meeting. think |
adopted your form, with but little il any
modification, and ! suppose destroyed il,
and that drawn originally BY myself. /
do not think | alIud ed TO this subject in
your presence again until about nine
o'clock Of the night preceding the meet.
ing, when had but moments conVer-
sation with you, in W which Imade known
to you my want Of skill IN the use Of the
weapon selected by my adversary.
II is utterly untrue that you ever ex-
hibted TO me any wish that the meeting
should take place. / believe | had no
friend in Washington who more regretted
it. recOlleci after the affair, when we
met at our boarding house, you seemed to
symPathize most deeply with me in my
misfortune. You Wept, and were unable
TO utter a word.
1t is also charged in this Boston paper
tnat Mr.. Crittenden was responsible for,
and was one Of the main acters in the
preIiminsries that brought on this melan-
choIy affair. Now, although you, Mr..
CTittenden, Mr.. Menefee, and myself
were boarding together, Mr.. Crittenden
knew not a word Of the difficulty until
about Ten or eleven O'Clock Of the night
before the meeti1g-whe1 Mr.. Menefee
and myself, and I think Mr.. Wise, went
after him at Mr.. Joseph Gales, where he
and his family were spending the eve
ming. Mr.. Crittenden was very reluctant
TO be one of the two friends whc, under
the preliminaries upon which Gen. Jones
and Mr.. Wise had agreed, were TO accom-
pany each second; and it was not until
made ;he request in person, for reasons
that think 1 gave him for my sOlici'ude
thai be should be present, that he final
" consented. was the more anxious
That he should be on the ground, because
in Kentucky, and wherever else he was
well known, no man was more disiin'
guished for his miIdness and humanity.
believed his presence would be the
best evidence ] could offer at home that
did not intend TO act rashIy, or go be-
yond the requirement of those laws under
which | went to the field.
As soon as there had been a refusal TO
receive the note Of Col. Webb, I called
10 my aid the advice Of Mr.. Menefee and
Mr.. Wise, and from that time | do not
recOIlect that anything whatever was
done either BY them or myself that did
net meet the most entire appreciation Of
all, They acted asmy friends, and rep
resented me in the affair. And I only
am FesponsiLle for what they did. They
could have had no motive TO do any thing
more than 10 protect my life and my
honor.
II would be much less painful TO me,
if those who feel themselves cslledsOn|
to renew the discussion Of this most disa.
greeable subject would spare my friends,
aud let their censure and denunCiations
falIsexclusively on my head,
Just before leaving the city for the
ground, Informed the friends who accom-
panied me that had but one suggestion
to make, and that was, in order to avoid
any inadVentureS growing out of the haste
and excitement incident to the adjust
ment Of such affairs on the, ground, that
they should confer together, and agree
among themselves upon the basis of an
adjustment, and, after doing so, not to he
driven from It BY any considerations con-
nected withmY safety. In pursuance Of
this suggestion, they did, as afterwards
leaned, reduce to writing their views as
to the grounds upon which an adjustment
of the affair, if made, ought to rest.
hope you will not find'it necessary
to place this letter before the Public; but
il you think il necessary in your vindica-
ton, repeat again it is at your service.
With sentiments of the highest regard
and consideration, | am, very sincerely,
your most Obedient servant,
w. ]. GRAVES.
Hon. HENRY CLAY, Washington.