The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-09

"
wthou, recapuating your questions, believing that
the shortest and most Ineligible way for me 10 make
myself understood
My rifle was borrowed on the night Of the 23d Fe,
bruary, 1888, BY the Hon. John J. Crittenden, ana
the Hon. Mr.. Menefee the former then Senator,
and the latter member Of the House of Representa-
lives OF the United States from the State OF hen-
lucky for the purpose ofbeng used in the duel men
toned above. They did not ,ell me what they wanled
with the gun, hut afterwards understood from the
Hon. John Calhoon, then a member Of Congress
from Kentucky, who was present when the duel was
fought, that my rife used by Mr.. Graves, and
have no doubt of IT, as have never heard II contra
dicted They applied to for it between 10 and III
o'clock at night but being from home when the
application was made and the rifle being at my house.
and its accoutrements at the Globe office, was near
IL o'clock at night before they obtained all. You
were not an applicant for the rifle, nor do recoect
TO have heard from you from the time the cha-
lenge was carried until after the duel fought.
| possess no other knowledge the subject that
deem pertinent
Respectfully, JOHN G.. RlVES.
Hon. HENRY A. Wise,
| House of Representatives
| This testimony, presume, is conclusive on this
point
To show that the grounds now take concerning
the part which and others bore in this unfortunate
duel no new grounds, and not taken Of late be-
cause OF any change Of relations between Mr.. Clay
and myself, subjoin the following letter from DR..
attended him on the ground, to wit
| BALTIMORE, FEBRuARY %, 1912
| DEAR SIR have just concluded reading your
statement in this mornings Intelligencer relative to
the meeting of Messrs. Graves and Cilley, which |
have long been looking for, and which am happy to
see at length placed before the public,
| Early on the morning after the duel, you informed
me, in your room at Mrs Queens, that you were OPP
posed to the meeting, and that you thought that 1t
might have been avoided but older heads than yours
had been consulted and their advice followed that
YOU friend, could not decline bearing the chal-
lenge, and that you accompanied MIR. G.. the
ground with conviction that he would be shot.
From that moment to the present time was con-
WINGED that you treated with injustice but
| that conversation confidential, was unable of
course to correct the impression which had gone
| abroad
| My connexion with the affair entirely profess
sional, and as have frequently served on similar
casions, my efforts there, elsewhere, directed
towards the side Of humanity, and to me il has al
ways been source of regret that any portion of my
| testimony should have been made of for po-
litical purposes. IT, have erred in any portion OF
my testimony, it from imperfect recollection,
as il was given in without consultation with any ndi-
vdual, and not deeming that il could possibly be OF
any consequence to either party. Mr.. Graves had
known intimately, and have never met with one
whose amiabllity of character and cheerfulness of
disposition were better calculated to make friends
and he will | am convinced, upon reflection, fully
confirm your very clear statement of tins morning.
You will believe me, trust, when assure you that
am glad to this long standing error corrected
while remain very truly, your most obedient servant
J NJ. FOLTZ.
To the Hon. HsNRy A. WISE of Virginia
This letter was addressed to me voluntarily on his
part; and further piece Of spontaneous dence
which came To me last night, without any seeking on
my part, subjon the following extract from edo-
rial in the Native American Bulletin published a, st
I n,;. ,,r. lrU rI,,
the Senate of Virginia, who knew well whilst be
lived IN my native county
THE DUEL o. Graves AND C.LLEy.-Allusion
having been frequently made Of late this duel, in
come lion with the name of Henry A. Wise we CO.
ny the following editorial of the Richmond Wing,
Opposed TO Mr.. Wise poltcaly,) and also the re-
ported remarks Of Mr. Wise made on the floor OIL
Congress few days ago, for the purpose of showing
that very improper impressions have been made by the
enemies of this gentleman in reference to his conduct
in This matter.
We will add that, having heard both from the lips
Of Mr.. Wise and from several others who conu-
SAINT of the facts all the particulars of that transac
ton within few days after its occurrence, we have
hesitation in saying that ne ought not to be held in
any manner responsible, either for the manner in
which it conducted for its conseq uences. He
was only unjust to himself in permitting his private
friendship for Mr. Graves to carry him to the field
his iDeguard in affair which he was not permitted
to direct.
Wisconsin, who was the second Of Mr. Ciey, to an
swer inquiries touching the mputations of Webb
that the time and place Of the NEE ing were changed
by me and my associates to deceive Mr. Clay His
answer is mmateris now, and it shall be published
when it reaches my hand
As to the third issue the charge made by Mr.
Adams that instgated the duel of Graves and Gil
ley-need do more than to point to the foregoing
array Of evidence particularly to the letter Of Mr.
Clay, to vindicate not only myself but any one else
from base aspersion and to sustain the full
statement, in every material point which have here
tofore addressed to Mr. Graves
No; no dispassionate just, and generous mind will
hencetorh can hereafter, harbor suspicion of such
a crime against any body else, alike detracting
to Mr. Graves as to any friend of HIS and alike un-
Just to him and to all Of his friends and advisers. 1t
is only be regretted, and little Illuminating that
from the Of some of his friends in the past
and from the mistakes of the world TO the true
history of the duel there should be any apparent
test now as to who is the guilty man of an imputed
of which no man is gully. Of girng Mr.. Grares
Of his friends were guilty, if that an offence
gave him mine; MIR. Clay gave him his aud his
was adopted and pursued by Mr. Graves only because
his judgment esteemed the sounder, his expe-
rience the to be relied on, his the strong
er, and his authority the best Why should the pub
lie be troubled with this private affair any longer
Respectfully,
Washington March 4, 1912.
The conviction here spoken ofby DR.. Fotz arose
only from the fact that Mr. Cey very good
shot and Mr. Graves very bad one.