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

the attempts of certain papers to induce the belief
that those insinuations well founded Mr. WISE
knows beyond all peradvenure, that If he and his as
socates had not deceived Mr. Clay and made him
believe that the meeting postponed TIL the DAY
after that which it actually took place, the cVn
authorities, at the instigatlon OF Mr.. Ciay' woolu
have interfered and prevented 1t. lie knows, 100,
that if the place of meeting had not been changed al
his suggestion the duel between Graves and Ciley
| never could have taken place. and under no crcum-
stances could MIR. Graves and Mr.. Cllley have had
hostile meeting if Mr. Clay had not been deceived as
| to the time fixed upon for that meeting
ave know that very recently-since the unwar-
ranted nsnuation by Mr.. Wse-the facts In relation
to this matter have been put upon record, and the
written testimony OF two gentlemen oil unimpeached
and unimpeachable character adduced to prove that
they at the instgation of Henry Clay, actually took
procure the interference OF the civil au-
thorty for the purpose Of preventing the meeting be-
| tween Mr.. Graves and Mr. Cilley. That testimony
has, know, been transmitted to Mr.. Clay and
object in abiding to this subject IS to call upon
that distinguished gentleman to give publicity to the
testimony refer to, an act OF justice to his
friends. We well aware, that in the conscious
ness of his innocence Of the vile nsnuatons against
him, he may deem it unnecessary to take any course
calculated vndicae his character against this new
assault of his enemies but he must bear IN mind
that both he and his reputation the common pro-
perry of the nation and that in justice to his friends
personal and POLITICAL he is bound to lay before the
public the conclusive testimony which has been vo-
|
monstrating how utterly without foundation is this
new assault upon his fair fame.
''Of the testimony referred to, 1t might be imprc-
per in us to say more al presents but we invite atten-
ton to the following remarks from the Philadelphia
United States Gazette with the single observation that
ALL and more than ALL which is here stated in de-
fence of Mr. Clay has been put upon record by gen.
tlemen whose testimony will admit of no question:
Mr. Graves then determined on challenge,
| and having written it, he called on MIR. Clay, and
he CHI cha
the first that Mr. Clay knew Of any intention Of the
| duel Mr.. c. pointed out to Mr. Graves the total
departure from etiquette OF such matters IN his note
and at the solicitation of MIR. G.. penned one in
less offensive form-one that would admit OF an ex-
PLANTATION, and thus allow of settlement. This note
was perhaps not copied, but was signed by Mr.
Graves, and sent
sMr Clay had nothing further to do with the mat
err and knew nothing further OF it, until the noon OF
the very day which the duel actually took place,
when Colonel K, of New York, called, as the
| friend of Colonel W, and asked MIR. Clay wheth-
something could not be done to prevent the meet
ing And impression at this moment IS, Col
X. gave Mr.. c. the first intmation that the meeting
| was to take place on that day. MIR. Clay advised
Col. X. to go at to General Mercer and to MIR.
F. Key and to persuade them to have the police out
upon all routes which the parties would be liable to
| take. Mr.. X. went Immediately to these gentlemen,
| in pursuance of Mr. Clay's suggestion, and they
| fastened to comply with his wishes The parties,
however, eluded the policemen by taking an obscure
road that passed unnoticed out Of the city.
"'Whether Mr.. Wise informed Of all these
facts we do not know if he was, he will OF course,
be made to feel the improperly of such nsnuations
as he made. The possibility that he has the form of
the challenge, or the challenge itself, in Mr.. Clays
handwriting, will not avail him, if our recoections
rrect if they are incorrect in any way, we
shall hasten to correct our statement.
"sWe have nothing to say in favor of duels du-
cling. We are publicly and privately opposed to
them and have not failed at suitable times so to
press ourselves. But others entertain different
opinion, evident from their practices, and when
they shrink away from the consequences Of partici
patton, and seek to themselves by involving
others, think they deserve censure, even addition
al to that which they earned by sharing in duel
We do not know that any body will think himself
called on to reply to Mr. Wise's insinuation. Ger
tainly MIR. Clay will not. But our readers may de-
sire know how things were, and they have state
ment above " to the best of our knowledge and be-
! lief"
This though it came from Webb, the editor of the
Weekly Courier and New York Enquirer, in which it
was published on the 18th of February, chose not
to notice. But after this attack upon me ap-
pealing to Mr. Clay to publish certificates, and speak
| ing knowingly of certificates sent by gentlemen to
Mr. Clay he himself published in the Intellgencer of
| the 25th ultmo, letter from Mr.. Graves, and the
certificates of Charles King and Reverdy Johnson,
evidently those alluded to in Webbs artcle,) which
could not but arouse in my mind the suspicion not
only that he did not intend to forth and testify
in my behalf but that he intended to give counte-
nance and color to the old well the charges
against me, which vouched by the man
(Webb) who really did that fatal duel.
These suspicious were not allayed by the fact that
Mr.. Clay published Mr.. Graves's letter to him, in
answer to one from him. without one word of COM
ment, and without correcting most essential error
of recollection in it, which he could not but know to
be an error, and which he admits in answer to me
since was an in the recollection of Mr. Graves,
to wit That he was not consulted by MIR. Graves be-
fore the moment of the challenge Friday the 3d.
He himself says that he aduised Mr. GRAVES to get
Mr. Ciey to put his verbal in ,vrng before the
former addressed the latter his first letter in the
respondence. Had Mr.. Clay, when he published this
letter of Mr. Graves corrected this alone there
would have been no necessity for to address him
again to address the public on this subject
But upon the appearance of this letter without such
correction, or note comment to intimate that
it was incorrect, Immediately addressed to MIR.
Graves the letter and statement which published
in the Intelligencer of the 2Sh ultmo; and address
sed MIR. Clay and others, the suboined letters will
show. Without waiting for an answer from Mr..
Graves give them to the public as complete proofs
themselves
In conclusion l must add, in relation to the first
part Of MI Clays letter to me- that the spirit of
upright and honorable man, which God has given to
me, is too much like his own-too proud and too
bending to allow to respond to him touching dis
avowa or explanation of dshonorable conduct which
| he imputes 10 me by inuendo. Conscious of never
having wrOnged MIN, c0ulu, WITHOUT Iavor, Dodly 60
to him for common justice and for truth. | will
! make no such disavowal or explanation as that which
he does ask, but seems to say would be just; but
| will cheerfuIly do what to a generous spirit and
good heart should be much acceptable l will
declare that accused him to any being earth
of instigating the duel between Graves and CIley
and never stood by in silence whilst others accused
him of doing and, had or others 80 accused him,
the ACQUISITION, 80 far l know and believe, would
have been false. He, nor |, nor any man whom
know, was guilty of such crime any offence like
it. have said that Mr.. Graves sought his advice at
the very beginning of his correspondence with Mr..
CiIley that his advice given, and that it the