Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-29

MR.. CLAWS CONNEXION WITH
THE DUEL BETWEEN MEssRs.
GRAVES AND CILLEY.


The Country, we presume, is aware
hat an attempt has recently been made
10 devolve upon Mr.. Clay all the re-
sponsibility OF the duel between MIR. |
Graves and Mr.. Cilley in February,
1888. He is now held up, either by
direct assertion or covert insinuation,
in certain quarters, as having instigated
that duel-as having dictated its unu-
sual weapons-aud as having interpo-
sed to defeat pacific adjustment of
the quarrel.
Perhaps there is no circumstance in
Mr.. Clay's history, more expressive Of
his eminence than his being habitually
the subject, If not the victim, of SANDER
and persecution. SANDER, too, loves
a shining mark-and the feeling ofthe
obscure Athenian who ostracised Arts
tides because he was tired of hearing
him called the Just, is the growth of
all ages and climes, and will never be-
come extinct until the decree OF Prov
idence is revoked, which renders vice
and virtue irreconciliable, and enUy the
foe of the excellence which it cannot
hope, or has noIthe nobility TO endeav-
or, TO emulate.
In our opinion, often expressed at
the time-recently repeated-there
was no responsibility in that duel. We
vindicated Mr.. Wise at the time. have
indicated him lately, and will contin-
ue to vindicate him, even if it should
be shown that he was the author Of
all the arrangements which led to the
result. Mr.. Cilley, in our judgment:
provoked the fate he met-that fate
which he and his friends, confding in
his skill in the rife, triumphantly pre-
dicted for Mr.. Graves.
But a considerable proportion ofthe
publicis Of different opinion. Odium,
with many, rests on the act and the ac-
tors in it; and, for party ends, that obi
um is now attempted TO be transferred
to the shoulders Of Mr.. Clay: And by
,Ukom is this attempt made? BY the
Northern Democracy who, at the
time, wept over Cilley's fate, and stig-
maiised his fall as murder, and the
parties 10 it as murderers? BY those
who, at the time clamoured against
Mr.. Graves and his seconds? No! They
who are attempting to shift this suppo-
sed odium upon Mr.. Clay, were then
perfectly un 'oncerned about the event
who saw in it nothing so very hei-
nous, or atrocious, or murderous-whC
probably thought and pronounced il
right--Whigs, in short, who, being
Wigs then are Tyler Wings now
such as Calcb Cushing, ct I'd omne ge-
nus! A change has come over the spir-
IT Of their dream A party is TO be ere.
ated for Mr.. Tyler-and, as the initia-
tive step, Henry Clay is to be prostra-
ted.
But are Mr.. Wise's friends acting
like true friends? If he did not sug-
gest the terms and arrangements of the
duel, did he not subscribe to them, ap'
prove Of them, and are not his ap'
probation aud subscription verified BY
his agency in executing them? lfther'
was guilt in the head which conceived
was there none in the hand which er
ecuted1
But our purpose is not TO recrimi
nate. That purpose is to place MI
e Clay where he ought 10 stand-as on
e whose agency was directed not TO wi
r den, but to heal the breach-not TO urg
). on the catastrophe, but to prevent an
:. avert it, by all the means which the ex
:, igency placed in his power. 1t ha
= been said and may be true, that MI
: Wise has possession Of the draft ofth
= challenge in Mr.. Clay's handwriting
N if so, the fact does not disprove the a
r. legation, but confirms it, that Mr.. Ola
r. redrafed the challenge only for the be
nevolent purpose ofso directing it as
leave the door Of adjustment wide
open.
! With these remarks we submit tn
Ie following publications from the Naiioi
ne al lntelligencer.
re From the, Matt onal Intelligencer.
We have received and been rogue
VI ted to publish the following Letter ar
= Statements, which we do with plea
d ure. They need not one word of cor
'. ment<
Louisville, Ky.) Feb. 16, 1912.
J. NV Dear sir, hasten to respond
Ia your favor Of the 10Th instant, whi'
er reached me by the mail Of this NOR
., ing. l have been extr emely paine
o. and most deeply mortified, at the ma
=, = ner in which The Boston Morning Po'
IS and other political papers, have wa
is tonly connected your name with II
h. unfortunate affair between the late NJ
ly CilIey and myself.
ng Painful, however, as 1t is for me
P allude to this melancholy event. or I
"a circumstances connected with it,and
90 tain as am that, should this meet
sc. public ey e,the relentless spirit OF pal
nd will tear open afresh wounds butparti
he " healed by time, yet it would be mu
l. = 49, a.. -