The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-01

fiehae on MI Clleys pat, were considered clothed
with the same authority and responsibility were
| General Jones and myself
Before General Jones and myself concluded our IN
! terVlcw, you sent Mr.. Menefee to me TO ascertain
what the terms were showed them to him, and, as
he afterwards testified, "anmadverted with severity
upon their Objectionable character" Indeed, l did
not then accept them but told General Jones that |
would deliberate upon them, and inform him of my
determination In writing As soon as could, (about
o'clock, z. M went to Mr.. Clays room, and
submitted them to him. think you present
protested that they were unusual and baTbaous and
should not be accepted Mr.. Clay said that you
hentuckian, and that no kentuckian could back
out from rifle" "that the distance great and
that even If the terms were unusual and barbarous
| the party proposing such most likely to fly from
them himself" Upon this view of his, you deter
| mined to accept them, and | accordingly SO notified
General Jones, about o'clock, p NJ, in the follow
| ing note, to wit
"WAsHlNToN, February 3d. 1888.
"SIR The terms arranging the meeting between
Mr. Graves and Mr. Clley, which you presented to me-
| this evening, though unusual and Objectionable,
| accepted; with the understanding that the rifles
to be loaded with single ball. and that neither party
is to raise his weapon from the downward horizontal
post on until the word fire. | will inform you, sir
by the hour of | o'clock, A. M to morrow whether
Mr. Graves has been able to procure rifle and con-
sequently whether he will require postponement of
| the time of meeting
''Your very obedent servant,
"HENRY A. WISE
"Hon. GEO. W. JONES'"
After the delivery of this note it became my duty to
prepare for the meeting. A aoeapon to be pro-
cured, and "taro other friends" were to be selected
My hope to postpone the duel, under the pretex
of not being able to procure rifle in order to afford
Mr.. Clay other of your friends opportunity to
have you and Mr.. Cey both arrested through Col
Webb, by the civil authorities II with that view
that caused the last clause in The terms to be insert
ed hat | aHd he IaQtc laua in nv IN
Gen. Jones. TO form excuse for getting rifle
that night, went to bed about 10 o'clock, and
fast asleep when Mr.. Menefee awoke about 2
o'clock Saturday morning, and informed that Mr.
Crittenden had procured rifle for you from M
Rives, (the partner of Mr.. Blair in the Globe) In
the morning you had gone down TO the arsenal to try
the rifle before | you, and joined you and
Messrs. Crttenden, and Menefee and Halves there
You shot SO awkwardy that your friends determined
to delay the fight for you to practice but unfortunate
ly, the meeting fastened by finding return
the rife bullets, powder-Aask, &c, rendered, al
ready described in the published statement of Gen.
Jones and myself by the opposite party.
In the selection of the 'tlco other friends" urged
thai Mr.. Crt,enden should be of Them because
he would be most likely for conCiation and his age,
experience and standing would be the best authority
for any adjustment of the controversy; and he was
selected at my instance in preference to either MIR.
Calhoon Mr.. Halves Mr.. Menefee chosen
by yourself was directed by you to consult with
them, and to take no step without their advice and
consent And you directed us all three peremptoriy,
to accept no explanation or apology satisfactory
which did not admit in form your statement of
what Mr.. Ciley said to you in your first interview
with him. This your general instruction, and
given to US in consultation held before leaving the
city when also, Mr.. Crittenden proposed that he,
Mr. Meneee, and myself should determine, before
going on the ground the principles which we
should attempt to accommodate the matter in the
event of an Intellectual exchange of shots. His mo-
tive, he said, TO place the propositions of accom-
mediation in the most conciatory form and language
and to leave as little as possible to the hurry and mad
vertence of the moment the field. Each of us,
accordingly, wrote down what we thought should be
considered sufficient. Either Mr. Crittenden or MIR.
Menefee wrote this to wit:
"That in declining to receive from Mr.. Graves
the note from Col. Webb, MIR. Cilley not nfu-
enced by considerations affecting the honor of Col.
Webb"
The other wrote this, to wit:
eMr Cilley states that he did not decline receive
Colonel Webbs communication from MIR. Graves in
consequence of any personal exception to Col Webb
as gentleman man of honor"
The proposition which | wrote was this, to wit
.Cilley declined to receive the communication
! from Col Webb, at the hands of MIR. Graves, upon
the ground that he (Mr Cilley did not hold himself
answerable to Col Webb for words spoken in debate
on the floor of the House of Representatives"
| These, or any admissions similar to these were to
be deemed sufficient. They were written and handed
| to me as my Instructions.
AS to what occurred on the ground, the facts gen.
orally are already known and published. did no.
thing which was not approved by you and by both
| Mr.. Crttenden and Mr.. Menefee. | never used to
YOU any such expressions Graves shoot lower p
and in notifying General Jones that if the third shot
did not prove efectual would demand that the dis
lance should be shortened obeyed only your posi-
tive oredrs. l approved of the order, however, be-
cause you were unpractised riheman whilst MIR.
Cey was a good shot, and the further you were
placed apart the less chance you had of saving your
self by first hitting him, and the greater the chances
were in his favor, and the less equal was the fight
! had no knowledge or information, and believe
you had none, Of Col Webbs dispositions Intentions
or movements on the day of the duel. Had he gone
upon the ground, it was afterwards published in
the Courier s. Enquirer he intended, to interrupt Mr..
Cilley the meeting with you, he would have been
resisted to the extremity of life and death by you
and all your friends.
Such is the statement which wish you, in brief, to
confirm or to correct. My only object in obtaining
it from you before either of departs this life to
leave record earth to vindicate myself and all
others from the charge of nstgating you to the duel
with Mr. Cey. You are the best witness the nature
of the case admits of to prove dprove that charge
against any Of your friends. The mputaton is
cast upon me. | was your second, and have the
for the whole truth in my Defence convict or clear
whom it may.
| HENRY A. WISE
| WASHINGTON, February %, 1912.
| JAMES PHALEN & Co.. Managers Office, cor
ner of 9th ST. and Penn. av.