The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-08


was the nstigator and adviser in the duel betwene
Mr.. Graves and Mr.. Cilley
"Neyer was greater injustice done to public man
than in the insinuations made by Mr.. se, aud IN
the attempts OF certain papers TO induce The Deiei
that those destinations are well founded Mr. WISE
knows, beyond all peradventure that II he and his as
sociates had not deceived Mr.. Clay and made nm
believe that the meeting was postponed till the day
after that which it actually took place, the cvii
authorities, at the nstigation of Mr. Clay, wouid
have interfered and prevented it. He knows, TOO,
that if the place of meeting had not been changed a.
his suggestion the duel between Graves ana Sihoy
could have taken place and under no cilcuni.
stances could Mr.. Graves and Mr. Ciiiey nave haa q
hostile meeting if Mr. Clay had not been neceNou 10
to the time fixed upon for that meeting .,.
"We know that very recentiy-since inc un"m-
ranted insinuation by Mr. Wise-he Jaets IN reisloh
to this matter have been put upon record, ana 'le
written testimony of two gentlemen OF uhiniPeacheu
and nnimpeachable character adduced to prove that
they al he ,,stigation of Henry Clay actually took
measures 10 procure the interference OF the civil au-
thory for the purpose OF preventing the meeting De-
tween Mr.. Graves and MIR. Ciliey mat testimony
has as we know, been transmitted to Mr.. Clay; and
our object in abiding to this subject to call upon
that distinguished gentleman to give publicity to the
testimony we refer to, as an act OF justice to his
friends. We well aware, that IN the conscious
ness of his innocence of the vile insinuatons against
him. he may deem il 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 are the common pro-
perty 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 yo-
UNFAIRLY placed at his disposal for the purpose oil de-
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 at presents but 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.
temen whose testimony will admit OF no question
90 Mr.. Graves then determined on challenge,
and having written it, he called on MIR. Clay, and
while with him he showed the challenge. This was
the first that MIR. Clay knew of any intention oil the
duel Mr.. c. pointed out to MIR. Graves the total
departure from etiquette OF such matters IN ms note
and at the solicitation Of MIR. q. penned one in
less offensive form--one that would admit OF an ex-
planation and thus allow of settlement. This note
was perhaps not copied, but was signed by Mr..
Graves and sent.
aNIr Clay had nothing further to do with the mat
ter 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 Mr.. Clay wheth-
er something could not be done to prevent the meet
ing And our impression at this moment IS that Coi.
X. gave Mr.. c. the first intimation that the meeting
was to take place that day. MIR. Clay advised
Col. X to go at once to General Mercer and to Mr..
F. Key and to persuade them to have the police out
upon all routes which the parties would be liable to
take MIR 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 obscure
road that passed unnotced out OF the city
"'Whether Mr. Wise was informed OF all these
facts do not know if he was he will, OF course,
be made to feel the improperly Of such nsnuations
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
are correct: if they are incorrect in any way, we
shall hasten to correct our statement.
'sNNe have nothing to say in favor OF dues or du
elling. We are publicly and privately opposed to
them, and have not failed at suitable times so to
press ourselves. But others entertain different
opinion is evident from their practices, and when
they shrink away from the consequences of partci-
patton, and seek to save 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 MIR. Wses insinuation Ger
tainly MIR. Clay will not. But our readers may de-
sire to 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 APP
pealng to Mr.. Clay to publish certificates and speak
ing knowingly of certificates sent by gentlemen to
Mr. Clay he himself published in the Intelligencer Of
the 25th ultimo, letter from Mr.. Graves and the
certificates of Charles King and Reverdy Johnson,
evidently those alluded to in Webb's artice,) 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 as the charges
against me, which now vouched by the man
webb who really did cause 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 error in the recollection of Mr. Graves
to wit That he was not consulted by Mr. Graves be-
fore the moment Of the challenge on Friday the 23d.
He himself says that he advised Nh Graves 10 get
Mr. Cey to put his verbal in ,c,itng before the
former addressed the latter his first letter in the cor
respondence. Had Mr.. Clay, when he published this
letter of Mr. Graves corrected this alone there
would have been no necessity for me to address him
or again to address the public on this sore subject
But upon the appearance OF this letter without such
correction, or note or comment to Intimate even that
il was incorrect, | Immediately addressed to Mr..
Graves the letter and statement which was published
in the ntelligencer of the 18th ultimo and address
sed Mr. Clay and others, the subjoined letters will
show Without waiting for an answer from MIR.
Graves, give them to the public complete proofs
themselves.
In conclusion | must add, in relation to the first
part of Mi Cays letter to me- that the spirit of an
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 dishonorable conduct which
he imputes to me by inuendo. Conscious of never
having wronged him, could, without favor, boldly 60
to him for common justice and for truth. will
make such disavowal or explanation as that which
he does ask, but seems to say would be just but
/ will cheerfully do what, to generous spirit and
good heart should be much more acceptable; | will
declare that accused him to any being earth
of instigdting the duet between Graves and Cilley
and stood by in silence whilst others accused
him of doing; and had or others accused him,
the ACQUISITION so far as | know and believe would
have been false. He, nor l. nor any whom
know, was guilty Of such crime, or any offence like
it. have said that Mr.. Graves sought his advice at
the very beginning of his correspondence with Mr..