The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-10

without any knowlsdee sft them early in the
ing, for the ist time apprehendsd that the meeting
was TO take place that day did not suppose that il
would OCCUR on that day. because. having understood
that Mr.. Graves bad mst with difficulty in getting
rife, did NOT know that be had obtained one kad
no right to know the time and place Of the meeting Of
the parties only regretted my Ignorance of ii be-
cause It bad known i, could have advised where
tho police might have been directed to arrest the par
ties and prevent the duel. et5 - 5
Ny belief is that never saw the terms according
to which the combat was to be conducted, prior to
the duel, although think they were stated and ex-
planned to me, probably BY you. MIR. King thinks
aney were shown or read by me to him. MIR. John.
son, who was present. docs not agree with him in that
particular, and my memory comedies with Mr. john
sons But do not regard it as of the least conse-
quence had no hand in their preparation. That
was the work of one or both of the seconds.
| When, on the day preceding the duel, Mr.. Graves,
in company with you, came to my room, was in
formed that he had determined to challenge Mr. Gil
ley, and he showed me the challenge which he had
drawn. Upon reading it, l thought, it closed the
door to all accommodation stated that objection and
sketched draught in my own handwriting which
| would admit of an amicable adjustment For, from
my first knowledge of the affair to the hour of its ia.
tai termination, believing that the difference ought to
be settled, chung to the hope Of friendly adjust
ment OF it. What became of the sketch drew do
not know. did not see the challenge which was
tually transmitted. ! refer to the statement in Mr.
Gravess letter this branch of the subject in which
entirely agree with him.
did not know that Mr. Graves bore note from
Colonel Webb to Mr.. Ciey, until after the delivery
of the note, and after Mr. Graves received from him
a verbal answer. In that stage of the transaction
for the first time, Mr. Graves communicated the mat
ter to me- and congratulated him the fact of that
answer being perfectly satisfactory, and such as to
absolve him from all obligation to pursue the affair
further. This has probably escaped Mr. Gravess re-
collection, but add it, as being within my On
conversing together both agreed that, to guard
against future misunderstanding and misrepresenta-
tion it was desirable that MIR. Cilley should put in
writing what he had verbally answered. That, Mr.
Graves said, he had no doubt would be readily DONE
But an unfortunate misunderstanding arose between
the parties to the terms nature of the verbal
| swer, which terminated in the challenge.
| have recollection of having their CORE
spondence between the verbal answer and the chal-
lenge. 1t was not conducted under my advice. If
any person asserts that saw it, should be mwll-
ing to contradict him, uncertain is my memory
about it. have doubt that, if did not see it,
was informed of its purport at the time suggested
modification of the challenge.
| Any communication which was made to me con-
corning the affair, was received by me with regret.
sorry that it was preached to at all but Mr.
| Graves was my friend my colleague in Congress, and
my messmate, and could not decline receiving from
him any communication touching his honor and inter-
est, which he might think proper to make. And
admit, without any reservation whatever that all
the points of the controversy respecting which he
asked my opinion, gave it to him freely according
to the best of my judgment
And now, having made such answer to your note
| as think becomes me, will add few observations
more.
In consequence of slight indispostion, 1 did not
leave my house during the day of the duel. never
saw the arms with which the parties fought Not
having been the ground of combat, cannot be
held responsible for any of the occurrence there.
have never Joined in any censure of you for the
part you bore in the conflict for your conduct pre-
vious to it, on the ground On the contrary, was
glad that the honor and life of my friend were under
the of that regarded so competent to guard
both. never hesitated to believe that you served
him with zeal and fidelity, without any departure
from the line Of honor towards his lamented antago-
MIST
In the investigation in the House Of Representa-
tves which ensued after the fatal catastrophe, no at
tempt was made to implicatc me. None was made in
the subsequent publications under your signature to
which it gave RISE During all that time and until
recently, you stood in amicable relations to me-
You have, without any cause known to me, thought
proper to establish different and inimcal relations
between us. Since this change, and during this
sior, of CensnAsa, in the which have al
ready adverted, for the first time within my know
ledge, the attempt has been made to fix the blame
| and responsibility of the duel upon me. Whether
you have originated been accessory to the attempt
your heart can best tell and the public can best
| judge.
| am, with proper respect and consideration,
| Your obedient servant,
H. CLAY
The Hon. HENRY A. WISE.
| 1.-THE following memorandum was made by Dr.
Linn
Received from Mr. Clay in the morning March
1st l042, and handed to Mr. Wise on the ed of
March. l.. F. LINN."1
| This letter of Mr.. Clay proves
| LIST. That he 1oas consulted with by Mr.. Graves,
after he bore the note Of Webb and before Mr. Graves
addressed his first letter to Mr.. Cley
| D. That he advised as have stated that Mr.. Gil
leys verbal answer satisfactory and "such to
absolve Mr. Graves from all obligation to pursue the
affair further"
3d. That he advised Mr.. Graves shat to guard
against future misunderstanding and msrepresenta-
ton, it desirable that Mr.. Cley should put il.
1oriting what he had verbally answered.
4th That Mr.. Graves was his friend, his colleague
in Congress, and his messmate that he could not de-
cline communing With him on point of his honor
and interest; and that all the points of the con-
troversy respecting which Mr. Graves asked his OPT
MON, he gave it to him freely according to the best Of
his judgment.
9Th. That he sketched the draught of challenge
for him Mr.. Graves) in his Mr.. Cluys) own hand
writing, (which would admit of an amicable adjust
ment."
9Th That the terms Of the duel were stated and ex
planned to him, Mr.. Cay,) probably by me.
7th. He was informed of the purport of the cores
pondence, if he did not see it and he does not say
positively that he did not see it.
9Th. He knew that Mr.. Graves had met with diff
Guilty in getting rifle though he was not informed of
either time place of the meeting
9th. He concurs with the statements Of Charles
King and R. Johnson, which say that he could do no
more than adpise them to inform the civil authorities
because too much in the confidence of Mr.
Graves to do SO himself
And here, upon this first error of Mr. Gravess let
ter, l rest the testimony of this one witness.
Error O." Now, although you, Mr. Crittenden,
Mr.. Menefee, and myself, were boarding together,