Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-03-29
WISE AND CLAY-THE MURDER
.,.... OF CILLEY, sa
From the National fntellieer

WISE AND DHCLA1-FHE MURDEK
.E ,rl.. OF CILLEY. ,
From the National intelligence.
The following papers have been placed
in our hands by the Hon. Mr.. Wise, with
a request to give them place in our col
umns: -5t
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 1882.
Dear Sir: John @. Adams having late
1y declared in his place, in the House OF
Representatives, that he "neVer did be-
lieve but what was the guilty man" in
your duel "with MI. CiIley,o and that
the, man who pulled the trigger was but
an instrument in my hands; and an arii-
Gle in the "Weekly Courier and N. York
Enquirer, edited by James. W. Webb, Ol
the 18th inst.," having charged me and
my ''associates" with deceivirg Mr.. Clay
as to the time of your meeting; and haV-
ing charged, also, that the place ofmeet-
ing was changed at my suggestion, and
that but for such deception Of Mr.. Clay,
no hostile meeting could have taken
place between you and Mr.. Cilley at all
had prepared the subjolned statement
to be submitted TO you for confirmation
or correction. Na .,
Your letter in this mornings Intelligen
Ger, dated Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. l6,
1912, addressed TO the Hon. Henry Clay
cOmpels me now TO submit my statement
TO You through the public print which
contains your letter. t.
This do; First, That no suspicion may
rest upon me at least of getting,such an
swers as | want before publishing them.
Secondly, to correct your own letter,
Thirdly, TO correct the Misrepresentation
ofJames Watson Webb in the Courier
aud Enquirer. And, FOurthly, to vindi-
cate myself forever from the imputatiOn
that ever instigaled you either to chal-
lenge or to fight MIR. Cilley. ~.
lnthe FIRST place, your letter is mac
Curate in this, TO wit: a
lst. You say: "From the commence
tnent of the difficulty between Mr.. Cilley
and myself, up to the time ] sent him the
challenge, do not Fecollect that men
toned tito you. (Mr. ClaE) "Or to any
other colleague or friend, except Mr..
Menefee and Mr.. Wise" This you state
as your recollection merely. Now, ],
beg to refresh your recollection a lit
tie. ,.ssn. .sa
In your statement before the select
committee Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes on the duel, you first described the
verbal interview, between you and Col.
Webb, when he requested you to bear
his note; you then described the inter,
view between you and Mr.. Cilley, when
he declined 10 receive the note Of Col /.
Webb, and assigned bis reasons for so do.
ting. You add :,"Thsn / consulted friends" ."
They agreed with you That Mr.. Cilley's
reasons were satisfactory. You then saw
Mr.. Cilley again, and you say: 'We went
behind the Speakers chair, and ] remark
ed to MIN thai, on, consolidation with
friends" ,"&5c., you we're happy to inform
him that his reasons we're deemed so sat-
isfactoty as TO relieve you from all re-
sponsibility, He expressed his pleasure
at the information, and you say; 81 then
remarked, as be and Ihad been alone in
all our interviews, il was desirable that he
should reduce 10 writing the reasons thus
assigned for declining to receive the com
munication,n ii. ..g,.
Mark that this happened, Of course
before YOU wrote your FIRST letter 70 him
Now, | ask you: Who advised you "tha'
he should reduce to writing the reasons
thus assigned for declining 10 receive th'
communication" o,. '-i...
Whoever il was, it certainly was not !
for a | slate below, | insisted that you
should not require Mr.. Cilley to put hi
reasons IN writing. Il could not hav'
been Mt. Menefee alene, for he alone wa
not "frieBds5"I veFbeard him say,
yoI say, thai he gave such advice. Whe
debating with you as did pointedly
whether that was your proper courses an
whilst prsing you simply 70 state in lei
teEto CpL Webb what Mr., Cilley said I
you verbally, leaving Mr. Cilley 10 den
u i he chose rot neEsF quoted any oil
2! authority against ny opinion but tbs
Of Mr; Clay, with whom you informed m
you advised on that ahd on olheEs poipt
and whose sdvice you followed Il Pfste