Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-08-16

had no right To know the time and place OF the meeting o.
the parties. l only regretted my ignorance otit because,
II | had known II, | could have advised where the police
might have been directed to arrest the parties and prevent
the duel.
My belief is that | never saw the Terms according To which
the combat was 10 be conducted. prior To the duel, although
think they were stated and explained TO me, probably by
you. Mr.. King thinks they were shown or read by me to
him. Mr.. Johnson, who was present, does not aeree with him
in that particular, and my memory comedies with MIR. John
sons. But do not regard II rs Ut the least consequences.
had no hand in their PREPARATION. That was the work oil
one or both Of the seconds.
When, on the day preceding the duel, Mt. Graves, IN
company with you, came 10 my room, | was informed tina,
he had determined to challenge MIR. Cilley, and he showed
me the challenge which he had drawn. Upon reading it, |
thought IL closed the door TO accommodation, stated that OBJ
lection and sketchcd u draught in my own handwriting,
which would admit OF an amicable adjustment. For, from
my first knowledge Of the affair To the hour offs fatal tormi-
nation, believing that the difference ought TO be settled, |
chung to the hope Of friendly adjustment oft. What be-
came Of the sketch | drew 1 do not know. did not sec the
challenge which was actually transmitted. refer to the
statement in Mr.. Graves's letter on this branch oil the sub
ject, in which | entirely agree with him.
did not know that Mr.. Graves bore Il note from Colonel
Webb to Mr.. Cilley, until after the delivery of the note, and
after MIR. Graves received from him a verbal answer. In
that stage Of the transaction, for the FIRST time, MIR. Graves
communicated the matter TO me, and l congratulated him
on the fact of that answer being perfectly satisfactory, and
such MS to absolve him from all obligation to pursue the af-
fair further. This has probably escaped MIR. Graves recol-
lection, but / add 1t, as being within my own. Ga CONVEX
sing together, we both agreed that, To guard against future
misunderstanding and misrepresentation, it was desirable
that Mr.. Ciley 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 A.
rose between the parties as TO the terms or nature OF the ver-
bal answer, which terminated in the challenge.
have no recollection of having seen their corespon-
dence between the verbal answer and the challenge. IL
was not conducted under my advice. II any person asserts
that l saw 1t, | should be unwilling to contradict him, SO un-
certain is my memory about it. | have no doubt that if
| did not see II, | was informed of its purport at the time l
suggested n modification of the challenge.
Any communication which was made to me concerning
the affair, was received by me with regret. was sorry that
n w. hrnughHlf IN mo n ul. hnf MIR n n my friend
my colleague in Congress, and my messmate, and | could not
decline receiving from him any communication touching his
honor and interest, which he might think proper TO make.
And admit, without any reservation whatever, that ON all
the points OF the controversy respecting which he asked my
opinion, gave 1t 10 lam freely, according 10 the best OF my
judgment.
And now, having made such answert TO your note as think
becomes me, will add a few observations more.
In consequence OF n slight indispositon, | did not leave
my house during the day OF the duel. lnever saw the arms
with which the parties fought. Not having been on the
ground of combat, | cannot be held responsible for any of
the occurrences there.
have never Joined in any censure of you for the part you
bore in the conflict, or for your conduct previous to 1t, or on
the ground. On the contrary, | was glad thatthe honor and
life of my friend were under the care OF one that | regarded
so competent 10 gaurd both. | never hesitated To believe
that you served him with zeal and fidelity, without any de-
parture from the line OF honor tOwords ms lamented antago-
mist.
In the investigation in the House of Representatives
which ensued after the fatal catastrophe, no attempt was
made TO implicate me. None was made in the subsequent
publications under your signature, 10 which 1t gave rise
During all that time, and until recently, you stood in ami
cable relations 10 me. You have without any cause known
TO ne thought proper TO establish different and inimical re-
lations between us. Since this change, and during this
session of Congress, in the manner TO which | have already
adverted, for the firsttime within my knowledge, the attempt
has been made TO Tx the blame and responsibility OF the
duel upon me. Whether you have originated or been &c
cessory TO this attempt, your heart can best tell, and the pub
lie can best Judge.
| am, with proper respect and conside alton,
Your Cb't servant,
The Hon. II. A. WISE. II. CLAY.