Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-09-12
MR.. CLAY UNDER BONDS TO KEEP THE


PEACE.
We understand that some Of our Democratic
orators, who are no doubt dear lovers Of the peace
and most zealously affected in the good cause of
preserving the public morals, have been using
The circumstance of Mr.. CLAWS being bound to
keep the peace in consequence Of difficulty he
had few years ago with the Hon. VIM. II.
KING of the Senate Of The United States, in a
way not warranted by the facts, and very well
calculated to injure him, where their statements
find credence.
ItwouId be quite a herculean task, We confess,
to hunt down and expose all the pallry ISLANDERS
and falsehoods with which MIR. CLAY is assailrd;
but nevertheless, when they come SO Immediately
In our way, we may be excused for Offering some
re'u'ation OF them. and especially as they now
constitute so large portion of ",he thunder" of
our opponents.
The charge made by some Of those orators in
their recent speeches, understand, is, that Mr..
Clay was put under bonds TO prevent his seeking q
Duel wiM The Hon. VIM. X. KING, of Alabama.
The following letter from the Hon. s. S. PHELPS.
U. >. Senator from Vermont, who was a witness
to the whole difference between Mr.. KING and
Mr.. CLAY, in the Senate, as well as the subse.
1
quent proceedings of the magistracy of Wash.
inglon city in regard to it, it will be seen put, a
complete extingusher upon that falsehood. MIR.
hiNG' and not Mr. CLAY. was the gentleman who
was expected to give the challenges; and Mr..
Clay was merely put under bonds TO prevent his
acceptance of it, in case Mr. King should violate
the rocognizance to keep the peace that had been
previously required of him by the Magis,racy
But we leave Mr.. PHELPS letter to speak for il.
self, with the single remark that people ought 70
be careful how they suffer the statements of ibdi.
Viduais to influence them, who take 80 little trou
bic to inform themselves of the facts:
MiDDLEBuRY, W., July %, 1871.
Dear Sir-The circumstances of the affair he
tween Mr.. Clay and Mr.. King, about which SC
much has been said, are briefly these:
In the course OF debate in the Senate upon
some SUBJECT do not remember what-the dis.
cussion assumed party character. Mr.. King, OF
Alabama, rose and proceeded to indulge in some
very pointed and harsh remarks ir relation 10 MIR
/ Clay. The precise tenor of these remarks can
not attempt TO relate, but they struck me al the
Time not only as departure from Mr. KING,
usual gentlemanly manner, but as unproyoked
ana uncalled Tor. So much so, indeed, as to OK.
cue In me suspicion that MIR. Kings eauanimity
had been disturbed by something Of which | was
ignorant. am confident that Mr. CLAY had in.
auiged IN no previous personality 10 provoke O,
justify the remarks of Mir. King
Alter MIR. King Sat down Mr.. CLAW rose eyi.
oehtiy much excited and responded. lie closed
what ne had to say with remark in substance
that the course Of Mr.. King was ungentlemanly
and cowardly.
upon hearing this expression Mr. King seized
MS pen and attempted to write something which
supposed must be challenge. He was how
ever too much excited to write. He threw down
the pen, and remarked tina, he would not r.nlv.
out intimated that he should notice the matter In
another way.
| This collision between these two gentlemen. of
course, excited much feeling, more especially as
challenge from MIR. King was expected on all
sides. O. " '''
| The magis,racy of the city, however, took the
natter In hand, and, with view TO prevent the
challenge, MIR. King was put under bonds to keen
the peace. And with view 10 prevent the ac-
ceptance Of it, should ono be given, Mr. Claw
was put under bonds also. Indeed it would have
been lnvidious to. place Mr.. X. in that position
without putting Mr.. &. in it also. No challenge
ever passed. Through the Intervention of friends
The difficulty was adjusted-a public explanation
took place in the Senate, and there matters ended
Nobody expected that Mr.. Clay would give a
challenge. 1t was expected from Mr.. King
Yet The locos have endeavoIed to throw the whole
odium upon Mr.. Clay.
Very respectfully yours,
s. S. PHELPS.