Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-09-05

land counties Pa. similar letter has beer
received in answer to one from this city, ii
which Mr. Clay repeats his denial of tho vile
SANDER concerning the CiIley Duel
ASHLAND, August !, 1914.
GENTLEMEN II duly received your letter
OF the 18th ul'imo, on the subject Of duelling,
and appreciate fully the friendly, pious and
patriotic motives which prompted you. to adj
dress me. Pernicious as the practice I'M
doubleday is, hope YOU viii. excuse me when
say that there are other questions, in our
public affairs, of much higher and of more
general Importance. The victims, or yo taries,
OF That practice are but few in number, ana
Dear no comparison with the immense number
oil sufferers from the rejection of wise mea-
sureS OF National policy, or the adoption of
those OF an opposite character .e ,...,,.-
expressed, IN strong terms of condemna-
h"n' my opinion against dhellng in letter
winch ] addressed to my constituents, in
March 1924, which is TO be found in the pub
ilsneu collection Of my speeches.--Again.
within few years past, gave evidence Of nv
strong disapprobation of it by voting, in the
Senate of the United States, for the bill for
ssuoppressing duelling in the District of Column
bia o.
WIN these proofs OF my sentiments, think.
gentlemen, you ought to be satisfied But
you ask me whether, if were challenged To
nght duel, would reject the invtationa
considering my age, which is now past 81, /
,eei 'hat should expose myself to rdicule If
! were 10 proclaim whether would or would
not fight duel. 1t is certainly one of the
most unlikely events that can possibly be
imagined, and / cannot conceive n case ~
winch ! should be provoked or tempted to
80 W me held OF combat.--But, as / cannot
iofesee all The contingencies which NAV pos
Sioiy arse, IN the short remnant of nv life
ahd Tor The reason which have alreadv sta
Yea, OIL avoiding any exposure of myself to
ridlcuie, cannot reconcile it TO nv sense of
proprety TO make declaration one w,v ~
the other
on have, gentlemen, done me some. but
moi iull justice, in respect to the affair of the
iamenied Cillev. When | first obtained anv
knowledge of his difficulty with Mr.. Graves.
ana not think that there was the smallest
occasion Tor combat between them. be-
iieveq1 from The first, that the matter would be
dli'0aoiy accommodated; TO that end all my
e"cruohs were directed: did not know that
IL was not accommodated until the day when.
and after The parties went out 10 6pht On
mat day was confined to my room, by ILL
ness, and 1t was altogether accidental that
obtained information as to the plan. or the
hour OF their meeting. Contrary to the inn
preston which you entertain, did advise the
of the police to arrest. the bar
Ties and TO prevent the duel The constables
accordingly went out in search of them, but
ike myself, being ignorant of the time and
place OF their meeting, they mis,ook the; route.
and failed in the accomplishment of the OBJ
Ject II you would read atlentively the whole
OF my correspondence with Mr. Wise, to
which you have referred, you will find that
IL susiains :he preceding statement
am, gentlemen, with great resnacf
Y our friend and obd' sery't.
=, ii. CLAY.
Messrs Alex. Plumer, VIM. Campbell. &r