The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-08-05
Clay ODd DueIIing.

Mr. Clay's enemies will never cease 10 Islander
and abnse him Convicted rs they have been Of
gross misrepresentation in their charges against him
in respect To The Ciiley duel, yet they not 10
Cepeat them, and it is their plan Cor tho campaign
personally to abuse NTr Clay and the Wings, ii is
10 be supposed that they will ever cease do so.
In earlier life MIR Clay wns, hy the wicked custom
Of the South, led to engage in duels, yet he ne,
yer injured any one in either. Tho last
30 years ago, and he has since refused fight even
when challenged, and has publicly confessed his
G,nlt and denounced the sinful custom. lie has done
more than this During his last term of service in
the U. S. Senate, bill was introduced designed to
prohibit ducing by law, and he not only spoke in ia
por of the passage ofMe bin, amt in screrc terms
deprecated dpeling 6ut roiod Ior The bW, amt
passed, and IL is now lar. Can any clearer cyi-
dence be required than this, of mans repentance
lie repened, and forsook tho practice and for long
series Of years has shown his repentance he sin
10 not tho dealings of the great moral
Governor of the Universe with sinners teach us TO for
give upon repentance As well might we cnll man
STAKEHOLDER who liberated his slaves 30 years ago,
OF tina, mau 4 drunkard who got drunk 20 years ago
and has since lived a sober lifc to call Henry
Clsy duqllist.
But 10 roiurn. During Mr. Clay's last term OF ser
vice in the Senate, MIR King locofoco Senator, took
occasion TO compare Mr. Clay to Blair in most in
suting manner, and MIR Clay replied and severely
buked the insult. Ihereupon King according to the
iocoroco accounts, challenged Mr. Clay What did
Mr. Clay do? Did hn accept the challenge? NO
He took notice oft. Mr. Kings friends immed-
atey caused him 10 DO put under bonds to keep tho
peace towards Mr. Clay, and Mr. Clay, as recipro-
eau act Of courtesy consented, at The drsre of his
friends, TO give bonds also in accordance with and
under the law 10 prohibit dueIIing which he advocated
and voted for. Did he not here, in declining TO ac-
capt the challenge, and i'll complying with the law
show good fruits Of repentance? And is lac TO be
blamed for being challenged, as his enemies say he
was, by Southern hot-spur Is he not rather 10 he
commended for refusing 10 fight when challenged and
obeying the aw' Every just man will answer, yes.
BUT the Cilley duel is brought up. We'll, what
did Mr. Clay do in this matter! He sought by every
means that he deemed proper have that duel avoi-
ded and gave such advice when consulted by Graves
as he supposed would lead TO settlement Of the diff
Guilty, and which he supposed had done till he
heard the parties had gone out Ggh; and when he
heard that he caused the matter be made known
he Marshal of the District, and started with him and
eihers to arrest its progress, though unfortunately too
date. Apd his course in seeking to have the matter
between Cilley and Graves pcaceabIy settled was
such as to meet the commentator OF tho venerable
S9hp @. Adams, who knew what his course was But
I'VE are not eonfncd to Mr. Adams opinion alone in
the matter to exculpate Mr. Clay. Mr. CIay's enc
mics nsnuated some time since that he abeited
Graves in tho affair. Upon Graves learning .his he
wrote aleter 10 Mr. Clay detaug.hc transaction and
said as .f1ilqwe:
.''From the commencement OF the difficulty between
Mr. Cilley and myself, mp to the time sent him the
challenge, do not recolect thai mentioned it to
you any other colleague or friend, except Mr. Men
ifee and Mr. Wise.
Il is utterly untrue that you ever exhibited to me
any wish that the Iaae'ing should take place. be-
lieve had no lrientiHm Washington who more re-
GREETED it. recollect after the affair, when we met