The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-05-23
This is strong evidence of the handi-
work of Clay in that bloody affair.
HENRY CLAY'S DWELLING PRO-
PENSITIES.

ley murder, is more bloody and disgrace
full to him than that of either of the many
duels in which he has been engage d.
{ The facts in relation to that dark ant
most infamous deed are fresh in the mind.
of most of our readers. They are briefly
these, as given by Mr. Clay and his friend:
at the time.
MIR Graves of Kentucky was the bear.
err of challenge from James Watson
Webb to MIR Cilley, which the latter de.
clined to receive. Mr. Cilley stated YER.
bally that he declined to accept chal-
lenge from such man, and his reasons
were entirely satisfactory to Mr. Graves.
But Mr. Clay was unwilling the matter
should so pass off, and advised Graves to
demand that the reasons should be re-
duced to writing. and he must state that
James Watson Webb was a gentleman.
This he could not do with truth, and for
not admitting a falsehood, Mr. Graves,
under the Amusement of Mr. Clay, chal.
lenged and killed him.
Mr. Clay in his letter to Henry A. Wise
dated February 28th, 1912, says-"on
communing together, we both Graves
and Clay agreed that Mr.. Cilley should
put in writing what he verbally answer
ed"
Mr.. Graves accordingly re-opencd the
matter, demanded written statement,
and that Mr.. Webb was gentleman.
On it being refused, he again consulted
Mr.. Clay, who tells US the result in his
letter to Mr. Wise. We extract from
Mr. Clay's letter:
"When on the day preceding the Duel
MIR Graves in company with you, came
to my room, was informed that he had
determined to challenge Mr. Cilley, and
he showed me the challenge which he
had drawn. Upon reading it, Thought
it closed the door to all accommodation,
stated that objection and sketchd a
draugM in my oca handwriting which
would admit of and amicablc adjustment. !"
Let US now see what this draught,
"sketchcd" by this old man, then past
sixty years of age, was. Let us see this
pcac c-making episte and advice to two
young men, Mr.. Cilley being scarcely 80
years of age. Here is Mr.. Clay's
"draught":
WAs"'"erov City, Feb. 90, 1888.
Hon. ]. Ciley;
AS you have declined accepting n com.
mnnicallon which bore to you from Col.
Webb, and as by your note of yesterday,
you have declined on grounds which would
eyhoneraic me from all responsibility grow
ing ont this affair, am left no other al
Tentative but to ask that satisfaction which
is recognised among gentlemen. My friend
Hon. Henry A. Wise, is authorized by
me to make the arrangements suitable to
the OCCASION Your obcdient servant.
w. J. GRAVES.
Here was Mr. Clay's advice, Here is
the letter skctched in his own hand writ
ing. Here is the letter that led to as
cold bloodcd a murder as was ever com
mittcd, written by Henry Clay.
Young Cilley was goadcd aud driven
to this duel. He declined to accept
challenge from Webb. He stated to Mr.
Graves that he meant no disrespcct to
him, and Mr. Graves was satisfied till he
saw and consulted Mr. Clay. After Mr.
C,lleys death, the two seconds, Messrs
Wise and Jones, published statement
by which it appeared that when driven fl
nally to accept of Graves challenge,
written by Clay, he again disavowed all
disrespcct to Graves. These gentle
men, Mcssrs Wise and Jones, state that
Mr. Jones said to Mr. Wise on seeing the
challenge that he was authorized by Mr.
Cilley to say that in declining to receive
the note from Mr. Graves, purporting to
be from Col. Webb, he meant no dlsre-
spect to Mr. Graves, because he enter
tained for him then, as he does now, the
highest respect and most kind feelings;
but that he declined to receive the note
because he chose not to be drawn into any
controversy with Col Webb"
Yet after this second dsavowal of any
disrcspect to Mr. Graves did Mr. Clay
push on this duel to a fatal termination,
and on his head rests the blood of the
murdered Cilley.
Other men, friends Of Mr. Clay, having
heard of the anticipated duel, exerted
themselves to prevent it. Reverdy John
son of Baltimore, and Charles King of
New York, made written statements
They called on Mr. Clay and besought
him to interfere to prevent it. Mr. John
son says, "At neither interview were we
shown the written challenge and accept
ance, or the terms of the duel, bnt Ind
them enpiaincdfo as only by MIR CLAY"
What precious example have we here
for the youth of our country. Henry Clay,
more than 60 years Of age, accessory to
and advising TO duel-urging it on after
the difficulties had been settled to the sat.
isfac,ion of all parties.
In The words of another, from whom we
derive many Of the arrangements of the
facis-"By MIR Clay's own evidence, there
fore, i, appears that he advised the written
correspondence, which led TO the duel;
that he drew the challenge; and that he
knew the terms on which they were TO
fight"
With utter hearilessness Mr. Clay saws
a r