Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-03-21
na0lcarF BrEp, RUssExx %, AKA.
March 9TH. l64l.
nv DKAR-Sm:

ceutio5 n Mr. Clay, Il Columbus, on the lit
II very much regret that the necessity for
eb,rt. hut urgent visit to Texas, will compe
} me 10 leave homo. for New Orleans,on The ST
inst. | shall, therefore, have to deny myee
the sincere qualification which their Invitation
30 acceptably promises.
You do me no more than justice in supposml
that the very high estimate which have Ion!
since formed of Mr.. Calhoun's eminent quaiii
cations for the government OF this country
should in no degree interfere with my coscia
disposition TO do honor to the distinguished IN
div dual who il about 10 visit you.
II IA true. that however much l may hav'
differed with Mr.. Calhoun on q mere financla
question. which at one time more materially al
i vided the country than at present. yet nave
always recognized In his s4mirable genius
consumate ability and acknowledged mora
| worth, thoee resources kr high public serves
which IN any station Wo, d confer security ana
reRown on his eOuuEy. But it seems tia
the usual organs Of tie party 70 which he u
supposed to belong, whether aHer0dfed or not
have 90 far pronounced different judgme1'
as probably TO postpne hss Claims IN favor o
| another distinguished os~dldate; and certainly
according to al the bkeDs Of party orGAni1a-
/ ton it appC aEs that ne baltimore C0Dventios
will perform no Othes Office but to register ~
edict which has already gone firth and thai
ike Maelxel's cejebTated antomaeon TFun2 Pc
| ter, this cnrlous pioce at m cAAnism has been
specially wound up to e0Yad part 6cuiar note
| Whether this note will be IN accord with the
sentiment OF the people OF the United States
remains to be teen.
NV own bosom testiies to tie truth Of q
| remark that you AUST justly make. in the tet-
| ter you Lave done nae the honor to address rae,
that the preference which, have expressed <er
nv distinguished fellow eountr!mAn. Mr.. Cat
houn 10 in no degree &c consistent with the per-
sonaI friendship entertain for ME. ClAv, or Of
the just Appreciation which have formed Of
his ability and patriotism, duTiag q service fos
several years with him. in the Congress Of the
United States; often in al existed opposition,
in which we are best able T. estimate the
worth and power Of those with whom We may
be associated
became acquainted with Mr.. Clay in the
session Of 1898, when he fillei the clair Of
Speaker ofIhe House of Representatives. Al.
though ct that tiu1o Yong member. YET
through his kindness aud psrtialty. was pla.
ced at the cad Of one Of As Inducatial CON-
m'ttecs. Our acquaintance npened into the
strongest social intimacy, which continued
without abatement, un'l the fOrTa alton Of that
great party which was Constituted 10 effect
the election Of Gen. jackson 70 the Presiden-
cy ofthc United States. II 10 known to YOU
we took different sides. Ifelt myself, in The
angry contest which marked that great public
CONFUSION gradually separated from him. AZ
though l never INDUCED IL the smallest per-
soma: abuse and denunciatian OF this gentleman
which would have been se utterly iHconsis-
tent with our former relatOas-yet, after the
election OF Mr.. Adams TO the Presidency, was
IN tn habit of passing Mr.. Clay, in the streets
OF Washington. without even distant Fecog-
nltion--for had then the folly to regard al
opponent OF Gen. Jackson almost 90 Q pubic
enemy OF the country. Such 10 the madness
OF party! These relations continued until
was sdmmoned by MIR. Randolph to attend
him to the held.un6er Mr.. Gays challenge, in
consequence Of the fragrant insuf which he
had offered him in the Senate ct the United
States. IN conjunction with your lamentedhnd
gallant fellow countryman, Col. TatnaH, at
that time member of the House Of Repre-
sentative from Georgia. There are some eir-
cumstanceS connected with this duel which
have never been made public, which, 40 they
are honorable both TO the living and 10 the
dead, hope / may be pardoned in relating, /
do not think they will render Mr. Clay6 re.
cePt,on less cordial and enthusiastic, among q
peoPss Who nthey cherish romantic, and rs
tney are caEed false notions Of honor are at
! ne same tiaae alive 70 the testimonies Of a
gallant generous and feeling spirit.
The night before the duel. Mr. Randolph
sent iOr me m the evening: found him calm
out IN singuiafly kind md co afidIug mood.
Hetoad me that be had something on nm mind
to tell me. He then remarked. an milton.
nave determined TO receive, swift bout return.
ing Clay. are; no hing shah induce me to
harm q hair ofh;s head: will not make his
VIE WIDOW or his chi dren orphans. Their
tears would be shed over his grave, bat when
the cod OF Virginia rests on my bosom. there
Ii not. IN this wide world. one individual to
pay THIS tribute upOn mine" His eyes filed, |
and resting his head upon his hand, we re-.
NAMED some moments silent. replied, "my !
nous frlencshHns bequeatlcd BY our mothers. |
II deeply regret thai you have mentioned this |
subject to me. for youcall upon me to 90 to |
the neld and to see you shot down, or to as
SuDe the rcspon >Ibl!ity, IN regard to your own |
ire, IN sustaining your determination to throw
i away. But on this subject a mans own con- |
science and his own bosom are hieFhest mon.
to:s will not advise bnt nnd,.r his enor.
nous and unProvoked personal result YOU have
oHered MT. Clay, l cannet dissuado. feel |
0ouhd' however. to communicate to Col. TAFT.
nan your decar'tn. lie begged me not to do |
~ ana sa'd. "he was very much afraid that /
= ~N-'1" "NNtN SdAC etbC Sbu0S ana f21tlSG to
out with him." however souobt CoI. Tet
1al, and we repaired. about midnight, to Mr.
kandolpAs lodgings whom we found reading
great Poem. For some moments he
'io ua permit Us to say one word in relation
Q the approaching duel; and he at once COM
1enced one Of those delightful criticisms. ~,
'assage OF this Poet, in which he was wont M /
to indulge. After = narse
>oi. lastnal4remarked, "Mr. Randolph. I am
old you have determined not to return NJ
Jays ire; must say to you my dear sir. III i
n only to go out to see you shot down. von
must ind some other friend" MIR. RandoIDb h
emarked that il was his determination.-After
1uch conversation on the subject, / induced
:o'.. Tattnail to allow mir. Randolph 10 take
= own course. as his withdrawal, as one ofbis
'ends' might lead to very injurious miscon.
lructlons: At last. MIR. Randolph, smilino. ,
and. swell Tatnall promise you one thing + !
see the devil IN Ciay's eye, and that with ma.
ce prepense ne means to take my life. INV !
mango my mind" Aremark knew he NEE :
made to propit'ate the anxieties of his !
r. L