The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-05-09

applied personally to him. 49,. ...n
''Mr Randolph was attended by COL Tatnall, ofGeo
gia, and Major Hamilton OF South Carolina. Mr.. Clay
by Gen. Jessup Of the Army, and Mr. johnson of Lou
sana.
"The parties met on the ground saluta-
tons, and took their stations.
"The Pistol Of Mr.. Randolph which was suspended
by his side went off, 1t was perceived TO be an acci
dent, and so pronounced by Mr.. Clay; Immediately
however upon the report OF the Pistol Mr. R. turned to
Col T. and said "I told you So" Col T. then turning
to Gen. ]. Observed "Sir, the fault ismineMr R. pro-
tested against the use of the hair trigger at my
express instance the hair was sprung" Another pistol
was handed to Mr. R. The parties resumed their sta
ions and exchanged shots without effect
Immediately after the report of the pistols while Col
T. and Gen. J. were reloading Col Benton of Mo. rode
up, and united with Mr. johnson and Col Hamilton in
an effort to stop the affair, which proved Intellectual
The parties again took their saticns and the word be-
ing given, Mr. Clay raised his pistol and fired and the
ball passed through Mr. RS clothes Mr. R. reserved
his fre--hoding his pistol perpendculAy up-said "I
do not fire at you Mr. Clay and discharged his pistol in
the air He added, 'it was not my intention to have
fired at you at ALL the unfortunate circumstance of my
pistol going Of accidentally, changed my determination
At this instant Col Benton came up and said eyes,
Mr. R. tolk me so expressly days ago." The parties
simultaneously approached towards each oter, both
with extended hands---Mr. R. remarking, "Sir, give
you my hand" which was received by Mr.. Clay; and
the affair thus happily closed"
Mn.-But look here; Mr.. Clay's Bographer in his
Appendix, page 292, notices this duel and says Mr..
Clay "regets this incident" He gives extract from
Mr.. Clays address to his fellow citizens after the
duel, in which he says-"I owe it 10 the community to
say that whatever heretofore may have done, or by
inevitable circusmances maybe forced to do no man
holds in deeper adherence than do perncious prac
tice of duelling Condemned it must be- by the judg
ment and philosophy to say nothing of the religion of
every thinking man. it is an affair of feeling, about
which we cannot although we should reason. The true
corrective will be found when all shall unite, as all
ought TO unite, in its unqualified prescription"
Deal had observed that passage and reflected upon
| it. | will endeavor to give the views it suggests
1. To kill in Duel is MURDER by the laws of
God and man.
O. According to Mr.. Clay's reasoning murder of this
sort is to be excused because is aL affair Of feeling
Otherwise he is without excuse.
g. All malicicious murder is ian affair of feeling"
and is excusable on the same ground +..
4. How can all unite sin its unqualified proscrip-
tion" when men like Mr. Clay, whom society recogni
zes as its leaders, apologize for the crime and persist in
committing itl
s. Sofar from promising reformation in this address,
Mr. Clay, avows that he "may be forced" to fight a.
gain. What is his "deeper adherence" worth his avow
al on his lips?
G. Is it not the surest way to arrive at that "unqual-
fied prescription" which Mr. Clay says is 'qhe true
corrective for "a' to "aatite in the unqualified pro.
riptron" from the high oficesof the country, Of all
who are guilty of this awful crime? ..
Mn-I believe the blood of no murdered man is up
on Mr. Clay's head.
Deal am not certain of that Butbe that as it may,
it no apology for Mr. Clay that he did not succeed in
his murderous design. The reason why the blood OF
Randolph does not rest on his head is thus lightly given
by his Biographer Pages 299-3OO viz. "In due time
the parties fired and luckily for both OF them, or at least
for Mr.. Clay, Mr. Randolph's life was saved by his
gown The unseemingly garment constituted such a
vast circumference that the locality OF "the thin and
swarhy Senator was at least matter of very vague
conjecture MIR. G. might as well have fired into the
outspread top OF an oak in the hope of hitting bird he
supposed to be snugly perched somewhere among the
branches His ball hit the centre Of The oish Object but
Randolph was not thereand OF course the shot did no
harm and no good"
This shows that fthe blood OF Randolph does not
rest on Mr. Clays head it is not for lack of malice or of
deadly aim. .....
Min-But you say you are not sure that the blood
of the murdered does not rest on Mr. Cay's head What
did you refer to? ..... ........ ....
Dea.-To the murder of Mr. Cilley in 1887.
Mn-Why, Mr. Clay had nothing to do with that
Dco-.You are greatly mistaken. He was MIR Graves
adviser from the beginning until he went out to fight
and was clearly an aecoApice in the murder.
Min-What authority have you for tha2
Dea-The authority of Mr.. Clays particular friends
and of Mr. Clay himself. You may remember that Mr.
Graves ofKentucky was the bearer of Challenge from
James Watson Webb to Mr. Cilley for words spoken
in Debate. Mr. Cilley verbally declined accepting the
chalange for reasons which were entirely satisfactory
TO Mr.. Graves But upon consultation with Mr.. Clay
it was determined to require Mr. Ciley to put his rea
sons in writing and to state among other things that he
considered James Watson Webb gentleman This
he refused to do because he could not in conscience and
for not admitting that 10 be true reh he kneo to be false
Mr. Graves challenged and killed him. And this he did
under the advice of Henry Clay as shall show.
Heris letter from Mr.. Clay to Henry A. Wise da-
ted Feb 28 1912, in which Mr.. Clay says:
"Idd not know that Mr.. Graves bore note from
COL Webb to Mr. Ciley until after the delivery of the
note and after Mr. Graves received from him verbal
a.Is,te ofI Iha tranc ontiO foP frc.l