Litchfield enquirer., 1844-08-29
MIR. CLAY AND THE c1LLEY DUEL.

MIR. CLAY AND THE CILLEY DUEL.
 Never, says the Courant was man more unjust. lv abused and sandered, than Mir. Clay ias been by the loco press for the part he took in the unfortu
 nate duel between MesSrs. Graves and Cilley. His conduct in that afairwas emirently that of peace maker-he made repeated attempts to atay the shedding of blood-and yet his opponents, knowing all this, are continually representing him as the prime mover of the affair, and holding him up be- fore the public as stained with the blood of MT. Cilley. Is not the malgnity manifested by the lo co papers in this matter more in the character of demons than of men Does it not show their recklessness and utter disregard of truth? The facts abuadantly show that the death of Mr. Ciley stands charged to those who were his advisers and that if Mir. Clay could have prevented it no dael would have taken place. At late whg meeting in Rochester, Mir Charles King, editor the New York American, who was in Washington at the time of the duel, and was acquainted with all the circumstances in relation to it made the following statement The reader will see, that instead of be- ing censured, Mr. Clay should receive the thanks of every lover of law and right for his efforts to bring about reconciliation between the parties.
 Mir. King related several facts, in connection with the Cilley duel which deserve repetition MT. K. was in Washington at the time. He dined with MT. Graves on the day the challenge was sent to Cilley; and the moment he learned the fact he, with friend, proceeded to MT. Clays lodgings to prevent, if possible, the meeting. MT. Clay heart fly seconded the plans proposed to avert the duel, but before any project was determined upon for that purpose MT. Graves came in, and remarked that any interference on their part would be received unkindly by him. MT. c. exhibited the challenge, as 1t had been written, to Mir. Clay. Mir. c. obec- ted to its phraseology, the ground that it a6or- ded TO opporiunityfor reconciliation. This, he insisted, should be done; and wrote with his own hand another note, which was so drawn, that Mir. Cilley might, aUih honor, make an explanation, und preuent Me fatal meeting.
 This note, thus modified for its peaceful purpose, was sent to Mr. Cilley; but he did not avail him. self of the escape which had been purposey placed before him. He had bloody minded advisers about him, and they compelled him to accept the chal- lenge They also advised him to choose the rife as the weapon with which the duel should be fought. There were two reasons for this; it was a weapon with which Cilley acquainted. and he was the best shot in Washington Graves knew nothing about it. In order to effect his purpose more certainly, Dr. Duncan accompanied Cilley, for practice in the afternoon preceding the duel, and an sir shots, Ciey cut dOBn e sapling at 80 pGces
 Mir. King remarked that when he learned that the challenge had been accepted, and rifles seec- ted as the weapons, hilnself with Mir. Clay, deter mined il possible to prevent Mr. Graves from being able to obtain a rife, and they had succeeded as they supposed but after they retired, Dr. Duncan, who acted as one of Clley's friends tauntingy sent his rifle to Mir. Graves, with the message that no time need be lost for want of rifle Of this mes- sage Mr King and MT. Clay were entirely ignorant. They had retired with the conviction that the meeting could not take place at the time designated
 Between and o'clock, however, next morning, co1la1 on and infornnad that MeaS,s Graves and CIley with their friends had gone out Mir. K immediately proceeded to MT. Clays lodgings, called him up, and after few moments consulta- 'tion, Mir, Clay suggested the names of two gentle men who would aid efficiently in arresting the duel-namely: Gen. Fenton Mercer, then mem- Der of Congress from Virginia, and Mr. Mickey who was the District Attorney. Mir. Johnson and my self proceeded in all haste, to Gen. Merceris and found him earnestly disposed to interfere. He said five could trace the route of the parties, he would himself go before the magistrate either in Virginia ~or Maryland as the case might be, supposing the parties would not fight in the District of Columbia make oath of the facts, obtain warrant and pro- ceed with it and the proper officer to the ield.- The warrants obtained, and the proper officers in company with these gentlemen, proceeded to search for the combatants in two directions. But, unfortunately, they could not be found, and the du ~e took place.
 To show that MT. Cilley's friends were confident in his skill bets were offered in the House of Rep- resentatives by loco foco that at the time named Graves was dead man; or, as it was said, (" the turkey was shot.' Not man believed that Graves would escape for all knew the perfection of Cilleys skill with the rife. But Graves escaped and he fell : and his blood rests upon the heads of his friends who pushed him into the fight, notwith- standing the means of escape opened to him by MT. Clay, whose efforts to prevent the meeting were unceasing from the moment the facts came to his knowledge. Yet with these facts before them, Mir. -Clay's enemies fendishly connect him with this whole affair! Witt, the history of this unfortunate affair before them, have fears of the decision of the people.