The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-04-05

word in relation 10 the approaching duel;
and he at once commenced ore of those
delightful criticisms, on passage OF this
Poet, in which he was won't SO enthusiastic
caIly TO indulge. After a pause, Col. /
Taitnal remarked, Mr.. Randolph, | am
told that you have determined not 10 re-
turn Mr.. CIay's fire; must say TO you,
my dear sir, if am only to 90 out and see
YOU shot down, you must find some other
friend" Mr.. Randolph remarked that il
was his determination. A.ler much con-
yersaion ON the subject, | induced Col.
TalnaI to allow Mr.. Randolph 10 take his
own course, as his Withdrawal, as one OF
his friends, might lead to very Injurious
misconslruction. Al last, Mr.. Randolph,
smiling said, "well Talnal, | promise you
one thing, if | see the devil IN Clay's eye
and that with malice prepense he means 10
take my life, may change my mind
A remark knew he merely made TO pro-
pitiate the anx cites of his friend.
Mr.. Clay and himself met at 4 o'clock
the succeeding evening, on the banks of
the Potomac. But he saw "no devil III
Clay's eye" but a man fearless, and ex-
pressing The mingled senslbiIl,y aud hrm-
ness which belonged to the occasion.
shall never forget the scene as long as
| live. 1t has been my misfortune to wit
ness several ,luols, but | never saw one, at
least in its sequel, so deeply affecting.
The sun was Just setting behind the blue
hills Of Randolph's own Virginia. Here
were :wo Of the most extraordinary men
our country in It's prodigality had pEoduc-
ed, about 10 meet IN mortal CONDUIT
Whilst Tattnal was loading Randolph's
pistol | approached my friend, | believed
for the last time | took his hand; there
was not in lis touch the quivering of one
pu!sation. He turned to me and said,
Clay is calm but not vindictiye. | hold
my purpose Hamilton, in any event; re-
member tins" On handing him his Ps-
toll Col Tattnal sprung the hair trigger.
Mr.. Randolph said, "TJtlnal though am
one Of the lest shots in Virginia with eith-
cr pistol or gun, yet, never FIRE with the
hair trigger; besides, have thick buck.
skin glove on, which will destroy the deli
cacy Of my touch, and the trigger may fly
before | know where am" But. from
his great sollcitude for his friend, Tattnal
insisted upon using the hair trigger. On
taking their POSITION the fact turned out
as MIR. Randolph anticipated; his pistol
went of before the word with the muzzle
down.
The moment this event took place, Gen.
Jesup, Mr.. Clay's friend, called out that
he would Instantly leave the ground with
his friend, ii this occurred again. Mr..
Clay At once exclaimed il WAS entirely an
accident and begged that the gentleman
might be allowed to 90 on. Ga the word
being given, MIR. Clay fired without effect,
Mr., Randolph disoharging his pistol in the
air. The moment that Mr.. Clay saw that
Mr.. Randolph had thrown away his fire
with gush Of scnsibllity, he Instantly ap.
preached Mr.. Il and said with an emo.
ton never can forget, !" / trust in Goo
my dear sir, You are untouched after
what has occurred, would not have harm
ed Won for a thousand worlds" Deeply
affected by this scene, could not refrarI
from grasping Mr.. Clay by the hand, an,
said, "my good sir, we have been long
separated, but after he events Of to-day
feel that VIC must be friends forever. =
We hare been so.
do not know that should have refer
red TO this transaction, Il did not believe
that this las, incident bad no small influ
cnce on an important public event III Mr.
Gays lie. alIudc 10 the celebrated
compromise on the action OF the Tariff o
ISIS, by the Senate Of South Carolina.
need not rccapitulate the clrcumstan
COS which precpliated that measure, q
the fearful situation IN which the country
was placed when Mr.. Clay aud Mr.
Calhoun, standing as II we're over tht
troubled water, approached nearer to cacl
other to still the angry food. Apart frou
J all publo considerations, which could ado
quately find their origin III his own patfio
tism, have always believed, although
pride and delicacy have hitherto forbid tht
explanation, that the touch Of our hand
, on the old battle field, on the banks OF tht
Potomac, was not without lis iuiluance OF
, Mr.. Clay, when uniting his oNertions Il
, those Of Mr.. Calhoun, TO compose TIN
seemingly disastrous quarrel, he took al
anxious and friendly estimate 81 what h
deemed the difficulty Of my own position
But in the yicissiludes Of all human things
how strangely the relations Of party ha,
been changed. Here, on the one hand
was Gen. Jackson, TO whom South Caro-
lima had dedicated the embodied spirit 0
all her sons, beeagucring her with hi
troops, aud Mr. Clay, who had been tn
unsPared object Of her reproach, striving
to avert a conflict
! feel, sir, that the country owes him
large debt Of gratitude for his excrton
; at this couunc,jre, and that the South ha
! never done him justice. desire not TO b
. misunderstood. There was no day in III
) week, Sundays excepted, on which I'll
! volunteers which | had the honor to com
, rnand, ut that time IN Charleston, woul
. not have gone on. and have given Gen
) Jdckson's regulars battle, if this was t
) have decided the issue, notwithstanding
mr. fugt apprpCf1ttCp 1f fi,a 81 ~ .,,,l