The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-05-16

SONS III writing, ana 10 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 to be true
which he knew to be false, Mr. Graves
challenged and killed him. And this he
did under the advice of Henry Clay as |
shall show.
Here is letter from Mr. Clay to Hen
ny A. Wise dated Feb. %, l342, in
which Mr. Clay says:-
81 did not know that Mr. Graves bore
note from Col. Webb to Mr. Cilley I'M
til after the delivery ofthc note and after
Mr. Graves received from him verbal
answer. In that stage Of the transaction
for the first time, MIR Graves commune
Gated the matter to me, and | congratu-
lated him on the fact of that answer be-
ing perfectly satisfactory and such as to
absolyc him from all obligation to pursue
the affair further, Ton convcrsing to-
gcther, we both agreed that, to guard a.
gainst future misunderstanding and mis-
representation it was desirable that Mr.
Cilcy should put in writing what he had
verbally answered"
Upon this advice Mr. Graves required
a written statement from Mr. Cillcy con-
tanning concession that Webb was Il
gentleman; and not being able to obtain
it, he returned to Mr. Clay for further
counsel. In reference 10 what then pas
sed, Mr. Clay says in the same letter.
"Whcn on the day preceding the Duel
Mr. Graves in company with you, came
to my room, | was informed that he had
determined to challenge Mr. Cillcy, and
he showed ne the challenge which he
had drawn. Upon reading it, | thought
it closed the door to all accommodation,
stated that objection and Skttchm a
d'NogM IN my arm hondwrHirg which
would admit of and amicablc adjustment. "
This draught in Mr. Clay'a own hand
writing, was copied by Mr. Graves and
sent to Mr. Cilley. 1t was in the follow
ing words viz.
WAsnNcroN City, Feb, 90, 1888,
Hon. ]. CIeY
As yon have declined accep,iuga COM
munIcalion which bore to YOU from Col,
Webb, and as by your note Of yesterday,
you have declined on grounds which would
eShoncrale me from all responsibility grow
ing on, oflhis affair, | am left no other al
Tentative bu, to ask that satisfaction which
is recognised among gentlemen. Ny friend
Hon. Henry a, Wise, is authorized by
me TO make the arrangements suitable to
thl occasion
Your obedicnt servant,
". ]. GRAVES.
From statement published by Mc,srs Wise
and Jones (lhe secnnd,) after the duel, il appears
that Mr. Jones stated 20 Mr. Wise (when Nr uiey
accepted the ct engc,) that he twas authorized
by Mr. Ccy 20 say, that in declining 10 lecGiS G
The note from Mr. Graves, purpoIlirg IN be from
Col. Webb, he meant no disrespect 10 Mr. Graves,
because he entertained for him then, rs he does
now, the highest respect and the most Kind feel
ings; but that he declined 10 receive the npte
because he chose not 10 be drawn into any con.
tro,crsy vilh Col Webb"
Yet, after this second dsavowul If any diSre-
spect 10 Nj Graves, was this duel pushed, under
the advice of Mr. Clay, 10 fatal termination.
But lhI' WIS not the last OF Mr. Gays agency.
lie was duly informed OF the acceptance of the
challenge Written b, him. aud Of the arrangement
20 fight with The deadly rifle, In the same letter
he says;
MY hc'irris, that never saw the terms ac-
c0ftlrI 10 whch he ccu.hal was 10 Ice conduct,
ed, PRIOR to the duel, although think hey were
dairi md explained 10 ne, pobaJiy by yog,"
(Air " iSr.)
That he was in possession Of all the pHricu.
lars, is proved by the statements Of Charles hing
and R~eidy Johnson, Esqrs. published by Mr.
Clay himself, in which The former says, Mr. Clay
shaved them the papers. but the latter says "At
neither interview were we shown the ",,ilcR "l"'-
enge and acceptance "r tie .rrrs If ioe duel, Gui
had Htm tIpiaiam 10 us Oniy By .W Cl0y."
By Mr. Gays own evidence, therefore, !, APP
pears, that he advised the written correspondence
wLirh led to the ducl that he drew the challenger
and that he knew the terms on which they were
TO fight.
.Ma-Wcll, when he knew that the parties
had arranged To COUNT mutual murdcr, did he
not invoke the power of the law 10 prevent IL
Den. so flr from that, he duaciy retusci to
do 80! In the letter already referred To, Mr. Clay
snys:-"Iieng the friend IF Mr. Gta,cs, ! could
aOi invoke the authority Of the police 10 prevent
the duel"
lIi4 friends, Messrs Charles King and Rcvcrdy
johnson. conrur in stating, that on their urgent
appeal 10 Mr. Clay 10 aid in nlrcsting The duel
Mr. Clay replied in substance, ''lhat we saw how
he was situated. Mr. Graves had consulted him.
tie ought not he said to have been consulted: but
having hcrn the honor Of his friend who was the
challenger, might he compromised by any advance
IN his (Mr Clay's) par, 10 arrest the progress Of
the affair"
These gentlemen found Mr. Graves with Mr.
Clay on that occasion, it then being past sS o'clock
in the evening, and early the neat morning the
GrfW murder aus cOHSummditI almost IN sight
Of the Capitol!
Mr. Clay slvs. he did not expect the duel 10 he
fought the neM day, becaJse Mr. Graves had not
at that tine prorured rifle; but Mr Clay's CO.
league G,on. Kentucky in the Senate, aud one Of
his particular friends in the House, borrowed one
1bOpi iuCice O'ciock NJ nigit with which the fl.
tai deed was contaminated in the murning
Mr. Wise who was Mr. Graves second. has al
WAYS declared. lhn. the duel was caused by Nh
Claws advice which differed from his own; and
Mr. Clay says in lis letter.
IL admit without any reservation whatever that
IN all the rpnis Of the controversy respecting
which h. (Grares) asked my npininn, gave ii TO
him freely. according TO The best Of my Judgment. :"
u thus nppears;-
That Mr. Clay helped to concert this murder;
And
That when The plan was all complete, he refused