Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-08-30
MIR. CLAY AND THE CILLEY DUEL.


: Never was man more uniustly abused ant
sandered, than Mr.. Clay has been by thu
Loco press for the part which he took in The
unfortunate duel between Messrs. Graves anC
Cilley. His conduct in that affair was EN-
linenily that Of a peace-maker-he made repeat
ed attempts to stay the shedding of blood-and
vet his opponents knowing all this, are con.
tinuay representing him as the prime mover
of the affair." and holding him up before the
public as stained with the blood OF Mr.. Cey
Is not the malignity manifested by the Loco
papers in this matter more in the character Of
demons than Of meni Docs IL not show their
reckessness and utter disregard oftruthi The
facts abundanUy show that the death of Mr..
| CilIey stands charged to those who were his adj
visers, and that if Mr.. Clay could have pre-
vented il no duel would have taken place. At
a late Whg meeting in Rochester, M. Charles
King, editor of 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 being CEN
sured, Mr.. Clay should receive the thanks of
every lover of Law and right for his efforts to
bring about a reconciliation between the
parties.
Mr.. King related several facts, IN connection
with The Ciley duel, which deserve repetition.
Mr.. K was in Washington at the time. He
dined with Mr.. Graves on the day the chal-
enge was sent TO Cilley; and the moment he
learnt the fact, he with friend, proceeded to
Mr.. Clay's lodgings to prevent, il possible, the
meeting. Mr.. Clay heartily seconded the
plans proposed TO avert the duel, but before
any project was determined upon for that pur-
pose, Mr.. Graves came in, and remarked that
any interference on their part would be re-
ceived unkindy by him. Mr.. G. exhibited the
challenge, as il had been written, TO Dir. Clay.
Mr.. G.. objected to its phraseologv, on the
ground that IL afforded no opportunity of re-
cancellation. This, he insisted, should be done;
and wrote with his own hand, another note,
which was so drawn that Mr.. Ciey. might
icih honor, make an explanation, and prevent
the fatal meeting.
This note, thus modified for this peaceful
purpose, was sent to Mr.. Ciey; but he did
not avail himself of the escape which had been
placed before him. He had bloody
minded advisers about him, and they compelled
him TO accept the challenge. They also adj
vised him TO choose the Rifle as the weapon
with which the duel should be fought. There
were two reasons for this: 1t was weapon
with which Cilley was acquainted; and he was
The best shot in Washington. Graves knew
nothing about it. In order TO effect his pur-
pose more certainly, DR.. Duncan accompanied
Cilley, for practice 10 the afternoon preceding
Iapiing at 80 PAGES - ourGnt
Mr.. King remarked that when he learned
hat the challenge had been accepted, and rifles
elected as the weapons, himself, with Mr..
Clay, determined if possible TO prevent Mr..
Graves from being able to obtain rife, and
hey had succeeded as they supposed; but after
hey retired, DR.. Duncan, who acted as one of /
hr. Cilley's friends, tountingy sent his rifle TO {
dr. Graves with the message that no time ,
ICED be lost for the want OF rifle. OF this {
Message MIR. King and Mr.. Clay were entirely I,
ynorant. They had retired with the convic- =
ion that the meeting could not take place at ! !
he time designated
Between d and O'Clock, however, next
,ornng, Mr.. King was called and informed a
nat MIR. Graves and Cilley, with their friends, o
ad gone out. Mr.. X. immediately proceeded v
, Mr.. Clay's lodgings, called him up, and, a
Tier lew moments consultation, Mr.. Clay c
Iggested the names Of two gentlemen who a
ould aid us efficiently in arresfing, the duel, Il
amely: Gen. Fenton Mercer, then member t.
Congress from Virginia, and Mr.. Key who "
as the District Attorney-Mr. johnson and o
yself proceeded in all haste to Gen. MERGERS O
I'd found him earnestly disposed to interfere. n
e said If we could trace the route of the par
IS, he would himself go before the magistrate, ii
ther in Virginia or Maryland, as the case v
ight be, supposng the parties would not FIGHT =.
the District of Coumbia-make oath of the a
cts, obtain warrant and proceed with it and :.
&c proper officer TO the field The warrants :,
ere obtained, and the proper officers in com :"
my with these gentlemen, proceeded to search =
T the combatants in two directions. But un. "a
they could not be found, and the p
lel took place. Nd
To show that Mr.. Cilley's friends were con- re
lent IN his skill, bets were offered in the y
ouse of Representatives, by Loco Foco, W
at at the time named Graves was dead a
an; or, as il was said, "the turkey was shot" he
OF man believed that Graves would escape, je
r all knew the perfection of Cilley's skill with W
e rifle. But Graves escaped, and he fell; W
ID his blood rests upon the heads of his ii,
ends who pushed him into the fight, not r
outstanding the means OF escape opened TO pl
m by Mr.. Clay, whose efforts to prevent the il
Getting were unceasing from the moment the ca
cts came to his knowledge. Yet with these Gu
;ts before them, Mr.. Clay's enemies fend- nd
liy connect him with this fatal affair! With r,
e history of this unfortunate affair before b;
EN-, we have no fears of the decision of the -
ople. r.