The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-26

| The CMLEY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES vs. CLAY
H. A. WISE TO HENRY CLAY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1912
| Did you not draw The form OF
the challenge which bore for MIR Graves 10 Mr..
Fsy g0rnDs Of Friday As sr 2sd Way day
/; Hon. HEnkY CLAY.
| Mr.. CLAY TO Mr.. WISE.
| WASHINGTON, Feb %, 1872
| Upon reading II (the challenge
MIR. Graves had drawn) | thought il closed The
door 10 all accommodation, stated that obj ction,
and ssefehed draught IN my o'en handwriting.
- HgNKY Clay.
| Hon. HENRY A. WISE.
Mr.. WIsE's LETTER TO THE PUBLIC.
He (Mr. Clay) drew the torn of the challenge,
which was copied by MIR. Graves and carried by
The following letter, respecting The above duel,
| from Theodore Frenghuysen, the wing candidate
tor Vice President on the ticket with Mr. Clay
| needs no comment. II was written in reply 10 an
| invitation TO attend pubic meeting at Newark on
the 5ho March. 1898. " for the purpose of making
an expression OF public sentiment IN reference to
| the recent shocking death OF me mber Of the
House Of Representatives OF the United States
Jonathan Cilley) and on the subject Of duellins
TRENTON, NJ, March 9th, 1888
GENTLRMEN-On my way to the cars Tor this
place this morning, received your note Of inv.
| latlon TO attends meeting OF our fellow citizens az
NeWdih to'HoIIoW evening, On the SUBJECT OF the
late duel at Washington. | sincerely regret thai
my professional duties here will setain me from
the meeting-for II ever an occasion called for
expression Of public feeling, the late scene OF
shocking violence most s0lemnly demand it,
Truly" the blood of war has been shed in peace"
| and this IN high places and among the law makers
OF eur country.
The law Of the dueist is an outrage upon every
principle ct order and humanity. il sets the laws
OF God and the institutions of a Christian people
at defiance, and if I lis murderous spirit be not mel
and firmly and fearlessly rebuked, by the frowns Of
the guilt of murder. II can be checked and eff
cienty repressed, whenever the people, true to
their high duties, shall rise the majesty Of public
opinion, and trown upon the atr0clous dee DIS Of
violence, and the blood OF the murdered the tear
of the bereaved, and the commands Of righteous
God call upon them to speak, and bear their stern
and indignant testimony against this Heaven
daring sin.
| hope, gentlemen, that your meeting and pro
ceedings may. exert powerful influence, and,
with kindred demonstrations all over the land, pre-.
vail to crush this alarming evil.
Very respectfully,
THEODORE FRELINaHUYsEN.
The wings, in excuslng Mr.. Clay for fighting
duels because 1t is a custom in the school OF mo
rails in which he raised, forget that in the muir
der OF Mr. Cilley, none OF the rules OF justice,
| as understood by the diseAo, were adhered 10. 1t
| was one OF the coolest and most inhuman murders,
| uader the forms Of dueng, ever put upon record
II WIS the premedltated act Of get Of bloody and
heartiess men, Mr. Cilley had not offended Mr.
Clay, yet he was the chief consprator in the bloody
| scene-drew the challenge with his own bloody
| hand-directed the proceedlngs-and then, after
| the catastrophe had taken pace-when the tears
| OF the weeping widow and little orphans were ap
pealing to heaven in sorrowMr. Clay colby turned
on his heel and said, II was but nine days buo.
bie." Had Mr.. Frelinghuysen the proper respe CT
for himself, he would refuse to run upon ticket
/ with the name OF Henry Clay, after writing the
above letter. What a sad spectacle for men Of
really correct feeling to witness !-and is credit
| able to the age, that SO many men can be found
who refuse to be led into the support OF man pro
| nounced murderer, even by his very associates
chic Statesman
JAMES X. PoLK.-The last paper issued from tn.
Joint Stock Concern" contains letter from
Judge Saunders, in which occurs the following ex
tract:-
"ln voting for such a man, the desc endant OF
| Colonel Thomas Polk, one Of those bold patriots
who signed the first Declaration OF American III
dependence at Charlotte, MecklenbuIg county.
N. c., the 10Th of May, ITS, iet was discharg
ing proud duty in behalf of the ireemen Of III.
Second Congressional DIS rlct !"
The publishing OF such a statement shows whal
appliances the Locoocos intend to, if pos
| .lble, to insure the election Of their candidates
And the edltsr cannot plead ignorance OF the wan
| OF truth in the extract, for we are informed the
letter was shown to several, who noutied him tina
| The statement was false; but notwlths anding, h.
could send II to the world as the truth, to aid i.
building up sinking party.
1t was not our intention 10 drag into the present
contest any other argument than what might spring
from the examination and comparison Of the prlIi
clpes advocated by the two parties; put as an al
tempt , made to deck the candidate of the Loco
| foco party in plumage "hooked" from deceased
worthless and patriots of ITS, we have no Other
| choice, but either TO let the falsehood 60 TO the
world as truth, or deny it.
It is well known to many of our citizens that
James X Polk is not a descendant OF Col Thomas
| Polk, the Chairman Of the Mecklenburg Conven.
ton, but is grandson of Ezekiel Polk, brother
of the Colonel, who was tory during our revolu
lionary struggle, or what is considered the sam,
thing, he took protection from Lord Corhwallis,
and had no part or lot in forwarding the Mecklen-
burg Declaration of Independence. This transac
ton made the Wings believe that he was opposed
to the struggle for liberty, and he was carried by
| them, In company with other tories, to Greensbo-
| rough, where the army was then encamped. Il
| ,hese facts are denied, we can prove them by the
testimony of living witnesses. II is also stated,
| that Colonel Thomas Polk, who was in the army,
would not speak to him, but cried like child, to
think that BROTHER of his had forever disgracec
himself. And we were informed the other day, BY
gentleman Of unquestioned veracity, that he re-
collects very. well hearing the old people in hs
not only took protection from Lord CORVALLIS, bul
he poted the British about while in this neighbor
hood, and no doubt aided them in other ways.
We will here state another circumstance, which
was related to us day or two ago, by two gentle
held by the people Of this county, some years af-
the transaction about referred to; il is this: The
County Court appointed him to fill the office OF
Sherif-hs so enraged the people of the county
that he had to vacate the Office, the people not sui.
fering him to transact business for them. And this
| is the ancestor OF the man who has been nomina-
ted by the party whs take pleasure in calling THEN
opponents British Wings and the descendants Of
Tories.
This, fellow citizens, is true statement OF the
conduct of James X Folks immediate ancestor in
l775 and who bore part in the glorious transac-
ton that has surrounded the patriots of Mrcklen-
burg with halo OF glory which will last as long
as the sea shall roll wave the earth bear plant
and in standing aloof, Ezekiel Polk acted a re.
| creant and unworthy part, and has branded his
name with eternal intamy. Charlotte ~ CO.
Jonrnai.
| LocoFocoIsM ON CooNERY the climax is
| not yet told. As no coon is perfect without tail,