New-York daily tribune., 1844-03-16

secrence of the fragrant insult when ne hdo Oh
Gered him in the Senate OF the United States, III
conjunction with your lamented and gallant lei
low countryman, Col Tattnal, at that time
member of the House of Representatives from
Georgia There are some circumstances con-
nected with this due! which have never peeh iiiaue
public, which as they are honorable ooth 10 'h9
living and the dead, hope | may be pafoonGu nI
in relating | do not think they will render VIZ.
Claws recention less cordial and enthusiastic
among people who, if they cherish ronlahtic'
and, as they are called, false notions OF honor are
at the same time alive to the testimonies OF gal
| liant generous and feeling spirit
The nipht before the duel, Mr.. Randolph sent
for me in the evening found HIM calm, but in
singuarly kind and conhdlng mood lie tod
me that he had something on his mind to tell me.
He then remark ed, Hamilton, have detcrmin-
cd to receive, without returning, Clay's tire; no.
thing shall induce me to harm hair Of his head;
] will not make his wife widow, or his children
orphans. Their tears would be shed over his
crave. bat when the sod of Virginia rests on my
bosom, there is not in this wide world one lndl-
vidual to pay this tribute upon mine" HIS eyes
filled, and resting his head upon his hand, he re-
NAMED some moments silent L replied, My
dear friend" for ours was sort oil posthuinous
friendship, bcqueathed by our mothers,) =" deep
| ly regret that you have mentioned this SUBJECT 10
me, for you Call upon me to go TO the iIeId ana 10
see you shot down. to assume the responsibility,
in regard TO your own life, in sustaining your de-
termination to throw 1t away. But on this SUD-
ject a mans own conscience and his own bosom
are his best monitors. will not advise, but I'M
der the enormous and unprovohcd personal insult
you have offered Mr. Clay, cannot dssuade. L
| feel bound, however, to communicate to Col att
mai your decision" He begged me not TO do so.
and said, she was very much AFRAID that lattnai
would take the studs and refuse to 60 out with
him. | however sought. Col. Tattnal, and We
repaired about midnight. to Mr. Randolph lodg
ings, whom we found reading Milton's great
Poem. For some moments he did not permit Us
to say one word in relation to the approaching
duel and he at once commenced one OF these
delightful criticisms, on passage from this foet,
in which he was wont SO enthusiastically to H.
dulge After pause, Col. Tattnal remarked,
g MIR. Randolph, L am told you have determined
not to return Mr. Clay's fire; | must say to you,
my dear sir, if l only to go out to see you shot
down. YOU must find some other Trend. Nr.
Randolph remarked thatlt was his determination.
After much conversation on the SUBJECT Induced
Col. Tattnal to allow Mr.. Randolph to takehl own
course, as his withdrawal, as one of his friends,
might lead to very injurious misconstructions.-
n
Tattnal, promise you one thing, if see the
devil in Claws cye and that with malice pre-
pense he means TO take my life, may change
nv mind. "a remark I knew he merely made
to propitiate the anxiety of his friend.
Mr.. Clay and himself net at o'clock the sue
ceeding evening" on the banks Of the Potomac
But he saw emo devil in Clay's eye" but man
fearless and expressing the mingled sensibility
and firmness which belonged to the occasion.
| shall never forget this scene as long as live.
1t has been my misfortune to witness several
dues, but [ never saw one, at least IN its sequel,
SO deeply affecting.
The sun was Just setting behind the blue hills
Of Randolpl's own Virginia. Here were two of
the most extraordinary men our country IN It's
prodigality had produced, about to meet in NOR
tai combat Whilst Tattnal was loading Ran
dophs pistol, approached my friend, believed
for the last time; took his hand; there was not
in its touch the quickening of one pusatlon. He
turned to me and said, "Clay is calm, but not
vindictive l hold my purpose, Hamilton in any
event-remember this On handing him his
pistol, COL Tattnal sprung the hair trigger. Mr..
Randolph said, "Tattnall, although am one of
the best shots in Virginia, with either pistol or
gun, vet, never fire with the hair trigger; be-
sides, have thick buckskn glove on which
will destroy the dclicacy of my touch and the
trigger may fly before know where | am" But,
from his great solicitude for his friend, Tattnal
insisted upon hairing the trigger. On taking
their position, the fact turned out as Mr.. Ran
dolph anticipated his pistol went OFT before the
word with the muzzle down.
The moment this event took place, Gen. Jesup,
Mr. Claws friend, called out that he would in
stantly leave the ground with his friend, II this
occurred again Mr.. Clay at once exclaimed 1t
was entirely an accident, and begged that the
gentleman might be allowed to go on On the
word being given, Mr.. Clay fired without effect
Mr.. Randolph discharging his pistol in the air
The moment Mr.. Clay saw that Mr.. Randolph
had thrown away his fire, with gush OF sensl
bility he instantly approached Mr.. Il. and SAID,
with an emotion never can forget trust IN
God, my dear sir, you are untouched: after what
has occurred, would not have harmed you for
thousand worlds" Deeply affected by this scene,
| could not refrain from grasping Mr.. Clay by
the hand, and said, My good sir, we have been
long separated, but, after the events OF to-day,
feel that we must be friends forever" We hare
been so.
| do not know that l should have referred to
this transactions if did not believe this last incl
dent had no small influence or an important pub
lie event in MIR. Clay's life. allude to the cele
bratel compromise on the action OF the Tariff OF
1928, by the Senate of South Carolina
need not recapitulate the circumstances
which precipitated that measure or the fearful
situation in which the country was placed when
Mr. Clay and Mr., Calhoun, standing as 1t were,
over the troubled water, approached nearer to
each other to still the angry flood Apart from
all public considerations which could adequately
find their origin in his own patriotism, have al
ways believed, although pride and delicacy have