Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-05-17
TuE TWO RONDS-

Sometime since the Vermont Patriot paraded,
in very emphatic style, bond given by Henry
Clay to keep the peace towards Wm r. King,
Senator from Alabama--thc same bond which has
been industriously circulated by the locofoco and
third party papers. We then offered to publish
the bond and the locofoco account of the affair,
condition that the Patriot would publish our an
swcr. Our desire was to give all parties fair &C
count of the matter but the Patriot declines accept
ing perfectly fair offer, and as there is there
fore no opportunity to correct the calumny upon
Mr. Clay, in the papers which have so Industrious
ly spread it, we shall confne ourselves to brief
statement Of the facts for the satisfaction of our
own readers.
At the session Of 1871, in a discussion on the
removal of Blair d Rives, as printers Of the Sem
ate, Mr. Clay took occasion to give Blair Just such
castigation as he deserved. Senator King under
took to defend Blair, and in the course of his
speech used language which Mr.. Clay considered
an Intentional and gross personal insult; and as
such, he replied in as severe terms he could USE
Senator King instantly sent note to Mr.. Clay, in
the nature OF challenge 10 fight, bat so framed as
10 avoid the penalty of the law of Congress against
duell'ng. This challenge Mr. Clay did not then
answer, and never has since answered. Senator
Buchanan and other friends Of Mr.. King then got
Mr.. King put under bonds to keep the peace to-
wards Mr.. Clay, and subsequently matter of
courtesy and fairness, Mr. Clay's friends put him
under bonds also. A few days after this, viz. on
the last day ofthe session, Senator Preston, (Whg)
brought the affair before the Senate in an eloquent
speech, expressing his assurance, that the affair
had grown out of misconstrucon of Mr. Kings
language towards Mr.. Clay; Mr.. King then arose
and dlsavowed any intention of insulting the dis
tingushed Senator from Kentucky Mr. CLAY
promptly made the amende honorable; and both
Senator's to the great Joy of the Senate and of the
public, stepped forth upon the floor and joined
hands in token Of reconciliation and friendship
These are the facts: Mr.. Clay did not accept
the challenge offered him, and on the first moment
that he could DO So settled the difficulty in a truly
honorable and noble way yet he is singled out
by reckless and ignorant locofoco and third party
editors to receive Walls of wrath and condcmna-
ton
Senator King was and is distinguished locofo-
co. and has been, if he is not now prominent among
the locofoco candidates for the Vice Presidency
he was guilty of sending challenge to Mr.. Clay
in defiance Of law Of the very government of
which he was a member, and was as morally guilty
of violation of the law and of the sin of duellng
as though his challenge had been accepted and the
duel fought: yet these same editors conceal it all
from the public. The Freeman admits that Mr..
Clays dues were fought long ago that he regrets
them--that he voted for the law against duelling
but then-with pious horror it (probaby ignorant
y) insists upon the calumny that Mr.. Clay tried
to prorOke Mr.. King TO fight. Even the Freeman
must confess that the non-acceptance Of the chal-
enge squares very badly with that story And
then our neighbor of the Patriot-he won't permit
his readers to hear both sides. Perhaps readers
will not wonder at it.
This is fair specimen of the way these editors
abuse Mr.. Clay; and, reader when you see any
great accusation against him in locofoco or third
party newspaper you may safely set it down as
either entirely false or a gross exaggeration.