The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-09-25
ANOTHER t FROM
HENRY CLAY!
At . 6

take! The federal party have been ondeaqoTin2
to varnish over the black moral chlrac!er o!
Henry Clay, and have asserted that tic was noi-
Their a blackleg or a duellist! But now, in the
letter given below, written at the age of 81 years,
Henry Clay DECLINES answering the question
if he would fight a duel! What do moral men
and anii-dueIlists think Of thai? Can they con-
seientiously support such a man for tho Presi-
dency? We think not.
ASHLAND, Aug. J., 1914.
Genflemen-I duly rece wed your letter, ofthe
18th uIt., on the subject Of duelltng, and appre-
ciate fully he friendly, pious and patriotic mo-
tives which prompted you to address it 10 me.
Pornicious as he practice undoubtedly is, | hope
you will excuse me when | say that there are
other questions, in our public affairs, of much
higher aud Of more general Importance. The
victims, or %votaries Of that Practice are but few
IN number, and bear no comparison with the i'm
mense number Of sufferers from the rejection Of
wise measures of national policy, Or the adoption
ofthose 'ofan opposite character.
/ expressed, in strong terms Of condemnation,
my opinion against duelling in a letter which
addressed TO my constituents, in March, 1924,
which is 10 be found in the published collection
of my speeches. Again within a few years past,
| gave evidence of my strong dislpprobation Of
it, BY voting in the United S.aics Senate for the
bill for suppressing duelling in tie District OF
Columbia.
With these proofs Of my sentiments, | think,
gentlemen, you ought 10 be satisfied. But you
ask Inc whether, il | were challenged TO fight a
duel, | would reject the invitation? Consider
ing my age, which is now. past 81, ] feel that ]
should expose myself to ridicule if | were 10
proclaim whether ! would or would not fight a
duel. 1t is certainly one of the most unlikely
events that can possibly be imagined, and ! can
not conceive a case in which ! should be provo
ked OF tempted TO 90 to the field Of combat. Bu
as | cannot fofesee all the contingencies which
may possibly occur in the short remnant of my
life, and for the reasons which ! have already
stated, cfavoiding any exposure of myself to RI
djcule, | CANNOT RECONCILE IT TO MY
SENSE or PROPRIETY TO MAKE A DEC.
LARATION ONE WAYOR THE OTHER.
You have, gentlemen, done me some, but no
foil justice, in respect tethe affair Of The lament
ed Cilley. When ! first Obtained any knowledge
of his difficulty with Mr.. Graves, | did not thinl
tDere was the smallest occas!oHtur a combat be-
tween them, believed from the 6rst, that The
matter would be amicabiy accommodated; to ina.
end all my e~xerfions were directed. Add no
know that il was accommodated until me da,
when, and dfter the parties went out TO hshf
| On tlst day | was confined TO my room by in
ness, ahd It was accidental that ] obtained infor
nation chat The parties had gone out. But
was neither informed as 10 the plan, nor th'
hour Of thor meeting. Contrary 20 the imptes
sion which you entertain, ] did advise the en-
ployment Of The police to arrest the parties ant
prevent tic duel. The constables accordingl
(, went out ID search Of Them, but like myself be
ing ignorant Of the time and place Of their meet
} ing, they mistook the route, and failed in III
} accomplishment Of their obiect-If you woul'
read aitentively the whole Of my corresponding
with Mr.. Wise, 20 which YOU have referred, yoi