The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-19

hghtfu critic SINS, on passage OF this poet, in
which he was wont so enthusiastically to in
dulge. After pause, Col. Tattnal remarked
g Mr. Randolph, am told you are determined
not TO return Mr.. Cay's fire; must say to you,
my dear sir, if | am only to go out to see you
shot down, you must find some other ftiendh-
| Mr.. Randolph remarked that it was his determ-
nation. After much conversation upon the sub
ject, induced COL Tattnal to allow Mr.. Ran
dolph to take his own course, as his withdrawal,
| as one OF his friends, might lead to very injur-
Gus demonstrations. At last. Mr.. Randolph,
smiling. said, "we, Tattnal, promise you one
thing, if see the devil in Clay's eye, and that,
with malice prepense, he means to take my life,
may change my mind" A remark knew he
merely made to propitiare the anxieties Of his
friends
Mr.. Clay and himself met at A o'clock the
succeeding evening" on the banks Of the Poto-
mac But he saw "no devil in Clay's eye," but
a man fearless, and expressing the mingled
sensibility and firmness which belonged to the
occasion.
| shall never forget this scene as long as live
II 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 kandolph's own Virginia. Here were two Of
the most extraordinary men our country, in its
prodigalily, had produced, about to meet in NOR
tai combat Whilst Tattnal was loading Ran
dolphs pistol, approached my friend. believed
for the last time; | took his hand; there was
not in its touch the quickening of one pulsation.
He turned to me and said, Clay is calm but
not vindictiye. | hold my purpose, Hamilton, in
any event, remember this" On handing him his
pistol, Col Tattna sprang the hair trigger. Mr.
| Randolph said, "Tattnal, although am one of.
the best shots in Virginia. with either pistol or
i 0i,N Nof I fra with fho hair ho-
sides have thick buckskin glove on, which
will destroy the delcacy of my touch, and the
trigger may fly before | know where am
But, from his great soliciude for his friend, TAFT
nal insisted upon having the trigger On taking
their position, the fact turned out as Mr.. Ran
dolph anticipated his pistol went off before the
word, with the muzzle down.
The moment this event took place, Gen. Jes-
up, Mr.. Clay's friend, called out that he would
instantly leave the ground with his friend if this
occurred again. MIR. Clay at once exclaimed, it
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 discharged his pistol in the air.
The moment that Mr.. Clay saw that Mr.. Ran
dolph had thrown away his fire, with gush of
sensbity, he instantly approached Mr.. r. and
said, with an emotion never can forget, 9"
trust ia God, my dear sir, you are untouched
ed you for thousand WORLDS Deeply affected
i 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
i forever" We haze been So
| do not know that / should have referred to
this transaction, if did not believe that this last
incident had no small influence on an important
public event in Mr.. Clays life. | allude to the
| 1nkr I'd ~ &c III
| tariff Of 1929, by the Senate of South Carolina.
| Ineed not recapituate the circumstances which
precipitated that measure, or the fearful situa-
tion in which the country was placed; when
MIR. Clay and MIR. Calhoun standing, as it were,
over the troubled water, approached nearer to
each other t" still the angry flood. Apart from
all pu.lic considerations, which could adequately
find their origin in his own patriotism, have
always believed, although pride and delicacy
touch of our hands on the old battlefield, on
the banks Of the Potomac, was not without its
| influence on Mr.. Clay, when uniting his exer-
| tons to those of Mr.. Calhoun, to compose this
seemingly disastrous quarrel he took an anxious
and friendly estimate of what he deemed the
difficulty Of my own position. But in the vicis-
STUDIES of all human things, how strangely the
relations of party had been changed. Here, on
| the one hand, was Gen. Jackson 10 whom
|
spirit Of all her sons, beleaguering her with his
troops, and Mr.. Clay, who had been the unspared
object of her reproach, striving TO avert a con-
hict!
| feel, sir, that the country owes him large
debt of gratitude for his exerons at this conunc-
| ture, and that the South has never done him JUS
tice. desire not to be misunderstood. There
was no day in the week, Sundays excepted, on
which the volunteers which had the honor to
command, at that time, in Charleston, would
| not have gone out and have given Gen. Jack
sons regulars battle, if this was to have decided
the issue, notwithstanding our just appreciation
of the skill and gallantry of the distinguished
officer TO whom their command had been con-
| fided, and who. on trying occasion, added to
his known valor so benignant desire for peace
and Cancellation. But, we knew that, on the
discharge Of the first musket, the streets of our
city would run with fraternal blood. Mr.. Clay
lent his hand 10 stay the torrent. Can we,
then, regard with indifference the service such
man rendered at such time?
Vo,, will IL, No. r