Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-09-26

scofO pOlnteu al nun, IL uDhDle 10 resist, anu
few, very few, arc found willing to adopt
such al alternative. When public opinion
was renovated, and chas,ened by reason, re-
glon, and humanity, the practice Of dnelllDg
would at once be dscountenanced. 1t was
the office Of Legislation to do all It could 10
bring about this healihiu state Of the public
mind, and although IL might not altogether
effect so desirable a result, yet he had no
doubt il would do much towards it, and with
those views he would give his vote for the
bll."-l Congressional Globe, I'd session 25h
Congress, p. 1872
To this indispGtable evidence Of Mr.
CLAY's hostility TO the practice Of Duel
ling, we may add the tact-and TO his
honor be il spoken-that perhaps no man
has accommodated more difficulties, and
contributed to the prevention of more
duels, than he has Frequent instances
might be mentioned. We will content
ourselves with one which made partic-
ularly strong impression on our minds.
Among cur earliest recollections OF
Mr. CLAY was the part he took, some
thirty years ago, in preventing duel be-
tween Mr.. CALHOUN, the present Secre-
tary of State, and Mr.. GRosvENoR, ono
of the Representatives Of the State Of
New York, who died too young for his
fame, and too early for the hopes of his
friends and the wishes Of his country.
These two gentlemen, both frequent de.
baters, and distinguished no less by the
boldness Of their bearing than by the
power of their eloquence, were leading
members of the opposing parties in the
House of Representatives, at a critical
period of the war Of 1919. Mr.. CLAY
was then Speaker ofthe House, discharg-
ing the duties ofthat station with digni-
~ and propriety that challenged unver-
sal appreciation; taking part occasionally
in debate in Committee Of the Whole
with confessed superiority, but for the
greater part Of the time necessarily con-
fined to the Chair, an impartial umpire
between intending parties. The House
comprised at that time an unusual num-
ber Of comparatively young members of
rare ability, as may be believed when
we name among them, besides the gen
lemen already mentioned, such men as
LowNDEs, WEBSTER, GAsToN, OAKLEY,
ErPEs, SHEFrEY, CHARLES j. NIGER.
SOIL, TRoUP, GRUNDY, Sc, not TO speak
of a considerable infusion Of older men
of great power Of intellect, such as Pick
ERING, SrocKToN, JONATHAN RoBERTs,
WILLIAM FINpLAy,&c. In body thus
constituted, it may well be mag that
the rules Of order were in general re-
specially observed and the decorum Of
debate seldom violated. No greater
contrast could well be conceived, indeed,
than that which would result from com
paIison OF the proceedings in tho House
Of Representatives at that day with those
of the present. Asperi,y would yet, in
way into debate, and now and then, but
very rarely, take the character Of person
ality; by which wo do not mean coarse
ness of language, such as is now too
often heard in debate, but such reflec-
| tons upon motives as one gentleman
owes II 10 another to refrain from. Some
thing Of the kind had passed, in the heat
Of debate, between Mr.. Calhoun and
\ Mr.. Grosyenor; but as affairs of this sort
were then conducted with great privacy,
it was Iot known, or known TO very few,
Il that duel was to result from 1t. The
neN day, or the day following, the hour
of meeting of the House had arrived,
and the members had assembled as usu-
/ al, but the Speaker failed OF his usual
/ lpunc,ualty. The inquiry passed from
mouth to mouth, "Whcre's S the Speaker"
I"Whal in the world has become of the
\ Speaker" An hou, elapsed, and yet
no Speaksr. AT length, 1t came TO be
understood that Mr.. Calhoun and Mr..
4 (,rosypnnr ~ Al IN NJ
few miles distance, from the Capitol, to
settle their quarrel by mortal arbiiramcn,;
and that Mr.. Clay, having accidentally
| got wind OF II, had mounted his horse,
leaving the House in the lurch, with tho
! determination, If possible by any effort of
his, to prevent the shedding of blood
| upon mere point Of honor between two
4 gentlemen whose lives were OF SO much
value To their friends and to their coun-
'Itry. Another and another hour passed
amidst the deepest anxiety; when, out
of breath, from haste 10 riding, bu, full Of
Joy and gladness, arrived the Speaker,
and called the House to order HIS
mediation, united with that Of distin-
! gushed Member of the Senate, had been
successful. Their earnest instances had
been irresistible. They had brought
\ back unharmed, ifnot reconcIled, those
who had gone out as enemies, to stake
their lives against one another. They
were reserved by their colleagues and
associates with open arms; and, the rea-
der may he sure, there was not much
/ business doLe in the House that day.
by his effective nterposilion, the prompt
\ lDg of humane and generous heart,
Mr.. Clay on that occasion won golden
| opinions OF all men.
Il ln the same pacific and humane spirit
was the entire agency of Mr.. Clay ~
The case OF Nlessrs. GRAVES and CILLLY.
II was directed TO the object OF prereniing
a meeting between the parties. Wut
that view he advised a modification of the
challenge. With the same view &c ad-
vlscd the police 10 be called out. They
were called out, but were defeated IT,
their purpose Of arrcsting the parties by
their having taken al unusual route.
/ We present 10 our readers the evidence
winch places beyond doubt or cavlI the
nature of Nj CLAWS agrncy IN the Gil
II ley duel. IL would be 10 detract from
the force of simple truth TO accompany
/ II with one word Of comment.
I, Extract fran Letter Of The Hon. v. ].