Holly Springs gazette., 1844-04-06

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tertal1 for Mr. Clay. or of the just apprec:a
lion which | have formed Of his ability auC
| patriotism during a service for severa
years with him. in the Congress of the Uni
ted States; often in an excited opposi'ien. IL
which we are best able TO estimate the worth
| and power of those with whom we may bt
associated.
! J become acquainted with Mr.. Clay In
the session of 1923. when be filled the chair
of Speaker of the House of Representatives
Although at that time young member. yet
through his kindness and partiaItv. was
! placed at the head of one of It's influential
committees Our acquaintance npened In-
10 the strongest social intimacy, which con-
llnned without abatement. until the forma-
tlon of that great party which was constitu-
| ted TO f. ct the election of Gen. jackson TO
the Presidency OF the United States Ii is
known TO you we took different sides
felt myself, in the angry contest vi hich mar
krd that great public CONFUSION, gradually Y
sepa ated from him Although | never in
duleed in the smallest personal abuse aud
denunciation of this eentleman-whIch
would have BEEN SO utterly Inconsistent with
our former TeiatIons-yet, after the election
of Mr.. Adams to the Presidency. | was in
the ha biz of passing Mr. Clay, In the streets
Of Washington, Without even distant re-
cogniion-foI had then the folly to regard
an opponent of Gen Jackson almost as a
pnblIc enemy of the country. Such is the
madness of patyl These relations con
tinued till [ "as summoned by Mr.. Ran
dolph TO attend him to the field, under MIR
Clay's challenge, in cons quence of the
1agrant Insult which be had offered him in
the Senate of the United States. IN conlunc-
tion with your lamented and galan, fellow
countryman Col Tettnall, at That lime
member OF The House of Repre- sentatives
from Georgia There are some circum-
stances connected with this duel which have
never been made public. which. as they
are honorable both to the living and the
dead. hope | may be pa doned III relating.
Il do not think they wi render Mr.. Claws
reception less cordial aud enthusiastic. a
morg people who, # they cherish roman
nc, aud as they are called, false notions OF
honor. are at the same time alive 10 the tes-
timonies of d gallant, geneTou and feeling
spirit.
The night before the duel, Mr.. Randolph
sent for me In the evening found him
calm. bat in singularly kInd and confding
mood He .old me that he had something
on his mind 10 tell me- He then remarked,
Hamilton, have determined To receive
without, returning Claws fire. nothing
shall induce me TO harm hair of bis head
will not make his wife a widow, or his
children orphans Their tears would be
shed over bis grave. but when the sod of
Virginia rests on my bosom, there is not,
in this wide world, one individual to pay
this tribute upon mine" HIS eyes filled,
and resting his head upon his hand. we re-
ma ined some moments silent.
replied my dear friend" (for ours was
a sort of posthumous friendship. bequeatheG
by our mothers Il deeply regret that you
call upon me to go TO the field aud to See you
shot down, or TO assume the responsibility,
in regard to your own life, In sustaining
your determination 10 throw IL away. But
on this subject a mans own conscience and
bis own bosom are bis best monitors
will not advise, but under the enormous and
unprovoked personal insult you have offer
ed Mr. Clay L cannot dissuade. | feel
bound. however, to communicate to Colonel !
Tattnasi YOUR decision" He beggt dime not
% do So and said "he was very much afraid
hat Talnall would take The studs and refuse
% 90 out with him." | however sought Col |
Tattnal. and we repaired, about mdnig BIT to
Mr.. Randolph's lodging. whom we found
reading Milton's great Poem. For some
moments be did not permit US to say one
word in relation to the approaching duel; |
md he at once commenced one of those de.
ig htful criticisms. on a passage OF this Po- |
II, in which he was wont SD enthusiastically /
q oiudulge. After pause, Col Tatlnal re
marked, "Mr Randolph, | am tod that you
nave determined not TO return Mr.. Claws |
fire; must say to you, my dear sir, if am
only to GO out to see you shot down. you /
must find some other friend Mr.. Ran /
lolph remark ked that it was his determina-
ion. After much conversation n the SUBJ
ect. induced Col. T.. 10 allow Mr.. Ran !
iolph to take his own course as his with
travail. as one of his friends, might lead 10
yery injurious mIsconstrucrions. AT last |
Mr. Randolph, smiling said. well Tattnt al |
promise you one thing. II see the devil /
n Claws eye and that with malice prepense
he means to take nv life. may change my
mind A remark knew he merely made |
o propiliate the anxistles of his friend.
Mr. Clay and himself met at o'clock |,
he succeeding evening. on the banks of The
Potomac But be saw mo devil IN Clay's
we" but man fearless. and expressing the
mingled senshiIity and irmneSs which be-
a -