The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1844-03-28

ne ufesi organs Fl The psfiy % Which h
. ssPpased 70 bsloag. ~hssher sressdIlrs
o. not. have so ar Iren01nrfd dlfTsrrn
ladEmenl. 10 probably % postpone hi,
sis'ms % faseof % shothsr dlsnssuishsd
ssndidsit; and eefsisly. seeordinr 10 oil
ne tokens Of patty organIzsiion. % spps,r.
that The BsllImnrs consesiion wlll per-
farm noOther efies bsi % regisur % sdiel
shieh has slrsady gnns forlh. and that.
Ike Marlxsfs celebrated sulomaion
Iiumpelsr, this curious pirre Of meehsn
ism has been spselslly wound up 10 sound
particular noie. Whether this note wilI
be in accord aiih the sentiment ol the
people Of The United States. rsna'ns 10 be
seen.
My own bosnm trsii6es On ihe truth %
remark that Jon nesi justly make. in
ne letter you have done me The honar %
address ne. Ihsr die preferences whieh I
have sxIrsssrd iar my distinguished TEL
low eounirymsn. Mr.. Calhoun. % in mn
degree inconsistent Nth lhs penonal
friendship enlerisiu Cor Mr. Clay. Or o.
she jus, appreciation which have formed
Of his ability and pstriUtsm. during . SER
wee Tor several years with him. in The
Congress Of the Uaited States; often in an
sxeiied opposition. in which sc are best
able 10 estimate The worth snd poser Of
those with whom We may be sssoeisi-
ed.
Ibsesme sequsihted with Mr.. Clay in
The session of 1898, when he flied The
char Of Speaker oi The Henss Of Repre-
sen'a,ises. Although st,hai time young
member. yss shraagh- his kindness aud
paItIsli'y, I was placed stihe head Of one
nfis Influential committees. Our acquain.
lance ripened into the strongest social IN
lnmscy. which continued wiihou, sbste-
inert, until the iorms,ian ofihst great party
which WAS constituted to effecl ihe elee.
ton oi Geo, Jackson 81 the Presidency OF
ihe Uniiei States. ID 10 kno~n 10 you
We took different sides. felt myself. in
the angry contest which naked ihs,
public con ul.lon. gradually separated
fom him. Although never INDUCED in
the Smallest personal abuse aud denuncia-
ton al this gsntlemsR--w hich would have
been 90 utterly incons,strn, viii our for-
ner r-lalions--yet. af,er the election Of
Mr.. Adams TO The Presidency, | sas 10
the habit Of passing Me-. Clay. in the
streets Of Washington. wiih"u even dis
liant feeoatilion--far had then the folly
70 regard an opponent Of Gen. Jackson a.
mosi - pnblic enemy Of tie country.
Such 10 ibe madness OF party! These re-
ia,ions continued until was summoned
BY Mr. Randolph 10 attend him 10 The
field. under Mr.. cIay's challenge, in con-
sequence Of the Hssrsnt insul, which he
had odrred him in the Senate OF the Uni
ted States. in conjunction with your Ia.
menied and gallant fellow-conntryman,
Col. Tsttnall, Al that time a member OF
the House oil Representatives from Geor-
gis. There are some circumstances con
nected with this duel which have never
been made public. which, a. they are ho-
norsble b"th 10 the living and the dead.
| hope may DO psrdonsd in relating. l
do not think they will render MIR. CIay's
reception less cordial and enthusiastic, ..
mong people ~ho, if they cherish 70.
nant'c, and. as they are called. false no.
,ions OF hnnor. are q, the sane time alive
to the testimonies Of gallant. generous
feeling spirit.
The night before the duel, Mr.. RAN
dolph sent for me in the evening. !
found him calm. but in a sineularly kind
and cop6ding mood. He told me that he
had something on his mind To tell me.
He then remarked, Hamilton, have
determined TO receive, without returning
Clay's FIRE; nothing shall indnce me 10
harm hair Of bis head; will not make
his wife . widow, or his children orphans.
Their tears would belshed over hi. grave.
but when the sod Of Virginia rest, on my
bosom. there isnot, 10 this vide world. one
individual TO pay this tribute upon mine"
His eyes filled. end resting his head upon
bis hand, we remained some moments ST.
lent. Ireplied, "my dear friend" (for
ours was . soft Of pos,humous friendship,
beqaeathed by our mothers, 81 deeply
regrest thai you have men,ioned this sub.
jec,to me, Tor YOU call upon me TO 60 to
the Geld and 10 see you shot down. or to
assume the responsibility. in regard to
your own life, in sustaining your determi.
nation to throw itawsy. Blu! on this sub
ject mans own conscience and his own
bosom are his best monitors. | will not
sdyise. bu, under the enormous andunpro-
sovoked personal insult you have offer.
ed Mr.. Clay, l cannot dissaade. ! ieel
bound, however, TO communicate To Col.
Fat,nsll your dec,sion." He begged me
not to d. 40. and said, :" he was very
much afraid that Ia tuall would take the
studs aud refuse to Gu ou. with him." !
however sough. Col. Tn,tnall. and were-
paired sbou, midnight. To Mr.. Rand"lph's
lodgings, whom we found resdiug MI-
tons great Poem. For come moments he
d,d mot permit US to cay one word in re-
ls'ion 10 the approaching duel; aud he at
once commenced one Of those delightful
crit,cistns nm a naSsaye nf this Poet in