Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-09-13

4
quiry passed from mouth to mouth, where
is the Speakerl' 'What in the world has
become of the Speaker An hour elapsed, !
and yet no Speaker. At length, it came to
be understood that Mr.. Calhoun and Mr..
Grosvenor were that morning to meet, at
ten or eleven o'clock, at few miles distance
from the Capitol, to settle their quarrel by
mortal arbitrament; and that Mr.. Clay,
having accidentally got wind of it, had
mounted his horse, leaving the House in
the lurch, with the determination, if posi-
bic by any effort Of his, to prevent the
shedding of blood upon mere point Of
honor between two gentlemen whose lives
were Of SO much value to their friends
and to their country. Another and anoth-
er hour passed amidst the deepest anxiety;
when, out of breath, from haste in riding,
but full of joy and gladness, arrived the
Speaker, and called the House to ORDER
His mediation, united with that off distin-
guished Member of the Senate, had been
successful. Their earnest instances had
been irresistible They had brought back
unharmed, if not reconciled, those who
had gone out as enemies, TO stake their
lives against one another. They were
received by their colleagues and associates
with open arms; and, the reader may be
sure, there was not much business done
in the House that day. By his effective
interposition, the prompting of a humane
and generous heart, Mr.. Clay on that oc-
cason won golden opinions Of all men.
In the same pacific and humane spirit
was the entire agency of Mr. Clay in the
case OF Messrs. Graves and Ciley. 1t was
directed to the object of preventing meet.
ing between the parties. With that view
he advised q modifca on of the challenge
With the same view he advised the police
to be called out. They were called out
but were defeated in their purpose Of ar,
resting the parties by their having taker
an unusual route.
We present to our readers the evidence
which places beyond doubt or cavil the nu
ture of Mr.. Clay's agency in the Cille,
duel. Itwould be to detract from the fore
of simple truth to accompany it with on
word of comment.
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF TIL.
HON. w. ]. GRAVES TO Mr.. CLAY.
"From the commencement Of the diff
Guilty between Mr.. Cilley and myself up
the time sent him the challenge, do nc
recollect that | mentioned it to you or an
t other colleague or friend, except Mr.. Man
efee and Mr.. Wise.
81 do not recollcct naming the sub ect I
) you until the morning before the meeting
when called at your room, think in con
. pany with Mr.. Wise, and exhibited TO yo
/, the corresponds and perhaps detaile
to you the circumstances of the affair.
u remember that you suggested to me som
If modification in the phraseology of the cha
= lenge, which had written but had n,
:, sent, by Ohich milder language 1OaS empIol
- ed, and the door tUGs not completely ciost
y against adjustment. | recollect well, at II
e time YOU suggested the mo Iiication, whit
= | believe was written by yourself on anC
T. ther piece of paper, you stated that yC
!, thought the matter ought to be and wou
i be amicably adjusted. and in this | remer
J. Der Mr.. Wise concurred with you in opil
J. ion. recollect this the better from a col
+ viction resting on my mind at the time til
6 there were influences, which thought
. saw more fully than any ofmy friends, tn
&c initiated against this view of the subiet
L. some of which I think mentioned to yt
i in reply to your suggestion that you thoug
IF the matter would be adjusted without
. hostile meeting. | think | adopted yo1
10 form, with but little if any modifcatio
Or and | suppose destroyed that original
Iy drawn by myself. | do not think l alludt
20 to this subject in your presence again un
- about nine o'clock of the night precedil
'e the meeting, when had but a momen
er conversation with you, in which ma
re known to you my want of skill in the II
ne of the weapon selected by my adversary.
H. at is UTTERLY UNTRUE that you ever e
.s hibited to me any wish that the meetiI
> should take place. l belieoe l had
y friend IN Washmgton aOho more regretted
C., | recoIlect, after the affair, when we n
of at our boarding house, you seemed to sy
oh pathize with me most deeply in n y m
- - fortune. You pept, and 'oere unable to
w. Ter a ,oord"
n NAT. Inteligencer, Feb. 25, 1912
ly "MR. CLAY UNDER BONDS.,'