Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-01-23
THE DUEL

Washington correspondent of The New York Her
aid gives the fullest account we have of the duel
between Messrs. CIngman and laucey. Judge
Meek. of Alabama. WAS among the attendants
of the latter gentleman, and being mistaken for
his princIl pal, was arrested by the police few
hours before the meeting, at a tavern within
short distance the spot selected for the fight which
the party, by previous arrangement, had stopped The
Judge purposely kept up the deluslon, until Mr.. Yam
cey, with his second MI Iuger made his escape from
the tavern, aud proceeded TO the ground, whittier they
had been preceded by Mr.. Clingman The parties
arranged and Stationed ten PAGES apart; and the
word being given, Clneman fired first his ball passing
.he head Of his antagonist. Yancey's fire followed
his ball striking the ground about midway between the
combaiants. Mr. Raynel. who accompanied Clingman,
(but not as his sccond) then proposed pacy, stating
that "boh parties ad evinced their courage" aud sng>
costing that the affair might then be amicahy adjusted
Mr. Nancey's friends responded by stating that in the
remarks of that gentleman to which Mr.. Cmsman had
taken exception, 'he compelled 10 be personal in or
der To reply to the attack that had been made up-
on members Of The Democratic pafiy'-lrom which it
is be Inferred that the member of Alabama regards
himself as the fighting champion of that party The
friends Of Mr.. Clingmon then dsavowed any persona
any member OF either branch of Congress This appIi-
cation being made with the of the principals
mutual reconciliation followed I he seconds then
shook hands, and the principals approached each other
with the COMPLIMENTS and the long talked of duel
terminated without boodshed
We observe in the Georgia papers also an account of
recent duel, the borders Of that State between Tho
mas Butler King and Mr. Spalding, (he former mem
hprn al t,,,, 4 1
petor for that station the late cleclon) in which
reconciliation likewise took place, after two Intellectual
fires
1t is always gratifying 10 the humane and benevolent
mind TO hear Of the pacific termination of these personal
euds which, IN most cases, pushed 10 the extreme
of mortal combat. by the conjoint influence OF Revenge
and Pride, rather than by Courage. But the en-
curry nevertheless arises when these leuds are settled
on thr field, either before after shot has been ex
changed, Why were not the explanations which then
prove satisfactory made before or if they were so
made, why they deemed insufficient Is there
any thing in the fact Of having fired adversary and
received his fire in exchsngo, which dminshes the fla
grancy It an ins1t-or which mpars efficacy to
satisfactory explanation-or gives virtue rejected a
pougy Or Is the fact that both parties have evinced
their courage" which have been the ground sn
NhlCh 4 Idlty WIS dflnaHueu IN llie duel between
Messrs. Clngman and iancey, be regarded as an "a
tonement for all insult, and ample justification for an
injury These enquiries, repeat, ,cM be made and
answered. The first suggestion Of the mind when one
hears of duel thus arrested, is that by cullusion be-
tween the friends Of the pariies if with the know
ledge ri the principals, the pistols be 50 loaded
that injury will accrue, and the second is if this sus
pcon be groundesS in the above referred TO we
have doubt is the fact that the immediate presence OF
dagger. which, when at distance. was contemplated
with composure appeals far cogeBy the pacific
dispositions of the combaants than all the eoquence and
eanesiness of friends before they Stood as ii were in
the ante chamber of Death Men, it seems however
bellcose in the preliminary stages OF affair of hon
or, lnclnea willing ear 10 propositions for adjustment
after they have listened the music of ball whistlinr
by their ears. Fortunate would have been for some
duellis,s--the survivor we'll as the sain-if these
leadtn arguments had always beea convincing without
contact.
The duel between Messrs. Clngman and Yancey was
brought to the notice of the House of REPRESENTATIVES
last Thursday by Mr. Preston King of \. Y who sub
mltIed resolution proposing enquiry into the subject
by select committee with instructions to report the
facts. accompanied by "a resolution expel from the
House any member members guilty Of such crime -
An niftaa4 1T. ia, -l,,,I IL.