The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-14
Cssslus N. Clay.

rising up IN AL direcuons.
Csssius N. Clay.
We published in the Examiner OF last week
the statement made by Mr.. Clay in reference
to his rencontre with Mr.. Turner. We pub
lish to-day the statement made by the friends OF
the other party. The public have now as good
means they probably will ever have for form
ing an opinion in regard to this deplorable At.
fair.
In last weeks Examiner the attack made
upon Mr.. Clay was spoken of as 4 eOpardiy at
tack. That epIthet was inserted in the hurry
Of making up the paper, without our know
ledge, and much TO our regret, for we wished
not to pronounce any opinion upon the affair
until We had statements from both sides.
Those statements are now before us and we
have read them with care and deep though
painful interest. From these statements we
think it evident that the attack upon Mr.. Clay
was not pre-concertsd attack. 1t is true that
his assaiants were three il not four in number,
but they appear to have rushed into the affray
under the excitement Of passion sad without any
concert Of action.
We think it equally evident that the attack
upon Mr.. Clay was entirely unprovoked by him.
Though excited by the determination, which
he thought, and as it seems TO us he had good
reason IN think WAS manifested by his anpo.
nents to deny him and his friends a fair and
full opportunity Of defending their cause, yet
he said nothing calculated 10 give offence to
Major Turner or his sons. Mr.. Clay affirm.
that determining to be cleariy In the right he
spologissd to Major Turner for interrup.lne
him. Mr.. Clsy's statement, 1.-THE accuracy Of
which 10 youched for by several respectable men,
whose names appear In another column and
the article published by us two weeks since
from the Msysville Eagle. clearly show that
there was nothing in Mr.. Clay's fselings or ex-
pressiOns relative to the Turner'S TO Justify an
attack upon him. And yet Immediately upon
from the platform he was assaiIed
by Cyrus Turner, charged with falsehood and
struck In the face. That his indignation was
arc used by such an assault, that he sousht
TO defend himself, that he sought retaliation
even, 10 surely not IT., be wondered at. That in
defending himself he resorted to a deadly wea.
pom, none can lament more sincerely and deep
" than we. We abhor the custom Of CARRYING
Arts and every other custom produced by the
dire spirit Of revenge. We believe that this
spirit, wherever IL may dwell, and in whatever
form IL may be manifested, whether in the duel,
he brawl or in war, 10 dark and fearful spirit,
itter ly and irreconcilably opposed to the benign
Pirit of Christianity.
Would to heaven that Mr.. Clay and every
tn sr friend Of Emancipation could rise te that
I'm istis.n courage and greatness which make
one willing to suffer wrong rather than do
wrong" and by which one In enabled to walk
IN the path of duty In calm fearlessness, forget
nj of self and with perfect confidence In God
Thu, Emancipation cause is pure and rights-
'us cause and for its full success and complete
rim mph Il demands on the part ofitH friends
nd advocates firm adherence to the lcftest
riI ,ciples Of humanity and Christianity.
We perceive that the Louisville Journal, I'm
comments upon this sad affair, represents
r. Clay as stabbIng Mr. Turner after he had
ad time for reflection, and thus virtually
asrsss him with deliberately killing his adver-
airy. We see not how any one, with either
Mr.. Clsy's statement or the statement of the
'ther party before him, could imagine that |
here was any time for reflection. All the par. |
len concerned were under intense, violent ex. |
it,ment, and the whole affair occupied proba-
iy but few moments; and to suppose man,
III ose lfs-blood 10 gushing in streams from his
de and who hesn pistol swapping again and
q lin At his head, capable Of cool elaboration Is
ailly TO attribute to him a most extra ordinary
I'D unprecedented degree of self possession and
iuanimity. H
The Jeurnal 10 horror struck, too, at the idea
{ ga father presenting his little son with pis-
81 for defence" II Mr.. Clay gave his boy a
istol for any such purpose, we disapprovs of
10 condact a. much a. the editor of the Jour-
a. Nay more. We wonder that a parent can
,rmit boy Of ten or twelve years Of age to
i've Piatol for any purpose. But what svi.
nee 10 there that Mr. Clay gave his son pis-
I for any different purpo'e from that for which
lndrsds of pistols are annually given to boys
this Statsf 1t Ii no uncommon thing for
ys In Kentucky, even Of only ten years of
80 cRsry pistols, as any one who has spent
christmas season he 70 well knows. They are
,sn 10 them for amusement, a dangerous q
'usernsnt indeed, and Mr.. Clay undoubtedly q
vs pistol to his SON 4 sr the same purpose.
We regret tho tone Of the article In the Jour.
forit sesms to Ms to do grsatinjuslice to one,
o, Whatever his faults ms.y be, We believe il !,
from being cruel or blnod.thlrsty man; :,
who. according to the bss5 our infoyma- :,
- stsssd in previous arsi Gle, has aimed to II
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