Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1850-12-30
IIR.,
Randolph's Duel vgitt d. Cay.


| '.The night before the DUEL N says General
James Hamilton, Of South Carolina, "Mr. Ksn-
idolph sent for me. found him calm, but in .
singular kind sad eunf.iihs mood. He told me
thai he had Gomething ~ tell me. He then re-
marked. Hamilton, have astermineo to Fsseive,
ifiout returning. CIsy's fire; nothing shall in
:tuce me To harm hair cf his head, viii not
make his wife widow. or his children orphans.
Their tears would be she'd over his grave; but
when the sod of Virginia rests on my bosom,
ithere is not in this wide world one individual to
pay this tribute upon mine. His eyes filed. and
resting his head upon his hand. We renamed
Same moments silent. Ireplied, sMy dear friend
K for oslrssrss a sort Of posthumous friendship,
i6sqaeatbed By our mothers, Ideeply regret that
you have, mentioned this subject 70 me; for you
ea upon me to go 70 the field and to see you shot
down, TtO assume the responsibility, in regard
TO your own life. in sustaining your determine
Zion to. throw it away. But on this subject,
iman's own conscience and bis own bosom are his
best monitors. will not advise, but under the
ierormous and uhprovoked personal insult you
have offered 'Mf. Clay, cannot dissuade. lfsei
bound, however, to Communicate to Col. TstsDal
syoIr dsaision. Hcbegged me not to do so, and
q eaid .hesRa .vefy much Pfraid that Tatnali
lwotiid takefhe studds and refuse TO 60 out with
him. I, however, sought Colonel Tattnall, and
we repaired about midnight to Mr.. Randolph's
lodgings, whom we found reading Milton's great
poem. For some moments he did not permit us
Ito say one word in relation 10 the approaching
duel; and he al once commenced one Of those de-
Ilightful criticisms on passage OF this poet, In
which he was wont so enthusiastically 10 indulge.
After pause Col Tsttnall remarked, 'Mr. Rsa-
Idolph, l am told you have determined not to re-
turn Mr. Clay's FIRE; must say to you, my dear
lsr, If i am only to go cut to see you shot down,
YOU must find some other friend Mr.. Ran
!dolph remarked it was his determination. Altar
lsome conversation on the subject, j induced Col.
ETattnall to allow Mr.. Randolph to take bis own
lcourse, as his withdrawal as one Of his friends,
might lead TO very injurious misconstruciions.
At last Mr.. Randolph, smiling, said, We'll, Tstf-
nail, j promise you one thing, il ! see the devil
lin Clay's eye, and that with malice prepenfe hs
means to take my life, may change my mind
A remark knew he made merely to propitiats
the anxieties Of his friend.
| sMr. Clay and himself met at four o'clock the
succeeding evening, on the banks Of the Pote-
mac But be saw mo devil IN Clay's eye but
man fearless, and expressing the mingled sensi-
bility and frmness which belonged to the occa-
sion.
i shall never forget this scene As long a. L
live. II has been my misfortune to witness sew
Ieral duels, but never saw one, at least in its
Sequel, SO despIy affecting. The sun was just
setting behind the blue hills Of Randolph's own
Virginia. Here were two most extraordinary
men our country in its prodigahty had produced
Ito meet in mortal combst Whilst Taiinall Was
loading Randolph's pistOlsl approached my friend
II believed. for the last time. ! toOk his handi
<.nfe
Ipnlsaiion. He turned to me and said, Clay 10
-aln but lot yindictive-l hold my purpose.
Hamilton. in any event; remember this On
lIhanuing him his pistol Col. Ta;inal sprang the
Ihair-triccpr. Mr.. Randolph ssid, Taltrall, al
Though am one OF the bes. shots in Virginia
with either pistol or gun. vet never fire with
the hair-irgger; besides. have thick buckskiR
glove on which will destroy the delicacy of my
touch, and the trigger may Ay before / know
} where ! am.' But from his great soliciude for
ibis friend Talinall insisted upon hairing The trg-
ger. On taking their position, the fact turned
out as Mr.. Randolp ph anticipated; his pistol went
of before The word. with the muzzle down.
] The moment this event took place General
Jesup, Mr. Claws friend. called out that he would
instantly leave the ground with his friend, II that
occurred again. Mr.. Clay ut once exclaimed 1t
was an accident, and begged that the gentleman
might be allowed 30 go on. On the word being
given, Mr.. Clay fired without any effect. Mr.,
Randolph dischareing his pistol in the air. The
moment Mr. Clay saw that Randolph had thrown
away his fire, with gush OF sensibiliiy he in-
istanlly approached Mr.. Randolph. and said with
lemotion can never forgei,-'l trust in God, my
dear sir, you are untouched; after what has oe-
CURED, would not have harmedyou for thou
sand worlds. = Life of John Randolph,
MoR At PEoRIA.--"H Higher Ln,c" Doings.
The Springfield Jour. Of the Goth, has the
following telegraphic dispatch from Peoris'
Our city was again thrown into much ex-
Icitement to-day. The execution OF Brown
and Williams for the murder Of Hewitt, was
to have taken place to-day, but BY an or
Ider of the Governor, received on Wednes-
day, was extended to the 18th of January
next. This not being generally known or
lcredited, a large mass Of people from this