The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-01-11
RANDOLPH AND CLAY.
ISorpENTs ~ \ buEL,


following account shows traits Of innate mo-
blencns OF character that win be appreciated I
by AL good and great man,
"1he night before the duel" says Cen
James Hamilton Of South Carolina, "Air Ran
dolph sent for me, ! found him calm but in
siugularly conGding mood, lie told me
that ho bad something on hia mind 70 tel me
ffu then rrrupriyyyl siIuuriituui hHvr- rirtcr-
mined 20 receive, without returning Clay's
fire; nothing shall induce me 10 harm a hair
Of his head / will not make his wife Wild
ow or his children orphans. Their tears
would be- shed over his grave but when the
rod Of Virginia reata an my bosom, there ~
not in this wide world one individual 10 pay
this tribute upon mine Ills eyes filed aud
resting his head on his hands we remained
some moments silent lrcplicd, My dear
friend, (ior ours was sort of posthumous
friendship, bcqucathcd by our mothcrs,) |
deeply regret that you have mentioned this
subject To me for you.oal upon me 20 90 To
the field aud see YOU shot down, or 10 assume
the responsibility, in regard to your own life
in sustaining your determination 10 throw II
away,-But on this subject, mans own con
science aud his own bosom are the best mon
itors will not advise, but under the cnor-
nous and unpruvoked personal insult YOU
have offered Mr. Clay, | cannot dissuade. l
. feel bound, however, 10 communicate 10 Col.
Tattnall your decision
lie begged me not TO do SO, and said 'hc
was very much afraid that Tattnall would
take the studs aud refuse to 60 with him. ],
however sought Colonel Taunall, and We re
paired about .n,idgigAt Ia MIR Randulph's
lodgings, whom we found reading Milton's
| great poem. For some moments he did not
permit MS to say one word in relation to the
approaching duel aud he at once commcnc-
ed one of those delightful criticisms on pas
sage ofthis poet in which hc was wont 50 en-
/ Enthusiastically 10 indulge. Ailur q pause,
/ Col Tatmall remarked, MIR Randolph, am
told YOU have determined nottorcturT ttUyis
/ fire, must say to you, my dear sir, il am
only to 60 out 10 see you shot down, you
must find some other friend Mr. Randolph
remarked that such was his determination
Y fftrf i4iHeit tteHs tf-atiBn 6H me sHtfvrt m
duccd Col. Tattnall to allow Mr. Randolph TO
take his own course, as his withdrawal, as one
of his friends, might lead TO very injurious
misconstrurtions. At last, Mr. Randolph,
smiling said, We'll, Tattnall, promise YOU
one thing, If | see the devil in Clay's cye,and
that with malice prcpcnsc he means 10 take
my life, may change my mind 4 remark
/ / In Ia 10,
| ictes Of his friend, Mr. Tattnall.
"AIr Clay and himself met at four o'clock
the succeeding evening, on the banks of tho
Potomac But he saw no devil in Clays eye
but man fearless, and expressing the min
! rrgtcd sensttiffry- and nTTnHCss Which belonged
to thc occasion.
/ shall never forget this scene, so long as.T
live. 1t has been my misfortune to witness
several A~el- hst4 e4eF -e4.., Al least in
its sequel so deeply affecting The sun was
setting behind the blue hills of Randoph's
own Virginia. Here were two of the most
extraordinary men our country -tAL- Ilrnrturz
ed about to meet in mortal combat Whilst
Tattnall was loading Randolph's pistols l ap-
! preached nay friend, believed, for the last
time. took his hand there was not in its
touch the quvoring of one pulsation. lie
turned to me aud said, CLAY is calm but not
yindictye-I hold my purpose, Hamilton, in
any event; remember this On handing him
his pistol, Col. Tattnall sprung the hair trig-
gcr.--Mr Randolph said, 'Tattnall, although
| am one ofthe best shots in Virginia, with
either pistol or gun, yet never fire with the
hair trigger : Besides l have thick buck
skin glove on, which will destroy the dclica-
cy Of my touch, and the trigger may fly be-
fore know where am. But from his great
solicitude for his friend Tattnall insisted up
on hairing the trigger On taking their po-
sition, the fact turned out as MIR Randolph
anticipated, his pistol went off before the
word with the niuzzle down.
1.-The moment this event took place; Gen
Jcssup, Mr. Clay's friend, called out that he
would instantly leave the ground with his
friend, ifitpceurred again. Mr. Clay at once
exclaimed that it was an accidcnt,and begged
that the gentleman might be allowed to go
on. On the word being given, MIR Clay flr-
ed without effect. MIR Randolph discharged
his pistol in the air The moment that Mr.
Clay saw that Mr. Randolph had thrown a
way his FIRE, with gIIsA- of seasihility h, in
stantly approached Mr. Rando1ph and said,
with an emotion | can never forget trust
in God my dear sir,you are untouched after
what has occurred, l would not have harmed
you for thousand worlds
The close of this passage in Randolph's ca
reer,makes too complete picture 10 be omit
tctE Returning from his mission as Minister
TO Russia, brokcn,in health, sick at heart-at
deaths door-he went into the Senate cham