The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-11-05
ABU s1vE.

The editor If the Wing, in the above article
thinks we are "atusire" What model of
propriety, modesty and humility, the editor,
must be. If looseness, proGigacy and extravi-
gance, in the use of language, could make the
editor of the Whig ''abusire,' re would have
been irretrevably doomed long before this; but
his slang and contumely has become so common
an article in the market, that it often excites
disgust as notice, and only serves to put the
public on their guard, lest they may be taken
in, by what purports to be good merchandise
The editor of the Wing asks us to caiighten
him on the point Of ridic"le. We will endeavor
to do so, although we have but little faith in
producing reformation in his case, however
successfully we may combat his arguments, or
convict his conscience.
We stated that it was ridiculous in the editor
to be constantly harping upon this subject of the
Cilley duel, with which Gen Jones was unwil-
lingly connected, and we still hold the same
opinion.
| In responding to the editors request for rea-
son. we desire simply to remark, that it is very
silly and inconsistent in him, to ask the people
of this State to condemn Gen. Jones for an act,
which he has repeatedly approved in Mr. Clay,
Gen. Scott, and others OF his party. This we
regard as ridiculous.
The offence of which he so deeply complains,
occurred some thirteen years ago, before the or
ganzation of this State into a Territory, and of
course, before there were any statutory rcgula-
tons concerning duelling, so that, had the Of
fence occurred here, it is very questionable
whether it would have subjected Gen. Jones to
three years confinement in the Pcnitentiary, and
a thousand dollars fine, as claimed by the Wing,
unless the Indians, who inhabited the country at
that time, were further advanced in legal iuris-
prudence, than we have been in the habit cf
giving them credit for.
As the editor of the Wing has taken great
pains to introduce this subject to the public, and
by wonderful flourish of trumpets, to make it
one ofgrave importance, we will be pardoned,
we trust, for giving brief history of the facts,
| IN Justice to public servant, who has been re-
peatedly and shamefuly misrepresented ana
abused. In place of holding Gen. Jones rcspon-
sible for the amentable death of Cilley,
we imagine that responsibility can be traced to a
Whig combination, organized and marshaled
into the field, expressly for his destruction
The pretext for the challenge of MIR Cilley,
was occasioned by remarks from him in reply
to MIR. Wise, then leading Wing, in the House
of Representatives, touching the corruptions of
/ tnI IN,
sed the notorious Col. Webb, editor of the n
Y. Courier, o. receiving a bribe of fifty two
thousand dollars, for defending that corrupt in
stitu.on. The numerous and distinguished
friends of the bank were highly incensed at this
bold declaration against their favorite idol, and
its tool, and forthwith counsel was convened
and determination formed, that Graves, Of
Kentucky, should challenge, and if possible
destroy pure minded public servant, and dis
tinguished public dehater, whose integrity they
could not endure, and whose abilities they fear
ed to meet in debate. Mr.. Clley accepted
the challcng,. without consulting his friends ,ant
it was only after his friend, Senator Pierce, hat
applied to the lamented DIR Linn, of Missouri
Il VINO was an lnVdliQ, ana Two OLner gentIemeH
one of whom was too old, and the other, con
! sdercd by his friends, too impetuous, tina
Gen. Jones was induced by Mr.. Cilley's strons
personal solicitations to become his second -
When on the field, it is matter of record tina
Gen Jones, made three unsuccessful attempt
to reconcile the difficulty, and each time Mr.
Wise, consulted John J. Crittenden, presen
Attorney General, and the Hon Mr.. Mennifee
from Mr.. Clay's district, and returned tho an
swer, that no reconciliation would be listene'
to, until Mr.. Clley, would acknowledge tha
Col. Webb, was gentleman.
Some days subsequent to this affair, the venc
rable John @. Adams, then a Representative
from Massachusetts,, attacked Mr.. Wise, on tn
floor of Congress, as the murderer of Cilley
and in vindicating himself against this sever
censure, Mr.. Wise stated that Mr.. Clay, ha
drafted the challenge, and in consultation,
few hours prior to going to the field, in whic
Mr.. Clay, Crittenden, Mennifee and Lalhon
of Kentucky and himself were present, MI
Clay stated, that they must never leave the fiele
until Cilley acknowledged Webb gentleman
or one Of them fell martyr to the barbarou