The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-08-12

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purpose of getting sure aim, but only {
, enable his unused hand, long unfamiliar wit
the pistol, to fire within the limited time; tha
there was no prolongation, in fact, eithe
granted or insisted upon; but he was in doub
and Gen. Jessup having won the word, h
was having him repeat it in the way he wa
to give it out when his finger touched the hair
trigger. How unfortunate that | did no
Know Of this in time to speak to Gen. JessuI
when one word from him would have set al
right, and save the immediate risks incurred
This inquiry, "May not disable hint" wa
still on Mr.. Randolphs mind, and dependen
for its solution on the rising incidents of the
moment, when the accidental fire of his pis
tol gave the turn to his feelings which
solved the doubt. But he declared to me thai
he had not aimed at the life of Mr.. Clay; ,ha,
he did not level as high as the knees mot
higher than the knee-band; "for it was no
mercy to shoot man in the knee" that his
only object was to disable him and spoil his
aim. And then added, with a beauty of ex-
preston and depth of feeling which no
studied oratory can ever attain, and which
shall never forget, these impressive words:
"I aoouid not haue seen him fall mortaliy, or
eren douDtfully wounded, for all The land that
is ,catered by The King Of Floods and all his
tributary streams"
He left me to resume his post, utterly re.
fusing to explain out of the Senate any thing
he had said in it, and with the positive de-
claration that he would not return the next
fire. Withdrew little way into the woods
and kept my eyes fixed upon Mr.. Randolph,
who l then knew to be the only one in
danger. / saw him receive the fire of Mr..
Clay, saw the gravel knocked up in the same
place, saw Mr.. Randolph raise his pistol and
discharge it in the air; heard him say, al do
not fire al you, Mr.. Clay" and Immediately
advancing and offering him his hand. He
was met in the same spirit. They met half
way, shook hands, Mr.. Randol ph saying,
loosely, "You o,oe me coat, Mr.. Ciav,-
>the bullet had passed through the skirt of the
coat, very near the hip)-to which Mr.. Clay
promptly and happily replied, al am glad Tie
iett is no greater" had come up, and was
prompt to proclaim what had been obliged
70 keep secret for eight days. The Joy of all !
was extreme at this happy termination of
most critical affair, and we Immediately left !
With lighter hearts than we brought.
l stopped to sup with Mr.. Randolph and his
of us wanted dinner that dav
and had characteristic time of it. A |
runner came in from the bank to say that
hey had overpaid him, by mistake, $3.50
that day. He answered, 81 believe 1t is your
rule not 10 correct mistakes, ercept at the time,
md at your counter" And with that answer
the runner had to oreturn.-When gone, Mr.. I
Randolph said,"I ,oiU pay 1t on Mondav;
people must be honest If banks are not" HeI
asked for the sealed paper he had given me,
opened it, took out check for s i 900 drawn
n my favor, and with which was requested
o have him carried, if killed, to Virginia,
md buried under his patrimonal oaks-not
ct him be buried at Washington, with an
hundred hacks after him.
He took the gold from his left breeches |
rocket, and said to US, (Hamilton, Tatnall
md J. "Gentlemen, Clay's bad shooting
han't rob you of your seals. am going to
London, anI will have them made for you;"
which he did, and most enthusiastically, SO
ar as mine was concerned. He went to the
,erald's office in London and inquired for the
Benton family, oiwhich had often told him
here was none, as we only dated on that side
rom my grandfather in North Carolina But
he name was found, and with it a coat of
lrms-among the quarngs lion rampant.
That is the family, said he, and had the arms
engraved on the seal the same which | have
ince habitually worn, and added the motto
FACTIs NON VERBS, of which he was afterward
accustomed to say the non should be changed !
nto et.--But enough. | run into those
letails, not merely to relate an event bat to
show character; and if have not done it, it |
S not for want of material, but of ability to
Use it.
On nMonday the parties exchanged cards,
and social relations were formally and cour-
eously restored. 1t was about the last high |
.oned duel that have witnessed, and among
he highest-toned that have ever witnessed,
md so happily conducted to a fortunate issue
"a result due to the noble character of the
seconds as we'll as to the generous and heroic
'pirt of the principals. Certainly dueling is
Dad, and has been put down, but not quite
10 bad as its ubstitute-revolvers bowie
Knives Safeguarding and street assassinations
lnder the pretext of self-delence.